Thread: How to tell if struts are bad?

I hit bumps really hard and its beginning to annoy me. Sometimes when im accelerating my car will also bounce up and down like its driving on a trampoline or something. Are these still strut problems? I can't tell what it is. I just know that it rides really rough and whenever i go over big bumps its kinda like my car is falling down the grand canyon. I'm pretty sure this isn't safe either

sounds like you have bad struts. the only reason i know this is because my friend drives a bonneville and when he goes over speed bumps, the rear end of his car bounces like mad, exactly like a trampoline. He has two bad rear struts. Sounds like you have the same problem, so my guess, bad struts it is

springs usually last for life unless there cracked or rusted, shocks which are whats inside the spring is filled with a liquid which over time leaks out ect also the strut topper plate can rust which is dangerous and should be replaced, if your not very handy just buy loaded struts (spring and shock already together) and put them in a car if youve never done that before be sure to ask some one who has it can be very dangerous, if your a bit more handy then just replace the shocks and use your old springs if there still good

Put the car on jack stands for a few hours and then lower it back down. If the car sits higher now you need new struts

how many miles on the car? usually shocks only last 75k miles but in some places (like here in michigan) your more likely to get 50k out of them

Originally Posted by FordMan77

And while you're at it replace all the springs too as they are just as worn out.

if your going to buy stock struts then buy the strut and shock in once no sense putting in stock spring into a stock strut

i was just trying to save the guy some money all new struts can get quite pricey even just OEM replacements

Originally Posted by asite57

i was just trying to save the guy some money all new struts can get quite pricey even just OEM replacements

well OEM replacements would cost alot
but complete struts from an auto parts store not as much
but i understand what you mean with saving money struts are not that cheap no matter where you get them
just don't buy used!

Bounce the car, after you stop it should bounce/move once then stop. If it bounces twice they are going. Anymore and they are done. If you go inside and its still bouncing call a priest.

if it feels like a trampoline when you hit a bump there bad enough said, replace them. should be fine to drive like that for now until you buy new ones its not that dangerous unless the strut area/mount are rusted bad. i don't what part of jersey your from but i know down by the ocean the salt tears cars up and they can rust pretty bad. how many miles are on your car?

It has 130k miles, and yes i'm not trying to spend a lot of money at all because i can't afford it right now lol

97 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix Strut Assembly - Suspension - Bilstein, KYB, Monroe, Pronto, Front, Front Left, Front Right, Rear, Rear Left, Rear Right - PartsGeek

you can get some off here seems like a good price and free shipping

I got the ebay specials on my rears. Prime choice quick struts I believe. Love them, put them on last summer. Took a bit to get used to the rear end sitting higher after the install.

Found some on rockauto between $38-70 dollars and its the same brand, i just need to find out if my fronts bad or its the back

if your rear feels all spongy and like a trampoline its probably your rear struts

$38 ones wont be quick struts. I prefer no assembly required just bolt in.