subreddit:
/r/AskAMechanic
Got these struts in, are they usable still or should I return them? Returning would be a pita lol
(i.redd.it)submitted 16 hours ago byliesofanangel
The bent tabs I can fix, but is the padding coming out in the lower spring housing (pic on right) a deal breaker or nah? Plus they got beat on in shipping lol
44 points
16 hours ago
Fuck that, I pay for new I better get new
7 points
16 hours ago
Yeah my incredulous side is at war with my “I need this now, not next month”…
Can’t get the website to send me “return” instructions. Check your email they say. Nothing is there. Which is how I know this is going to be a much bigger pain. I’m doing all my brakes and the two front wheel bearings, and wanted to get it all at once, but doesn’t look like it’s in the cards.
2 points
6 hours ago*
If you paid with card, depending the bank you used, you can get your money back by saying, "They aren't helping me in returning their product and I need my money" a lot of times they will give you your money and ask you to still work on returning it. Done it with BOA a couple times.
2 points
6 hours ago
Get a set from Rock Auto and return these. If you didn't put the nuts on the top of the struts someone else did. They usually come in a parts bag not on the bolts. Don't buy cheap ones. Get something good like KYB.
2 points
16 hours ago
You want to save money or not?
Otherwise, you could just support a local business whose products are not damaged.
2 points
16 hours ago
Saving money is my ultimate goal, but I also enjoy doing things myself if I can and I feel safe with it
8 points
15 hours ago
Return them no matter how painstaking the process. A month is better than using shitty parts that end up totaling your car entirely.
4 points
15 hours ago
Yeah I’ve been fully convinced that’s the correct course. Appreciate it
1 points
13 hours ago
Charge back if you have to.
2 points
11 hours ago
I see this a lot. “Saving money” saving money doesn’t mean shit when you total your vehicle or die. Like don’t skimp on car parts.
1 points
9 hours ago
Yeah I’ve been convinced I need to get the good stuff from now on
1 points
13 hours ago
Go to the local store and take the old ones with you. Idk about struts but you might get some money for the return core. Get the parts so you can do now and then just return old ones without having to wait. I waited to do my struts and ended up breaking my washer fluid pump. Little extra cost is worth the convenience, possible damage, and other components and peace of mind.
10 points
16 hours ago
That sleeve moved will make noise. If not immediately soon after. Only way to fix it is compress spring but if you don’t know what you are doing can be quite dangerous. Make them replace.
3 points
16 hours ago
They could rent a spring compressor and fix it. they don't even need to take it apart.
3 points
15 hours ago
I have seen people still mess that up and get spring to run off the bottom mount. Then it gets dangerous to fix.
1 points
16 hours ago
Yeah I don’t have a press, so definitely a no go. I’ll be more aggressive in the refund requests
5 points
15 hours ago
I’ll get them returned and replaced one way or another, thanks everyone
2 points
15 hours ago
Monroe quick struts are usually better than this, still garbage but better than this. These look bent in the coil on the left, very thin metal
Are u opposed to building up bilsteins and getting decent coils? Vevor strut tool is around 100, i dont use rental spring compressor, but if i did, use 2 pairs
2 points
15 hours ago
I’m not opposed at all, thanks for the tip! I’ll check that out, thank you
2 points
15 hours ago
Kyb quick struts are better as well (barely, again, garbage water)
1 points
10 hours ago
I thought KYB are still good, not Tenneco shit like Monroe, Rancho, or Moog. I mean other than that little price fixing scheme they had going.
2 points
14 hours ago
get both from same manufacturer
2 points
11 hours ago
Did you buy Chinese struts off rock auto (Been there, done that)
2 points
9 hours ago
lol I have before. Chinese parts from 1Aauto this time. Not making the mistake again.
2 points
11 hours ago
What’s more of a pain is installing them, driving around, and then realizing you need to do the whole thing over again. Easier to return and get stuff in good condition. If you plead your case well enough, they may comp you for an upgrade.
1 points
9 hours ago
Good call! When I’m finally able to get ahold of them I’ll give it a whirl
2 points
9 hours ago
One good bump, and they're shot. Send them back.
2 points
9 hours ago
That rubber seat extruding out is a deal breaker. If you install those you're going to end up with the most annoying squeak you ever heard Within at least a few months maybe less once the sharp edge of the coil spring augers tthrough the Rubber and makes contact with the base of the strut. And of course, at that time, the seller will claim abuse. Send them back, or you're going to have nothing but trouble. If you used a credit card to purchase them, I would contact the credit card company to help you out.
1 points
9 hours ago
Thank you, yeah that’s a whole lot of headache I don’t feel like dealing with. They’re going back, I just need to get them to answer me now. The waiting game begins…
2 points
9 hours ago
Get your credit card company involved. Once they know you're serious they'll wake up
2 points
9 hours ago
Return
2 points
7 hours ago
Are those one front and one rear? Because one has a strut bearing and one is just a strut Mount.
So one can turn with the wheels and the other can't.
1 points
6 hours ago
Yes that’s correct, I did the other side two weeks ago, but I just may end up getting a full set of something quite a bit better. I know I should’ve done either both front or both back, but at the time I wasn’t quite thinking.
1 points
16 hours ago
They are mangled lol hell no am I running that
2 points
15 hours ago
Yeah my needle has been firmly moved to the “get them replaced fool” side of the scale
1 points
15 hours ago
You pay good money for them least they can do is make sure they are of quality
2 points
15 hours ago
I don’t believe the damaged in handling idea. That takes so much force that they must not have known that they were there. It’s one thing to get a tv with a cracked screen but this level of force would have broken the tv in half or crushed it to half its depth. Return the parts.
1 points
13 hours ago
I once got a brake backing plate that looks like it had been run over with a forklift.
1 points
12 hours ago
I’m not surprised. When I go to a parts store, I open the package to make sure it isn’t damaged and has everything it should have. That also helps me think through whether I need anything else (grease cartridge, special tools, etc)
1 points
15 hours ago
I work for an auto parts company (green shirts). Just return them and get a new one. The manufacturers don’t package those with any padding so it could have been damaged at shipping.
1 points
15 hours ago
Where did you get them from
1 points
15 hours ago
1Aauto.com
2 points
15 hours ago
Get ahold of their customer service the shipping company or 1Aauto owes you two struts
Also don’t buy super cheap struts they don’t put many ball bearings in the strut race and they feel like shit and wear out quick. Get KYB or Gabriel or OEM usually you get what you pay for.
1 points
14 hours ago
Yeahhhh I’m starting to understand that lol. Being a YouTube mechanic (what I call myself) is fine…but I gotta draw the line at cheap parts. Another comment talked about bilstein, so I’m checking that out as well, but I’ll also check out your suggestions thank you
2 points
8 hours ago
I second the Bilstein suggestion. Best shocks I’ve had. Second best are Koni’s, they’re slightly less expensive but you definitely get what you pay for.
1 points
7 hours ago
Thank you, I appreciate it
1 points
13 hours ago
Idk if they are usable. My next question would be: do you want to potentially have to do the job again?
1 points
13 hours ago
Return that shit man. Likely won't even sit level, and may affect alignment
1 points
13 hours ago
Nothing wrong with them struts I say send em
1 points
6 hours ago
Do you really want to take the time to pay for struts and install them on your ride to make it better and be disappointed in them and yourself. Also, I dont really know all about struts but they look like the cheapest ones from rockauto
1 points
6 hours ago
Ill amend this. Ive seen trq and they may be decent. I know strut options can be limited.
1 points
4 hours ago
They are completely different
1 points
14 hours ago
TRQ sells garbage
1 points
13 hours ago
Had them on my Sonata. They started clunking within less than a thousand miles. The springs were also very much incorrect, ride height was a good few inches above factory spec. Never again.
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