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.
Although changing your struts may not be a simple do-it-yourself project, you can always reduce the cost by working with Jerry to save money on car bills like car insurance.
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In This Article...
How long do Camry struts 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.
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.
How much does strut replacement typically cost?
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.
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.
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).
How long do Toyota struts last?
Have you experienced this? When you visit your regular shop for a routine oil change, the mechanic remarks, “By the way, you might want to consider getting some new shocks and/or struts.
Your initial reaction is undoubtedly “Really? I’m curious how much that will cost. The question “How do I know if I actually DO need new shocks/struts?” might be your next one. The majority of us have no idea how long shocks or struts should last, therefore this is a really good question.
How Long Do Shocks/Struts Last?
Many different things affect this. Shocks or struts can be compared to tennis shoes. They will last a lot longer if you only use them on the weekends to go shopping than if you ride a skateboard, wear them every day, and constantly use the brakes on your shoes!
This means that if you drive less frequently, on smoother roads, don’t drive aggressively, and don’t haul a lot of weight in your car, your shocks or struts will last longer.
If your car has been well-taken care of, you may anticipate that the shocks/struts will survive for roughly 10 years. Five years is probably the maximum you can hope for if you’ve really treated your automobile like a workhorse. This indicates that the typical driver may expect the shocks and struts to last a maximum of 7 or 8 years.
How Do I Know If My Car Has Shocks or Struts?
The majority of automobiles and SUVs on the road today have shock absorbers in the back and struts on the front wheels. Your car might have four wheel struts or, if it’s an extremely ancient car, four shocks, but this is less usual.
You can always read your owner’s manual, which ought to indicate what features are installed in your car, or you can get on all fours and have a look. Shocks, often known as shock absorbers, resemble the shocks on the front wheels of bicycles. Struts are far more intricate designs that are enclosed inside a coil spring. This is due to the fact that struts are a crucial component of the front suspension.
Sure-Fire Signs You Need Shocks or Struts
Because they genuinely don’t recognize that their shocks or struts need to be replaced, some folks never do. How can you be sure without a doubt? Here are 5 surefire indicators.
Dipping Front End or Droopy Bottom
Does the front end of your automobile droop down like a curtsy before the queen as you pass over a speed bump or if you apply the brakes more forcefully than usual? That is a classic indication of front struts that are worn out.
Alternatively, does the back of the car bottom out when you reverse out of a driveway and the back wheel strikes the curb’s dip? Does it leave pavement scrapes? These are indications that the rear shocks have served their purpose.
Leaks
You can inspect your shocks and struts if you get a flashlight. Do you notice any liquid, often brown in color, dripping over the shock or strut’s bottom portion? This has a distinct appearance from, say, a leak elsewhere that is splashing on the shock. There shouldn’t be a splash of fluid on only one side of this leak; it should come straight down.
Be wary of dishonest mechanics who spray oil all over your shocks or struts before showing you the “leaking part.” As they drive home, ask them to wipe it off with a rag. Within a few kilometers, if it is leaking, you will see it again.
A Bouncy Ride
This is possibly the most typical of all the warning flags, but it’s simple to overlook because most individuals get used to how their automobile rides over time.
A quick test involves pushing or standing on the bumper, bouncing up and down a few times, and then hopping off (watch your step!). After another bounce, the car should come to a stop. It’s time for new shocks or struts if it happens twice or more.
A Loss of Control
When you make a curve or hit a pothole that you weren’t expecting, that is another warning indicator. It is likely that the struts are damaged if you notice any swaying or feel generally unsteady in the car.
An antiquated method to check for this is to drive the car while someone else follows behind. When shocks and struts are severely worn out, the car will readily start to bounce or sway from side to side.
Tire Wear and Vibrations
Although imbalanced wheels can sometimes cause steering wheel vibrations, worn out struts can also be to blame.
Your front struts’ condition can also be determined by looking at your tires. Tires with what is known as “cupping,” which appears as bald, circular cup marks, typically end up this way due to severely worn out struts. Although it’s less common with rear shocks, if you haven’t replaced your struts, it’s likely that the rear shocks are also worn out.