Suspension Question, about mileage

You're right in the zone.

However, there is no reason to replace anything until a part is worn.

Have it inspected every so often by someone who knows what they're looking at.

not what i was looking for here sharky......i need help with the wife on safety issues. i mean, i don't really HAVE to have it, but it helps! didn't you say that because you didn't change your set up in time, you got in a wreck and almost died? :weirdo:

GAPassatman said:

not what i was looking for here sharky......i need help with the wife on safety issues. i mean, i don't really HAVE to have it, but it helps! didn't you say that because you didn't change your set up in time, you got in a wreck and almost died? :weirdo:

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No, I didn't say that.

MY car has 203k miles with original everything except struts.

Of course, my car is also a Toyota.

YOUR car will start spitting parts out any day now. Which is why you need the inspections.

no, you did say that, wink wink, didn't you??

How about this:

I am shocked you are even driving this car. Everyone knows you must overhaul the suspension every 100K.

you know, i kind of chuckle at this, but i saw a monroe ad that said to change your struts every 50k! now, granted, if you did this, monroe stands to make more money, so i doubt you REALLY need to change every 50k, but is there some truth to this ad?

GAPassatman said:

you know, i kind of chuckle at this, but i saw a monroe ad that said to change your struts every 50k! now, granted, if you did this, monroe stands to make more money, so i doubt you REALLY need to change every 50k, but is there some truth to this ad?

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Its mostly crap.

Bring the ad and ask them why they sell lifetime struts and shocks.

Most shocks lose more than half their usefull life around 50k.
100k is well overdue for new shocks.

I would say that shocks past 75K miles aren't working optimally anymore and you could replace them in good conscience that you are replacing a worn part.

On the flip side, shocks should work all the way up to 200K miles and beyond, you'll probably just hate the ride! :nervous:

It's funny this should come up now, but I just changed out the front shocks on my beater '88 Accord (with cheapo Monroes). The old ones were original pieces with 186K miles on them! It's less bouncy over big potholes & dips, but not so much it would jump out at you. The suspension was soft to begin with, as was the replacement strut.

OTOH, when I replaced the suspension on the Passat w/Bilsteins & HR OE's at 45k, the difference was huge.

Hyong