Strut recommendations
Thread Starter
Pit Crew
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 117
Likes: 5
From: TX
Strut recommendations
Hi ...I own a 1999 ES300. I'm looking for replacement strut recommendations. I tried some Monroe complete struts that I bought from O'Reilly Auto Parts. These daggone things started squeaking after 1 month.
Pole Position
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 356
Likes: 2
From: Hawaii
Guys on here suggested KYB, which is the oem manufacturer, though they said the KYB ones were stiffer than OEM but it might just be because they're newer than worn out OEMs.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 25,917
Likes: 4,274
From: Alberta
I've read a lot of stories about the Quick-Struts squeaking and rattling. Do you still have all your old parts? If so I'd recommend you spend the extra money and get Lexus struts, if you don't have your old coils, mounts etc. well then I guess you're out of luck.
Here's the Lexus part numbers
Here's the Lexus part numbers
Thread Starter
Pit Crew
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 117
Likes: 5
From: TX
I've read a lot of stories about the Quick-Struts squeaking and rattling. Do you still have all your old parts? If so I'd recommend you spend the extra money and get Lexus struts, if you don't have your old coils, mounts etc. well then I guess you're out of luck.
Here's the Lexus part numbers
Here's the Lexus part numbers
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 582
Likes: 105
From: CA
I replaced my struts with KYB. And as mentioned above, they are stiff - much more like a sport suspension. I have 300 miles on them and certainly mellowed out some but still stiff. The additional factors - I have 145K miles on the original springs which I reused - could be adding pre-load to struts making them more stiff???
Based on what I know now, I would go OEM all the way. I enjoyed the softer ride. If I wanted a sport ride, I would buy a sports car. Now these struts may settle in with more miles, we shall see.
4 struts - Rock auto about $300, OEM about $650. Rubbers, mounts are extra. I may have saved $350 but I feel it in every bump.
If it is money issue, do just fronts or just rears first with OEM, then do the other later. Also be mindful of the mounts, they must be installed with the arrows on the hardware facing out, the strut locked into the notches of the mount before final torque or you will destroy the mount. I marked the top of the strut and top of mount to ensure proper line up before I dropped the weight of the car on it.
Based on what I know now, I would go OEM all the way. I enjoyed the softer ride. If I wanted a sport ride, I would buy a sports car. Now these struts may settle in with more miles, we shall see.
4 struts - Rock auto about $300, OEM about $650. Rubbers, mounts are extra. I may have saved $350 but I feel it in every bump.
If it is money issue, do just fronts or just rears first with OEM, then do the other later. Also be mindful of the mounts, they must be installed with the arrows on the hardware facing out, the strut locked into the notches of the mount before final torque or you will destroy the mount. I marked the top of the strut and top of mount to ensure proper line up before I dropped the weight of the car on it.
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 582
Likes: 105
From: CA
I don't have the old ones for the front, but I wouldn't have a problem grabbing some OEM's from the local pick-a-part. I was trying to dodge rebuilding the strut by using pre-assembled struts. I may have to do the rebuild. I have a spring compressor, just hate using it.
http://www.autozone.com/loan-a-tools...ing-compressor
It has locking pins to reduce the chance of the popping off.
Last edited by fortitude; Feb 12, 2016 at 08:06 PM. Reason: added data
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