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We don’t often think about it when we drive, but cars and trucks are complicated vehicles with thousands of moving parts all working in harmony to bring us a smooth and safe drive.

But, every so often one of those moving parts goes bad, and when that happens the entire machine can be affected. The front struts on your vehicle–while they may not even be something you’ve given any thought to before this moment–are a perfect example of this. 

When struts start to fail, it puts both you and your vehicle in potential danger. 

What do you do in these situations? We’re so glad you asked! Read on as we dive into your vehicle’s struts, starting with what they are and when to replace them.

What are struts? 

Let’s start with the basics: Struts are a key part of your vehicle’s suspension system. The suspension system helps give your vehicle not only a smooth ride over uneven ground but a controlled one as well. 

They are part of what enables your vehicle’s wheel to align itself vertically–go up and down–as needed to make sure that the tire stays in contact with the road and that you remain in control of the vehicle.

Struts take the place of the upper control arm on the vehicles in which they’re installed and act as a pivot point for the steering system–meaning they also help allow the wheel to turn properly. 

They also carry the weight of the vehicle, keeping the chassis from bottoming out or scraping the ground on uneven surfaces. Struts also allow the vehicle to remain in balance when traversing uneven terrain, otherwise, the vehicle might be at risk of rolling if the road is too rough. 

How often do I need to replace my struts? 

Struts are not considered high-maintenance parts (high-maintenance parts being those that require replacing with frequent regularity, like brake pads). In general, assuming simple commutes and no damage to the struts themselves, you will have to replace them very infrequently. Often, the struts on your vehicle will last for the entire life of your vehicle. 

Even when struts do need to be replaced, it’s generally very infrequently. On average, you can expect to need to replace your struts every 50,000 to 100,000 miles. These numbers will change, of course, if the struts become damaged or if you put a lot of wear and tear on them through activities such as off-roading.

Do I need to replace my struts? 

There are three versions of this question that should be answered. Let’s address them individually.

1) Can I drive without any struts at all?

Answer: Absolutely not. Removing the struts from a vehicle designed to have them without replacing them with either the same type of strut or a custom piece will compromise your suspension and steering system and essentially brick your car. 

2) Can I drive with worn or damaged struts?

Answer: Technically yes, at least for a while. It is unlikely that the struts would fail catastrophically immediately, but rather that you would see notable decreases in performance over time. It is perfectly possible to drive a vehicle on worn struts. But that leads us to the third version of that question.

3) Do I need to replace my worn or damaged struts?

Answer: Yes, absolutely. We mentioned above that the struts are not only part of the suspension but that they serve as a pivot point for the vehicle’s steering system. This means that if a strut is worn or damaged, it will affect the stability of your vehicle, and may also adversely affect the steering and controllability of your vehicle. 

If you believe your struts are worn and may need repair or replacing, even though it may not be an emergency situation, you should still get them replaced as soon as possible to avoid a bumpy, rocking ride and also to avoid becoming a hazard on the road. 

How do I know if I need to replace my struts? 

Worn or damaged struts will make themselves known in a variety of ways, and you should know all of them in order to make a layman’s diagnosis of the problem. 

-Knocking or rattling sounds

If you hear knocking or rattling sounds–especially when going over uneven terrain or when making steering adjustments–it could be a symptom of worn struts. 

Also, pay attention to where the sound seems to be coming from. Your struts will be located on your front wheels, just above the axle. If you hear rattling or knocking sounds coming from that area, that is a sign that you may need to investigate the condition of your struts further. 

-Bumpy ride

Because they are a stabilizing part of your vehicle’s suspension system–which in turn helps ensure a smooth ride–excessive bumpiness or rattling in the vehicle itself is often a sure sign of problems with your struts or suspension. 

This will be especially pronounced over uneven terrain, or where the vehicle’s suspension will be in high use. This is because as the strut wears out, it is less able to handle and compensate for the bounces and jolts the wheels encounter while driving. 

-Dipping when the car brakes or accelerates

This is a similar symptom to the previous one, in that it happens because your struts may be worn to the point of being unable to compensate for acceleration or braking actions. This will cause the car to dip lower to the ground or feel like it is lunging forward or flinging back when braking or accelerating. 

-Hydraulic fluid leaks

The suspension system in your car is a hydraulic system. There is a piston inside the strut body that, when it absorbs the shock of the wheel striking an uneven surface, compresses upwards and the shock is dampened by the hydraulics cushioning the piston. If a strut goes bad, it can begin leaking hydraulic fluid through a worn gasket or another seal. 

If you have one or more of these symptoms, it may be indicative that it’s time to have your vehicle’s struts replaced. And while a trusted aftermarket parts supplier such as AutoShack can help supply you with the right part, there is still the matter of getting it installed correctly. 

How much does it cost to replace struts? 

Labor costs

Labor costs will vary greatly depending on where you live, and whether or not you take the vehicle to a reputable local mechanic or to the dealership mechanic. In general, dealership mechanics are pricier. 

In general, you can expect to pay anywhere from $150 to $300 [CA $205.50 to $411] per strut replacement. This does not include parts. The labor costs for replacing struts will generally run high because in order to replace the strut, the entire suspension system has to be broken down. 

Something of which you should also be aware: often after getting a strut replaced, you will want to have your wheels aligned as well to ensure everything is as it should be once you’re back on the road. 

Struts should be replaced in pairs, as replacing only a single strut may cause an imbalance in the suspension system. Having one brand-new and strong strut paired with an older and perhaps weaker strut can lead to uneven driving and steering.

Parts 

Like most parts, the cost of a strut will vary depending on the year, make, and model of your vehicle. But because struts are also key pieces of the suspension, there are a variety of grades and types you can usually purchase beyond just the factory-standard model. A single strut can cost anywhere from $18 to $700 [CA $24.66 to $959] for a high-end set. 

AutoShack keeps your strut repair costs low 

Purchasing your struts from a reliable aftermarket supplier like AutoShack is an excellent way to keep costs low. Not only are they almost always cheaper than equivalent factory-direct parts, but also most mechanics will use the part you bring them when performing repairs. 

AutoShack offers fast, free shipping in most cases. Normal shipments go out within 3 days with expedited shipping options available for emergency repair jobs. 

Stop by our website and input your vehicle’s information into our search bar to start browsing our inventory and to see what AutoShack can do for you!