Only strut or complete suspension?

[Srinivas]

Hope you guys doing good. I have seen your videos in YouTube. you are technocrats.

OK. let me explain my problem. I have suzuki WagonR which is front wheel drive. I live in India.

6 Months ago, I serviced front suspensions. . because of big rubber which holds the topside was damaged both sides.

1. The mechanic removed both front suspension
2. compressed and removed springs.
3. He replaced the big rubber, bearings, and some mechanical parts.
4. he re assembled again. the car was working fine.

Now from week I am noticing oil leaks in both front suspension.

a. During drive in pot holes, I head noise front side. (dab dab dab…)
b. When car parked. I tried to shake the car. the car stops shaking before 3rd time.

I am sure I need to replace the strut.

My question is can I replace only strut or should I replace a complete assembly which comes along with spring also?

Topic

[Dave]

Replace the complete assembly. It is much easier/safer, plus there are no special tools needed (generally). The price difference between strut only and strut assembly is not that much if you are having someone else do it.

[george gonzalez]

Depends. If you like to live dangerously, rent a spring compressor and just replace the strut.

I’ve done it about a dozen times and only had the spring go flying across the driveway a time or two.

Also consider, the strut on the other side is probably the same age as the bad one. Perhaps best to replace them in pairs.

Also realize that there are about sixteen rubber bushings and eight ball joints in the front suspension, any one of them may be going bad and rattling and clanking.

[Bryan]

Replace struts in pairs. Please be safe and keep ur face back behind ur body when compressing and decompressing.

[Kevin Criswell]

[quote=”brokemechanic3000″ post=83478]Replace the complete assembly. It is much easier/safer, plus there are no special tools needed (generally). The price difference between strut only and strut assembly is not that much if you are having someone else do it.[/quote]

I agree and not only that put when you only replace the shock part of the strut you are putting a new component into a worn out assembly (spring and bearing). With a FWD vehicle more slung weight is on the front springs than there was on RWD where the transmission is more towards the center of the vehicle.

[Author]

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