The Maniac

The shocks or "struts" as the guy at the shop corrected me have long been in severe need of replacement on my 1996 Honda Civic EX. I was qouted $650 just for parts to replace all 4 struts. He said you can't just replace the shock you have to replace the entire unit. Is all this true or did he just not want to work on my car? I'm pretty decent with a wrench and have done all my own modifications on my vehicles but I prefer to leave suspension to the experts. Too much of a safety issue to try and save 50 bucks on an install. If it's just a simple shock swap I'll do it myself but the way the guy was talking it sounds like I have to replace it all.

.Ry

Well it would be a simple shock swap, but you have to install the old springs on the old shocks, but you use all of the old parts. If your worried about it take it to Sears. They use good OEM shocks, but they are around $100 a piece since your buying them there. Its just a mark up though, its up to you.

kyden

they are shocks, not struts. go smack the guy in the head. and yes, you can replace just the shock, as long as the springs arent broken.

v4lu3s

the book aate to replace the struts is about $250.
least thats what my labor guide says.
and cost of 4 new honda oem struts is about $450 from honda.

The Maniac

Ok, so if I order 4 new shocks from Advance, what else will I need to replace? Bushings, mounts, anything like that?

Everyones Hero

How many miles are on the car? You may not need to replace anything other than the shocks.

The Maniac

The car is only worth $3,125. $700 to replace all 4 shocks is almost a 1/4 of what the car is worth.

There's 140,000 miles on the car.


Modified by The Maniac at 2:12 PM 1/16/2006

Everyones Hero

With 140k on the bushings and **** I'd look at them to see if they're dryrotting or anything, but I'm sure they're fine. I think a new suspension bushing kit is nearly 200.

delLude3

Just go buy some Kyb shocks off ebay for 200 or get some at autozone napa or wherever, is easy as hell job, if you can work on cars, is no prob. Dont need instructions or nothing, just lift up car, might need a spring compressor which you can rent from autozone, other than that, unbolt and put on.

hatchi

just buy some tokico blue shocks and reuse your springs. for that price you can probably get a decent Tein suspension..

T-RO

if youre gonna spend that just get some KYB shocks and a set of eibachs. I got AGX + Eibach sportlines for around 425 (Shocks new, springs used)