I need new struts but do not know if I need specific struts because my car is on lowering springs.
So, I bought my car used from a guy in westfield. It was great and all, but the first week, the ride got really rough. And weird sounds when I hit bumpy road. Im thinking it's the struts. So i want to replace the struts, but the guy before me replace the springs with Meghan Lowering Springs that dropped the car a couple inches. Sour, the problem is, I don't know if there is a specific type of strut I should get or just get any. And also, im new to buying car parts online, and by myself, so I need help knowing what to look for. And too see what the part looks like, because I have a gene
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Shocks and struts are vehicle specific. They’re designed to operate within a certain range of travel. When you mix lowering springs – especially those that lower the car a couple of inches – with stock shocks and struts, the ride can be really rough and their life can be shortened. If you plan on keeping the lowering springs but replacing the struts only, you may want to check with vendors that sell the brand springs on the car as to their recommended struts to be paired with them.
If you decide to enlist some help for getting this fixed, I’d suggest having the car looked at by a certified technician, such as one from YourMechanic. They will be able to assess you car in person and assist you with the proper replacement of your strut assembly. Best of luck.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
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Shocks and struts are vehicle specific.
If your vehicle needs struts, you cannot substitute shocks (and vice versa). Shocks are individual components of the suspension that help the coil springs absorb the impact of the road. Without shocks, the vehicle would bounce out of control!
It is generally recommended that you change the shocks/struts when you use lowering springs. Your stock shocks and struts are designed to operate up and down in the range the stock springs provide.
If you`re experiencing a shaky or bumpy ride, have poor steering capabilities, noise or stiffness when steering, or a host of other issues, consider maintenance on your Saturn ION shocks. AutoZone has the ION struts you need, at a great price, and a team of helpful staff members to show you anything you need to know.
Locate the OEM part number(s) on the strut you wish to replace and make a note of them. These are usually located on the thicker part of the strut body and are generally a combination of letters, digits and dashes.
Your vehicle is an intricate machine that depends on many parts to operate. Those parts include shocks or struts. Shocks and struts aren`t interchangeable, but they have some similarities. Both play an essential part in ride comfort, and both wear over time and from use.
Yes, it is also a good idea to replace both the strut mount and the strut boot when replacing struts. The strut mount optimizes suspension performance by providing a smooth steering response and reducing vibration.
We recommend replacing the struts as a pair for that end of the vehicle. If you find a strut is damaged on the passenger or driver side of the front or rear, generally we recommend replacing the strut on the other side of that end. You`ll save time and money and it will prevent the symptoms above from happening.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
I need new struts but do not know if I need specific struts because my car is on lowering springs.
ANSWER : Shocks and struts are vehicle specific. They’re designed to operate within a certain range of travel. When you mix lowering springs – especially those that lower the car a couple of inches – with stock shocks and struts, the ride can be really rough and their life can be shortened. If you plan on keeping the lowering springs but replacing the struts only, you may want to check with vendors that sell the brand springs on the car as to their recommended struts to be paired with them.
If you decide to enlist some help for getting this fixed, I’d suggest having the car looked at by a certified technician, such as one from YourMechanic. They will be able to assess you car in person and assist you with the proper replacement of your strut assembly. Best of luck.
have code p0017 dealer is telling me i need a new engine is this because they dont know what to do next to my car .?
ANSWER : As you may have already learned, the code p0017 indicates an issue with the crankshaft position sensor. This would mean that that transmission doesn’t understand the speed and can’t send the same information to the transmission. I don’t think your car needs a new engine just based on this code alone. With all the repairs that you’ve done, it’s possible that the ECM is faulty and is producing the code. I recommend having a professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, reset the codes and inspect the Check Engine Light thoroughly in order to make a proper diagnosis.
Do i have to change my shocks and struts to get lowering springs, or can i just get the lowering springs?
ANSWER : It is generally recommended that you change the shocks/struts when you use lowering springs. Your stock shocks and struts are designed to operate up and down in the range the stock springs provide. Lowering springs are shorter than stock springs so the shocks and struts wind up in a new normal position that is more like the middle of their travel when used with stock springs. The ride will not be as well controlled as with using shocks and struts designed to operate with lowering springs. Theoretically you can leave the stock shocks and struts in place with lowering springs but they will not last very long, especially if at 124,000 miles, yours are original. I suggest having your cars suspension system diagnosed by a certified technician, like one from YourMechanic. They’ll be able to check out these components firsthand and help you adjust your suspension from there. Good luck.
I put the wrong key in my car and a few weeks later my car just shut down and it will not start I believe it’s the computer but…
ANSWER : Hi there. What had happened is the wrong key set the security to the vehicle. This is to prevent the vehicle from starting with the wrong keys. Try removing the battery cables (+) and (-) for 13 minutes. During that time, put the original key in the ignition and turn it on. Activate everything in the car even though there is no power. Then remove the key and hook up the battery cables. The computer should have reset and reset the security. If the security is still being tripped, then I recommend seeking out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you
We have a new battery, new alternator, new coil pk, new master fuse and the car still won’t hold power.
ANSWER : Hi there. The only thing that I could think possible is causing your problem is that something may not have been correctly installed while your son was completing this maintenance. However, if your engine was difficult to start before this service, it’s possible there are different components that are damaged that simply didn’t resolve the issue. The only way of knowing what is going on with your Trailblazer would be to have one of our mobile mechanics in your area come to your location and complete a car is hard to start inspection.
My car cranks but will not start. I try to do fix the car myself. I put new battery, new alternator, and new ignition coils.
ANSWER : Hi there. Check the spark plugs and see if they are worn or burned. If the plugs are good and they have a good spark, then the engine compression could be low causing a no start situation. If the spark plugs are not emitting a spark, then the crankshaft position sensor could have failed or disconnected. Check the crankshaft position sensor wiring harness and make sure that its plugged in. Check the sensor and make sure that its not broken or damaged. If you need further assistance with your engine not starting, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.
Got told I needed I new head gasket but my car doesn’t over heat or smokes obut needs o2 sensors… Any suggestion?
ANSWER : Hello, thank you for writing in. Without knowing the symptoms the vehicle is having, it is difficult to say what the issue may be. If you are receiving a code from the computer related to the oxygen sensors, then the sensor(s) may be receiving a reading outside of specification. This can be because fluids are passing through the head gasket and being consumed in the engine. When this happens, the catalytic converter is forced to process contaminants it is not designed to handle. This may set off the an oxygen sensor code. In this situation you would not necessarily see or smell a leak, but you would see a decrease in fluid levels. However, there are several other causes for these sensors to read outside of of specifications. They include a bad connection, bad O2 sensor, or a bad catalytic converter. If you are worried you are being scammed, get a second opinion by contacting our service department.
My car will not start Intermittently. I purchased a new battery 2 weeks ago and yesterday the car wouldn’t start. Got a jump and
ANSWER : The issue you are having is probably due to an intermittent fault in the starter motor itself or a deficiency in the starter electrical circuit, for example a large voltage drop due to a poor ground or a high resistance connection. These issues can be readily diagnosed and resolved on a mobile basis if you request a hard starting diagnostic. If you request that diagnostic, the responding certified mechanic will get this resolved for you promptly. Based on Toyota’s Factory Service Manual, the battery should not be disconnected if the vehicle engine is running. The battery acts as a large resistive voltage sink and consequently taking the battery out of the circuit, while the alternator is still running, can create a voltage spike on the car’s electrical system which is not good for voltage sensitive components such as the engine computer. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
