so i was driving today and noticed that every time i went over a bump....when my car would return to normal height, there was a squeaking/scratching noise. i am pretty sure it is my struts....i am going to check tomorrow just to make sure....but for now i am looking at getting new struts and installing them

my first question is, not being very knowledgeable on cars (i have done my x-pipe, catback exhaust and throttle body myself so far), are struts a project i want to take on myself?

my second question is, what type of struts should i get for the car....as it is my daily driver but i do like to push it to its limits from time to time....i mean it is my baby....i like to ride her hard after a long day of work sometimes

 

I would let someone else do them

 

might be the struts, could also be the sway bar bushings @ the frame. the sway bar twists in the bushings when you go over bumps, etc.. eventually the bushings wear down to nothing.

struts tend to bang more than squeak. worth checking.

also i wouldn't tackle struts by yourself if you dont know how, but helping a knowledgeable friend would be fine.

 

so if it is my sway bar bushings how much does it cost to have them fixed?

 

autozone.com lists the bushings from $14 to $54, depending on the diameter of your sway bar(they have different sizes depending on car sub-model) and brand name

about an hour of your time.

 

is that something i could do myself?

 

the sway bar links are a easy 30min fix. struts are a little harder but its all the same basic concept,,,,,,,,,,,, PUT IT IN THE WAY IT CAME OUT.

take pics as you do it if your really concerned.

 

yes, very easily.

i'm not referring to the links, i'm talking about the bushings in the brackets.

 

+1 on the taking pics. That's how i changed the blocker rings in my tranny. If you do the struts just make sure to support the lower control arm before loosening the strut. The cars weight will keep the spring in. You don't want that thing flying out.

 

if you have an impact wrench do it yourself its pretty easy, just make sure when you have the car jacked up in the air you put it on jack stands then place the jack underneath the A-arm and jack the A-arm up until it just starts to lift the car up then stop and dont take the jack out until you have the new strut bolted all in, if you take the jack out while the strut is unbolted the spring could fly out but only if you drop it fast.