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Time for replacement struts?

BlakeS94

Was driving back roads around Kerry this weekend and could hear a dull thumbing sound when going over bumps, I've replaced the control arm track rod inner and outer and drop links already about a year ago.

Took a photo of the bottom of the strut it's covered in oil, they're Gas struts but I'm aware they still hold some oil in them, does this leaking mean the same as if they were oil only struts and need replacing.

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Whocare

It gone needs replacing might aswell do soon no hope passing nct ect

CoBo55

Tis' fcuked I'm afraid. Best to replace both if you can, they'll make a huge difference to the handling.

BlakeS94

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122216976#Comment_122216976

Yeah I've noticed the car isn't riding the best recently, before I noticed any sound.

Plan to change everything on both sides strut spring top mount and the spring seats, €300 all in not a bad price at all

BlakeS94

Also I've been having issues with a shaking steering wheel that I've been blaming on the garages wheel balancing could knackered struts cause that?

kermitpwee

What's the car? I gave shaking as well?

BlakeS94

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122217278#Comment_122217278

Mk4 mondeo

mk7r

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122217019#Comment_122217019

Id maybe see can you get higher quality shocks than those, bilstein or similar

BlakeS94

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122217456#Comment_122217456

Can get Bilstein for an extra €40 for the pair so could do that, thought KYB were decent?

mk7r

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122217461#Comment_122217461

They are ok ish, a budget brand but for 40 quid I'd definitely go bilsteins

BlakeS94

Ended up getting the Bilstein B4 struts, rang Ford to see how much springs are, €190 for 1 spring, not a chance, got KYB K flex springs for €120 both sides, ended up being €410 all in which isn't a bad price to replace everything on the front strut assemblies.

CoBo55

It'll be a different car, you won't realise how giddy it was until it's done you'll be like a rally driver going around ☺️

BlakeS94

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122231577#Comment_122231577

Yeah the Driveablility is gone a bit shite, it still actually corners quite well, but maybe not as well as I think when the new parts are on. Going to assemble to strut when the parts arrive so when the car is in the air it'll just be remove the old unit and straight in with the new.

next task is to convince the missus to let me spend money on the rear shocks and springs, probably best to get the same brands as the front or does it matter.

An Ri rua

I wouldn't have classed KYB as budget. There's far cheaper out there.

I sourced a pair of KYB for the front of a CrV at 170k and currently on 230k.

extra-ordinary_

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122217513#Comment_122217513

Are Kayaba not OEM on lots of models?

An Ri rua

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122236226#Comment_122236226

Yes indeed they are.

BlakeS94

Too late lads the bills been paid 😂 I did do some research and the general consensus seems to be Bilstein B4's are Better than KYB Excel G's. However the KYBs don't have bad reviews as such.

So I reckon mk7r was right to recommend a pair of better struts if it was only 40 euro in the difference

An Ri rua

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122217513#Comment_122217513

And there you go. QED for the casual reader. KYB are most certainly not budget. Premium would be more accurate.

mk7r

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122236506#Comment_122236506

Kyb do supply some OEM manufacturers but these are not the same shocks you can buy aftermarket, I stand by my statement of budget+ they are not premium for sure.

An Ri rua

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122238223#Comment_122238223

Can you back this statement up with a link as it would seem implausible that they don't supply OEM spec into the parts market. Its the whole reason for supplying OEM.

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122243277#Comment_122243277

I think it’s fairly common. Certain parts that are sold aftermarket can be different to the ones fitted brand new, even if they are the same brand. Nothing to back it up, have just heard it from knowledgeable posters on here over the years

An Ri rua

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122243314#Comment_122243314

Fair enough. But I think you can get a KYB to meet the OEM spec and better.

CoBo55

Oh for God sake, does every thread here have to descend into an argument. A man changes his front struts etc and it starts from there…

BlakeS94

Yes with Bilstein B4's 😂

CoBo55

Are you happy with the new setup?

BlakeS94

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122245053#Comment_122245053

Haven't received them yet, will update when they're installed

CoBo55

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122246021#Comment_122246021

Please do. I got new front shocks in the work Avensis, it's like a different car☺️

BlakeS94

Received parts today, all good except that struts packaging was in bits, no visible damage on struts themselves and they're very hard to compress so don't think they're bad parts.

One of them makes this noise on rebound though, other one is completely silent. It's the higher pitched "whoosh" noise as it rebounds.

As I said, they seem the be in good nick, just don't know if the noise is okay and it's only 1 of them that does it.

https://youtube.com/shorts/gu-DEJQ3-TI?si=eY_lgcrGjin2OkSC

BlakeS94

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122246551#Comment_122246551

Been a while but finally got both sides done new struts springs and top mount, the car is soo much nicer to drive. Ever so slightly stiff but comfortable at the same time, changes direction and turns much quicker now. Well worth the money and time put into it, you'd be fairly fcuked after doing it on the ground in the driveway though.

Don't know if I need to get tracking done the car is driving straight and true and steering wheel bang in centre

CoBo55

Nice one, good result. Hard to know if the tracking is affected, I'd doubt it.

User1998

No need for tracking after replacing shocks