Strut Replacement @ 126,000 mi

[DC1263]

Just turned 126,000 mi and I think it's time to replace my struts, No major issues, just a worn out ride. I've read the other posts on removal and replacement and it seems rather easy, don't anticipate any problems there. My question is this, Found the 171662L, 171662R quick struts for the rear, But not for the front, the 72177's are all I can find.

Are quick struts not available for the front?

Any advise against using the old front springs with the new struts/mounts or should I just do the new springs so long as I'm in there?

Thanks,,, DC

[jakegday]

quick struts are available for the front. rockauto.com has them. they are not different from each other like the rears, however. they are identical, and have the same part number....

the part number for the fronts is 171661

[DC1263]

Dude,
Thanks for your input,
Are you sure about the 171661's?
All the info I find says the 661's are N/A for 2006.

[jakegday]

im positive that is the part number for the fronts. i am not sure about the 2006's though.... i have a 2001 and i used the part numbers you listed above on my rears, and the number i gave is the number that i used on my fronts.

after looking at struts for a 2006 grand prix at rockauto.com, i see they only list the rears, which means the fronts probably wont fit it....

[DC1263]

Ok, So I replaced all 4 struts this past Saturday @ 177,000 miles

GR2 kit for 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix : KYB Outlet : 2 pcs : 339089, 2pcs : 334228 : $256.15 - Delivered

Hardest part was swapping the springs over, not that it was difficult, just time consuming, got the spring compressor loaner from Autozone... $50.00, Nice tool, worked well, only drawback was that the top strut mount and the bottom spring seat projected way out past the spring itself so with the compressor installed I could not get a ratchet on the screw, so I had to wrench it, a 3/4" Gearwrench would have worked well but I didn't have one, so 1/2 turn, 1/2 turn, 1/2 turn... took about a hour to remove and replace the drivers front, that was wheel off to wheel back on, then moved on to the passenger front, that one went a little quicker at 40 mins,,, 10 mins to get it off 20 minutes messing around with the spring and then 10 minutes to get it back on, Moving around to the rear, had to reach up into the back of the trunk to get the top three bolts, not enough space for a ratchet, a 15mm gearwrench is the way to go here too but didn't have one so again with the wrench, 1/2 turn, 1/2 turn, 1/2 turn... Had to remove the rear calipers though to make room to swing the hammer to pound out the strut/knuckle bolts, had a little trouble pounding the bottom bolts out here with a 3 pound hammer, moved up to a five pounder and they popped out after a few firm hits, took about 45 mins each side so all in all about 4 hours from getting all my tools out to cleanup, uneventful everything went as it should have, except for one minor mishap, I had the rear passenger side strut out and up on the bench I removed the spring then took a quick break I took a leak and had my daughter make me a quick sammich, back to work I moved the spring over to the new strut put on the top mount and released the spring, carried it over to the car stuck it up in the hole got the three top nuts on, walked around to the wheel well sat down and realized I had forgot to put the boot on, "$%@#", so off it came, once again with the spring and then back on the car "$%@#". The old struts were completely shot, they had nothing left at all, I could push them down with my index finger and hold them down with my pinky.

Working on the ground was difficult too, I'm 47 now and my knees are shot from years of abuse, so with the car raised on a lift I think I could have done it in half the time.

Anyway my local fixit shop quoted $1350.00 for the job and another shop closer to where I work wanted $1200.00 so I saved $1000.00 bucks on the deal, I'm happy.