Because your suspension system is made up of a number of intricate components, repairs can be quite pricey. Your Toyota Camry’s struts will typically cost between $600 and $700 to replace.
The overall price can be divided into the following groups:
- Parts: In addition to replacing the struts themselves, you’ll probably need to repair the strut bellow, strut bumper, spring insulator, and strut mount. Depending on your issue, the price could easily reach a few hundred dollars.
- Labor costs: Depending on the shop you choose, labor charges might range from $200 to $250 per hour. This task might easily take an hour or longer because you need to lift the car, remove the tire, and replace the struts on all four wheels.
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In This Article...
How long do the struts on a Toyota Camry last?
A shock or strut may need to be replaced after 50 to 100 thousand kilometers. The struts or shocks should always be replaced without delay if they ever leak, break, or suffer other damage.
What is the price of replacing all 4 struts?
Depending on the brand and model, struts typically cost $150 to $450. Usually, it is necessary to replace both struts at once. A pair of struts will cost you between $300 and $900 to replace. It can take several hours to replace a strut.
Should all 4 struts be changed at once?
It’s crucial for driving safety to replace your shocks and struts when they become worn out in order to avoid harming other parts of your car, such as the tires and suspension.
Various safety features are included in today’s cars to help with control, stability, and accident prevention. You are kept safe by a combination of systems including automated braking, anti-lock brakes, stability control, and traction control. In an emergency situation, your shocks and struts may not function effectively if they are in bad condition.
Getting Your Shocks & Struts Replaced
Whether you observe any of the aforementioned symptoms, get your alignment checked, or put on new tires, the best way to know when to repair your shocks and struts is to have a skilled technician check your suspension. Get your car’s suspension inspected at the very least once a year.
Replace front or rear axle shocks and struts in pairs at all times. It is even better to replace the shocks and struts on all four wheels at once. This keeps the vehicle’s handling and responsiveness on both sides uniform and dependable.
We always advise obtaining an alignment as well, following any suspension work. Wheel alignment of your car could also vary if your suspension is altered. Additionally, even little adjustments to wheel alignment can have expensive long-term effects (accelerated tire wear, more suspension problems, difficult handling).
Do struts need to be replaced?
Struts don’t need to be replaced until your car bottoms out in potholes and over railroad tracks, bounces like it’s on a pogo stick, or if a mechanic discovers that they are leaking fluid or have been broken. They may also rot in certain environments.
The struts are the suspension components in a car that uses this technique “coil springs with shock absorbers installed within. They take the place of other types of shock absorbers and are widely utilized since they reduce the cost of suspension systems. They regulate the amount of bouncing brought on by road bumps, dips, and peaks as well as abrupt or forceful stops.” Because the springs actually absorb the shocks from the road, the name “shock absorber” is deceptive. The consequent bouncing brought on by the springs compressing and releasing is minimized by the struts. Instead of “shock absorbers,” they should be named “dampers.”
Their initial thought may be that they need to have new struts installed on their car when they see a decline in ride quality or handling abilities. Manufacturers’ advertisements urging customers to replace their struts after 50,000 miles or so have contributed to the acceptance of that idea. Be mindful that any troubles with your vehicle’s ride, handling, or steering (or odd noises) could be caused by other suspension parts unless your car is leaning or bouncing significantly, as indicated above. It is advantageous to have a competent mechanic inspect under your automobile for this reason.
If your vehicle is no longer providing a smooth ride, or you are experiencing issues with handling or steering, struts may be to blame. It’s possible that the struts are leaking or that the rubber bushings that serve as the joint’s cartilage have worn out, enabling metal-to-metal contact. Rust or aging could have also contributed to the strut assembly’s damage. However, the issue might exist elsewhere. Bushings and other suspension components, including tie rods, control arms, and sway-bar links, can also deteriorate over time, leading to loose steering, road noise, and increased body lean during turns. Some of these issues could also be brought on by improper wheel alignment and uneven tire wear.
The struts will wear down more quickly if you frequently tow big loads or travel on really bad roads, but if you don’t abuse them, they can last the entire life of your automobile. When you notice a problem, don’t just ask your mechanic for new struts right away; instead, describe it to them and let them determine whether the issue is due to worn struts or something else with your vehicle. You might have a different suspension issue, or your car might be experiencing an altogether different issue.
What happens if your struts aren’t replaced?
Let’s discuss why replacing shocks and struts is essential now that you are aware of what they are. Over time, shocks and struts deteriorate, and as a result, your vehicle’s performance starts to suffer. You can experience a bumpier ride, bouncing tires, creaking, and even fluid seeping from your car.
When you notice these alerts, you should take action. You’ll save money in the long run by having one of our trained technicians at Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire examine your car when these problems start. Discuss the reasons why.
Your car’s stability is compromised when your shocks and struts are damaged, which causes your tires to bounce back and forth. In place of the typical, uniform wear patterns you would observe on tires with functional shocks and struts, this can eventually eat away at your tires and generate unusual wear patterns and even smooth patches where the rubber has worn away. The automobile is unsafe to drive because of the damage to the tires, and you might find yourself needing to pay to have the tires replaced as a result of this problem.
Also affected by poor shocks and struts are your brakes. Your tires may actually rise into the air when you apply the brakes when they are worn out. Even though it’s only a few inches at most, it may be very dangerous when your tires are not on the ground. This is especially true while you’re turning or going around curves because you need your tires to be securely planted for those maneuvers to be safe. Additionally, the reduced grip can actually lead you to lose 100 feet of stopping distance when you try to brake.
Additionally, the bouncing caused by the malfunctioning shocks and struts will place a great deal of stress on your car’s suspension system. By failing to execute its duty of absorbing the shock Failure to replace them can result in damage to the suspension’s ball joints, wheel hubs, and several other parts. If there is nothing in your car to absorb the shock and energy from striking a bump, it will spread throughout it and cause damage. Without repairing your shocks and struts at Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire, you risk having a vehicle that is not only potentially unsafe but also incapable of moving at all. Suspension work can be expensive to repair.
When it comes to replacing your shocks and struts, the most crucial danger you need to be aware of is safety-related. You spend a lot of time in your car with the people you love. Your vehicle’s handling, control, and safety are severely compromised when its shocks and struts are failing. If you continue to drive with damaged shocks and struts, you run the risk of getting into a collision that damages both your automobile and possibly another vehicle.
Although shocks and struts occasionally can be pricey, they are an essential component of your car. The skilled mechanics at Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire will make sure your car is safe to drive and assist you in getting back on the road.
A certified Goodyear tire dealer may be found in Woodbridge, Virginia, at Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire. All makes and models, including Mercedes and BMW, are subject to auto repair services. Oil changes, brakes, alignments, inspections, and computer engine diagnostics are among the available services.
How can I tell if my struts need replacement?
Although several factors (hello, potholes) affect the lifespan of your shocks or struts, Reina claims that if you experience any of these seven signs, it’s time for replacements.
- erratic behavior at motorway speeds. On the highway, your car never feels entirely solid and is always going up and down. Despite how little the movement may be, you may feel it.
- Vehicle “In turns, it leans to one side. Your car leans or slides when you exit a ramp or make a sharp turn “It seems unstable and tips to the outside of the turn.
- During forceful braking, the front end drops more than is normal. You might not realize this until you have to use the brakes quickly.
- When accelerating, stoop from the rear. You’ll observe that the front of your car is rising while the back “during rapid acceleration, squats.
- severe bouncing of the tires. You can feel a tire (or tires) reacting or moving after hitting a bump “bouncing briefly. There can also be a clunking sound.
- uncommon tire wear The tread wears unevenly instead of wavy because the tire isn’t being held tightly to the road.
- leakage of fluid from shocks or struts’ outside surfaces. This indicates that the internal fluids necessary for proper operation are escaping because the seals have cracked.
Bumpy ride
Your automobile is giving you a significantly more uncomfortable ride than usual, which is the most clear symptom that there is an issue with your shocks or struts. The ride will feel tough since you’ll notice the bumps more. Your shocks or struts probably need to be checked out if you ever feel like you’re ready to lose control of your car as you drive over a bump or pothole.
Steering problems
Steering trouble is another clear indicator of a shock or strut issue. The steering wheel may seem difficult to turn or rigid. Additionally, when you make a turn or move lanes, your automobile can appear to be leaning or swaying.
Braking problems
Because struts are a structural component of your car, they can malfunction and cause concerns other than merely suspension. When you apply the brakes, you can feel your automobile tremble, dip, or lurch forward.
Fluid leaks
If you know where to look, you might be able to see struts that have apparent wear and tear. However, a fluid leak is the most typical visual indicator that your shocks or struts might need repair.
Unusual tire tread wear
Uneven tread wear will occur on your tires when your suspension or wheel alignment is out of alignment, and it will typically look different than when your tires are simply getting older. Scalloped dips (sometimes known as “cups”) can form along the edge of the tread as a result of suspension damage. Additionally, the issue is quite risky. Visit a repair as soon as possible if you spot any of these symptoms on your tires.
Mileage
Depending on the make and model of your car, shocks or struts need to be replaced about every 50,000 miles. A routine inspection of the shocks or struts should be performed by a professional every 50,000 miles or as often as your owner’s handbook advises.
How long does it take to repair the struts?
Is the stop of your vehicle taking longer than usual? Is it strangely bumpier? The symptoms definitely indicate that your struts have failed, thus I believe it is time to replace them. Fortunately, you can either do it yourself or hire a professional to replace them.
Most professional mechanics agree that changing struts typically takes one to two hours. As long as you have prior mechanical experience and perform the procedure correctly, the expected time is the same even if you choose to replace them on your own.
The ability to manage and control the vehicle may be compromised if struts are not replaced in a timely manner.
How much does strut labor cost?
The price of a single shock and strut assembly ranges from $150 to $900, while labor costs to replace a shock and strut assembly are expected to cost between $150 and $300 per assembly. Remember that prices can change depending on your region and the type of suspension you have on your vehicle.
Can I change struts on my own?
Driving on old struts actually results in higher costs since the unregulated bouncing quickly wears out expensive suspension parts like ball joints, control arm bushings, stabilizer bar end links, and tie rod ends. It also swiftly damages your tires. In addition, worn struts increase your stopping distance from 60 mph by roughly 10 feet and cause steering instability, which is dangerous, especially on curves at higher speeds.
It used to be dangerous for a do-it-yourselfer to replace struts. While hoping the spring wouldn’t let go and rip out an eye or a limb, you had to compress it and remove the strut. Furthermore, if the internal hex pulled out, removing the rusty nut at the top of the strut might become a nightmare. However, you can now purchase a full strut assembly that does away with the need to disassemble the strut, spring, and mount. With these assemblies, you may quickly and easily replace both of your front struts. Even though you’ll need to have an alignment afterwards (costs roughly $100), doing the work yourself will still result in a $300 save. You’ll also need a thin piece of plywood, pin punches, large screwdrivers, wrenches, and rust penetrant. You might need to purchase a breaker bar and a couple large sockets. These are the procedures.