I have a strut question

[wc_alero]

So this past thursday morning Indianapolis got our first real snow and even though it wasnt much it was kinda slick. I know as probably some of you do the same thing that I always make fun of people who mess up there cars in a little bit of snow. Well I was leaving my apartment complex and decided I would "test" the slickness of the road. SO while "testing" the slickness I slid right into a curb. I dont think I screwed up my rims which have possibly been sold which are now off my car. Now after you finish laughing if you could help me out.

I just got back from having someone look at my car and they said I need new front struts and a left side steering knuckles. Well they want $187.50 for each strut plus $138 for labor. The steering knuckle they are unsure of the cost. I was thinking of getting lowering springs soon and have heard people mention in here that you will need new struts when you get these. Would I just be better off to get these struts now? If so where can I get them? Thanks for all your help.

[Johnnyangel]

how did you hit the curb, sideways? head on? You'd have to hit it pretty hard to mangle the struts- the hub, the knuckle, a tie rod end maybe, but the struts? If you really DO end up needng struts, you'd better check the towers too to make sure they aren't bent up.

[wc_alero]

I hit the curb at an angle and I think my struts were going bad before I hit the curb. I took it to a tire place and they were the ones who told me that I needed struts as well. I was hoping to just need an alignment but that wasnt it. They gave me readings on my alignment and I am not really sure what they mean. The camber on the left is 2.9 degrees and the right is .1 degree if that means anything.

[Final-Reality]

Means your struts are off-camber by quite a bit.. 2.9 degrees of camber is a lot.. they're probably right in that the struts are bad if you smacked them on a curb

[99blackalero]

go to www.tirerack.com, the kyb struts are about $75 each for the Alero, thats what i put on my car when i lowered it

[shockz]

How fast were you going when you hit the curb?

I was ran off the road and hit a curb and in the process my struts broke. I was going about 35 when it happened.

[wc_alero]

I am really not sure probably around 15 - 20

[wc_alero]

Thanks for all your help. I have decided to go with KYB struts and Intrax springs.

[Rubered00]

i think whoever you took your car to is trying to slide one by on you...because like a month ago now i was messing around in the snow and power slid sideways into a curb :( and it took a good sized chunk out of my rim but that is all it messed up

[wc_alero]

Well I dont think they were totally screwing with me because after it happened my steering wheel was turned to the left and the car goes straight lol. I have already gotten my left steering knuckle fixed and it is no longer like that. I went to a different place to get it done though.

Now I am just waiting on my struts and springs to do the rest.

[sound_xtreme]

Means your struts are off-camber by quite a bit.. 2.9 degrees of camber is a lot.. they're probably right in that the struts are bad if you smacked them on a curb


not really. a lot of those imports are like -15 after ya lower it. but it still shouldnt be that much off. no ones even if they are lowered a lot like me.

[wc_alero]

Well I havent lowered it yet, I decided to lower it and get new struts after I screwed it up.

[krippakrippa]

Hey man Sryy bout the luck, but i may have some good news, If u absolutley need new struts, get KYB"S off of summittracing.com the are 49.95 for each. I got them over the Christmas Holiday. They are really sharp looking and cheap. 198.99 for 4 new struts.

[wc_alero]

Yeah I will be getting them shortly, as soon as I make sure I am getting the right intrax lowering springs too. I thought they were the same as the Grand Am? but I am not sure just going off my memory from what I remembering seeing on the aleroupgrades site

[wc_alero]

I finally got my KYB struts and Intrax lowering springs ordered, but the the springs will take 2 to 4 weeks to receive because they are on backorder.

[alerosoldier]

Well I dont think they were totally screwing with me because after it happened my steering wheel was turned to the left and the car goes straight lol. I have already gotten my left steering knuckle fixed and it is no longer like that. I went to a different place to get it done though.

i hope you didn't spend too much money. because what you're saying happened to my alero. i was out with this girl, and i wasnt paying any attention and my car "climbed" over one of those irrigation canel "gates" (where the canal ends and the street/ground begins) . it made my steering wheel do the same exact thing. I knew it had to be my alignment. I went to a local mechanic, he said it looked like I ran over a pig and my back right (something or other, i forget the part in mention... lol.) was completely bent and unfixable. well he gave me a price, 100 for the part. 60 for labor, and 60 to align it. so about 220 bucks. i knew he was blowing smoke up my *** . so i went to the dealer, and had them look at it. As it turned out, my alignment had just been knocked way out. They fixed the problem without any new parts and sent me on my merry way for no more than 60 bucks. (because alignment is wear and tear and not covered by my warranty) My best advice, Do not trust mechanics. They will rob you blind.

[wc_alero]

I ended up having 3 different mechanics 2 at shops and my friends dad who is also a mechanic and all three of them told me the same thing without me letting them know what the previous one said.

I needed new struts anyway so the only thing they could have lied to me about was the left steering knuckle needing replaced and it cost me a little over 250 to get it fixed.