Question 2001 w 104K mi - Struts? - Toyota Tundra Forums : Tundra Solutions Forum

surfshoptom · #1 (**permalink**) 09-01-2008, 10:50 AM

Big O Tires just told us my wife's Highlander needs rear bearings and all 4 struts. Total tab around $2100. The car makes a noise which I believe are the bearings, so that's probably right. Wasn't expecting the news about the struts which are the most expensive aspect of the job. Struts are original. What are your thoughts?

asianflava · #2 (**permalink**) 09-05-2008, 05:16 AM

An easy way to check if you need shocks is to push down on the rear (if the rear is in question), if it bounces more than 2 times, then you need shocks. Last time I had my tires rotated on the HL, they recommended struts too. I checked, and the damping is fine.

LifeTech · #3 (**permalink**) 09-08-2008, 05:15 PM

at over 100 K yu are probably due. Damping fade when yu drive for extended periods on rough roads cannot be verified by just doing a test as stated above. Mileage is about right for a change out. Yu will definitely notice the ride difference.
How long do yu plan on keeping the HL? For more than another 30K?
IF so do the job...but $2100 is a major rip off dude. Shop it hard. $600-700 is more realistic.

Add another $80-100 for a requisite 4 wheel alignment.

ddvk · #4 (**permalink**) 09-09-2008, 11:59 PM

As LT said once you hit the 100K mark you will need new shocks. They may not leak but then they sag and it sucks since it puts a lot more pressure on the suspension and PS systems.

BTW, replacing all shocks will not be more than $600 dollars including parts. Shop the parts online (I personally like Tokico/KYB).

With mediocre mech skillsets you could rent the spring compressor from Autozone and do it yourself. One weekend from the fronts and another for the rears.

BTW bounce tests give a relatively accurate description of front shocks but diagnosing rear shocks is another beast by itself. I will just go by the miles on the shocks, 100K just do it.

surfshoptom · #5 (**permalink**) 09-10-2008, 10:37 PM

Well - we did it. The guy made a calculator error. He had the struts listed at $315 ea. He said the rears were $196 ea and the fronts were $211 each. He said the average was $315. I said "no it's not." Anyway, he ordered Monroes for about $200 ea and $60 ea for install. When the job was done, we noticed no difference. He also replaced the rear bearings and the HL still made the same noise. We were pissed. He's going to replace the front bearings tomorrow for free. So we're going to have about $1600 in it and have 4 new struts and 4 new bearings. The noise better be fixed. If not, we'll have $1600 in it and still have the original problem.

Thanks for all the answers.

ddvk · #6 (**permalink**) 09-10-2008, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by surfshoptom

Anyway, he ordered Monroes for about $200 ea and $60 ea for install.

KYBs are $120 a piece and bearing $30 a piece. WFH did he put Monroes (poor struts) which usually go for $60 in Autozone. Anyway you were determined to get rapped and thats exactly what you got from the mechanic jerkkk...

Avoid him in the future and first get all the details from folks in the forum before buring dollars.

ddvk · #7 (**permalink**) 09-10-2008, 11:20 PM

BTW what was the price of OEM struts (which will invariably be Tokico blue/KYBs) and bearings (usually they are plastic pieces that help make the strut mount slide with less friction).

You need to replace the strut mounts ($80 a piece) if there are any sounds, those usually wear out along with the struts.

Pl. bear with my flowery language in my previous reply, these mech jerks out there to rob money and it pisses me off when people shed so much money for something they can do in their garages.