How to Shop for Struts and Shocks

When you need struts or shocks, call a few auto service shops to compare prices and warranties. Most

tire dealers, brake repair centers, and independent shops sell and install struts and shocks. When struts are replaced the alignment will need to be checked. Therefore, a center that has alignment capabilities is a good choice, although you could take your car to another shop to have it alinged. However don't drive your car more than about twenty miles before it is aligned. If you are replacing shocks only, the alignment need not be checked unless you notice uneven wear. Although most better quality shocks or struts are warranted for as long as you own them, this probably does not cover labor. Make sure you ask about this and any other warranty information when you call for an estimate. Since struts make up a major portion of the suspension, the time and labor requires to install them will be significantly higher than on a shock. You can expect to pay around ten to sixty dollars per strut for labor.

When shopping around for shocks and struts make sure to ask for brand name from your Denver auto repair shop. About ninety percent of all shocks are made by just two companies, Gabriel and Monroe, so you will hear these two names over and over. Many people will say their shocks and struts are made by just two companies, but the brand name won't be on the box, or the shock. These are private label shocks. One of the big shock makers builds them for another company who uses their own name brand. The only disadvantage to a private label is that the warranty will be honored only by the company who sold the shock. A national brand name shock will be warranted at any dealer who carries that brand. Be sure to get all these details in order to make a fair comparison and to help budget can stand it, the best quality struts or shocks will provide a smoother ride for a longer time. Don't be tempted to go with the lowest price just for the sake of saving money, you may just end up disappointed.