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Car maintenance
Nov. 5th, 2010 08:42 pmThe van has been handling ATROCIOUSLY the last week, clearly the shocks were gone, at least on the right side, and today I decided to do something about it.
I grabbed the manual and found that it actually did have SHOCKS on the back, not struts. I had thought they were struts, and had been trying to decide whether to go buy some cheap spring compressors and tackle it myself or just pay someone. Once I realized it was shocks, I just went and bought some and put them on. It took an hour start to finish but only because I had to dig out and then put away some tools. The actual shock replacement takes about 5 minutes with hand tools. Other than the fact that you have to take the wheels off, I'd rate it about equivalent to changing the oil.
I also have to remember to get to Sears sometime and make them replace the 1/2" ratchet that's barely working at all any more.
The rear right was as bad as I've ever seen a shock. It was just a tin can with no gas pressure or fluid left in it. I could easily compress it all the way with one finger. The left didn't seem too bad but it definitely wasn't as strong as the new one I put in.
Luckily it only got this bad in the last week or two, and I don't think it damaged the tire. I still should probably rotate them, it's due anyway and tomorrow morning is my regular scheduled vehicle maintenance time.
Odometer: 110,000
Installed Monroe SensaTrac shock on the rear of the van. Lifetime warranty, purchased from O'Reilly Auto Parts, Ann Arbor
I grabbed the manual and found that it actually did have SHOCKS on the back, not struts. I had thought they were struts, and had been trying to decide whether to go buy some cheap spring compressors and tackle it myself or just pay someone. Once I realized it was shocks, I just went and bought some and put them on. It took an hour start to finish but only because I had to dig out and then put away some tools. The actual shock replacement takes about 5 minutes with hand tools. Other than the fact that you have to take the wheels off, I'd rate it about equivalent to changing the oil.
I also have to remember to get to Sears sometime and make them replace the 1/2" ratchet that's barely working at all any more.
The rear right was as bad as I've ever seen a shock. It was just a tin can with no gas pressure or fluid left in it. I could easily compress it all the way with one finger. The left didn't seem too bad but it definitely wasn't as strong as the new one I put in.
Luckily it only got this bad in the last week or two, and I don't think it damaged the tire. I still should probably rotate them, it's due anyway and tomorrow morning is my regular scheduled vehicle maintenance time.
Odometer: 110,000
Installed Monroe SensaTrac shock on the rear of the van. Lifetime warranty, purchased from O'Reilly Auto Parts, Ann Arbor
