2000 Windstar front shock absorbers

[olopezm]

Hello again!

I opened this thread to show some pictures about some rust "freckles" on the front shock absorbers I saw when I got the inner/outer tie rods replaced that I first posted in my previous thread (click here). Right now I'm away from home so I can't take better pictures but hopefully these will work. Please let me know what you think and if I should be worried. The van has 87k miles and the shocks are still original, the suspension does not feels bouncy.





Thanks in advance,

Oscar.

[phil-l]

That looks like a fairly normal amount of surface corrosion to me.

However, at 87K miles, they're near the end of their expected life.

Here are pictures of my Windstar strut replacement project:

http://good-times.webshots.com/album/560513401mTnRfu

[wiswind]

They are most likely still good.
When you do replace the struts.....I would recommend getting the "Quick Strut" that includes a new spring, top bearing and spring isolators........all new assembly that you just pop in.
I would also replace the sway bar links using the metal ones......MOOG makes nice metal ones with grease fittings.
The nylon sway bar links do not last as long.

[olopezm]

Thanks for your time guys,

Somehow that's what I thought and the guy was just trying to make money. Still I wanted to make sure I shouldn't worry about it. One final question, how long do struts normally last?

Wiswind thank you for your suggestion, I'll keep that in mind and when the time comes I'll follow your advise.

Regards,

Oscar.

[phil-l]

In my experience, struts tend to last 75K to 100K miles. However, I've always noticed the handling improvement after replacing them - so, in part, it depends on how sensitive you are to how your vehicle's dynamics.

It also depends on the specifics of your vehicle, and how its suspension was designed. For example, when I replaced all of the struts (yes, it has struts on all the way around) on my '95 Contour, I came to the conclusion that the rear struts were completely shot, but the fronts were still in good condition. My experience since then reinforces my belief that the Contour's design leads to the rear struts wearing out long before the fronts.

[wiswind]

I had the OEM struts replaced on my '96 at about 183K miles.
The reason......One of the front springs was broken way up at the top.
Instead of having new springs put on over the old struts, I had Monroe Quick Struts installed (has the sensa trac strut).
I did not notice any change in ride or handling.
I was outside the 10 year waranty on the front spring corrosion program.
However, I had always kept the front suspension parts lubricated using a grease needle to get grease into all the places that would benefit from grease.....lower ball joints, outer tie rod ends, sway bar links......
I did change the rear shocks 2 times over the nearly 200K miles and 10+ years that I drove it.

[olopezm]

OK thank you guys, I guess I'll just keep an eye on them and when the time comes will follow your advices. So this is the end of this thread.

Thanks again for your time and help,

Oscar.