Replacing Struts - 2004 Diamante, difficulty? Options

[anyadang]

I've got 112,000 miles on my 2004 Diamante and NTB says I need to replace my structs all around. They're factory original.

Has anyone done this themselves? Is replacing these a big job? Do you need any special equipment? What else would be easy to wise to replace while I have the car apart?

Thanks,
AYD

[KiT TeUnG 2549]

Well its not terribly difficult. But thats just my assessment as i do it all the time. Yull need a strut spring compressor for the most part. Taking yu have the standard suspension ill put up a pic. , One of the best ways to remove the rear strut on standard suspension is to remove the upper control arm completely. It is not hard. Remove the retaining bolts that hold it to the inner fender wall and the one to the spindle. This will give easy removal of the strut.

The front the pic is self explanitory.

Attached File(s)

 front_strut.JPG ( 21.1K ) Number of downloads: 57
 front_suspension.JPG ( 14.72K ) Number of downloads: 47
 rear_strut.JPG ( 23.19K ) Number of downloads: 38
 Rear_Susp_Dia.JPG ( 33.6K ) Number of downloads: 52
 rear_suspension.JPG ( 31.57K ) Number of downloads: 49

 

[anyadang]

I went to get pricing on the parts, and my parts place said they coudlnt' get these - I might have to go through Mitsubishi - weird...

But he also said that there is no way a 2004 should need struts already. I told him I have have 112,000 miles on already, but he said "even so".

Anyone have any thoughts on this? Is the tire place trying to screw me?

[KiT TeUnG 2549]

Well i have adjustable suspension and i replaced mine at about the same time yu did. The 2004 model year USA Diamante model used VR-S and Touring type struts that were available on non US models in previous years.

So it may be hard to source the struts besides the dealership. Yu can do a jounce test to sorta test the durability of yur struts.

[darcymicro]

No OEM sruts are expected to last for that many miles, so whoever said they should be fine is someone I would not take my car to. I am also lookiong into struts for my '98 and Monroe Sensatracks are now shown as available. These have a good reputation (better than KYB's) anbd also work with Eibachs, so I will be installing a set of these along with new strut mounts.

[KiT TeUnG 2549]

No OEM sruts are expected to last for that many miles, so whoever said they should be fine is someone I would not take my car to.    I am also looking into struts for my '98 and Monroe Sensatracks are now shown as available.  These have a good reputation (better than KYB's) anbd also work with Eibachs, so I will be installing a set of these along with new strut mounts.
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I totally agree with that all the way. Dont wait til the car pulsates up and down frum bad struts before yu decide to make a move on it. Doing that yu will severly wear down other suspension components. I had this guy the other day. Well they come all the time. Poor service upkeep. Ive pretty much fixed all the engine leaks. He has a 1998 Toyota Windom, And his dad came to meeh and asked , he said i think teh car needs an alingment , the steering is a little off. SO i said lets take a drive and see wuts going on with the car.

So i took it up the road and immidiatly i could tell teh struts and strut mounts were gone on the car frunt and rear. But the crazy thing.. The cars has TQ displacment so it varies TQ between the wheels. When teh transmission was about to shift , if yu werent holding onto the steering wheel firmly the car would swere and teh steering would get away frum yu as in a bad cause of TQ steer , of wut it was. Hee had driven with bad struts for so long they had worn out the lower control arm to frame bushings. Also all that play deteriated the inner cv joint boots .

This is wut riding with bad shocks can cause on newer model cars