Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Suspension Strut replacement at X miles?

At what point did you guys change your original front struts?
I got about 90K on mine and am thinking about doing ot myself.
What brands did you use, how much $, how hard?

I thought mine were shot at 65,000...but didn't have cash till 80,000. BAT kit! $600...did it myself..you should too!

Did mine at 61K. Too much brake dive, body roll and bounce with the stock setup from about 58K until I changed them.

I went with the BAT kit on all 4 corneres and haven't looked back.

In addition I changed my front control arms, 1 rear arm, inner/outer tie rods, sway bar links, strut insulators, etc., etc. In short, when I did mine, I basically did the whole front suspension and took care of a bent rear arm that had been killing my rear alignment on one side.

Struts/springs in the form of the BAT kit ran me $600. All the rest chalked up another couple of hundred...

If you've driven yours hard or have high mileage, DEFINITELY check out your bushings on your control arms, because changing the struts/springs alone may NOT help your camber/tire wear issue. It may be the wear in the bushings that has contributed to this. If you are doing the struts/springs, you might as well get everything done right the first time around, if your bushings on the control arms are indeed eaten up pretty bad.

I'm not saying go out and do the same thing I did (which was to replace everything I could get my hands on), but definintely check them out or have someone at a suspension shop do it for you.

If you would just love to drive to Des Moines, Iowa for a weekend, I can recommend one hell of an installer up there that did a great job on mine...

...otherwise a local reputable suspension shop should be able to do the work for you if you don't have the time or the tools.

120K (it was way overdue...) I bought slightly used SVT struts over these boards (I have a '97 GL model).
IIRC there's a sale at BAT now for some quality struts.

The fronts are not basic job, but with the right tools it's doable. Take 4-6hrs for each if you're doing it for the first time. On install, there's a step (literally ... pushing down the lower arm) what is difficult without an assistant.

Doing a search on this forum will give you lots of details and ideas. There's also a HOWTO somewhere on contour.org

Tiv

I replaced the struts at 61K. The front ones were ok and the rear were starting to go. I blame it on the Maryland roads in my city.

Since my SE is being relegated to second class status, I will go with plain Jane type struts.
Maybe even do the tie rod ends at the same time. What do these run?

I was going to use OEM type struts till I priced them AutoZone special order only @75.00 each

so if your SE 98up just get ST200 struts deal 4struts 149.00 from BAT and if you have pre98 add a pair of ST24 spring for 79.00 you will still come out ahead.

AutoZone does have the loaner tools you will need to replace your struts namely spring compressor, tie rod end press. one could use the pitman arm press loaner tool to pop out the lower ball joint the easier way to get off the top strut nut is an impact gun but if you do not have access to one autozone sells the tool to hold the strut shaft to turn the nut.

as for me got a little less than 80,000 on my 97_sport and can't feel any problems with struts but being the bargain hunter that I am I couldn't pass on the Roush spring for ($120 shipped) and ST200 strut deal for $149.00.