1994 XLE Camray Struts

[GSS123]

Dropped off rear struts at a small tire shop this morning to have them change over springs from old struts to new struts (toyota OEM). Wife goes to pick them up and they tell her they couldn't fit the struts into their strut machine. They said the strut sets at an angle? They could take them a part but wouldn't be able to reassemble. Had this same shop do the change over for the rear struts last weekend with no problems.

What could they be talking about "strut sits at an angle". And I know he not saying there bent. The just sit wrong in his equipment.

BTW they charge $15 per set to change over springs.

[yotatechie04]

Hmm...maybe they are just trying to get more money out of you. Then again, maybe you should try to go somewhere else and have it done, or maybe they have damaged their equipment in some way where they can't do your struts any more. Who knows. The automotive service world is very corrupted, it used to be a good thing, but now, there's way too many cons...

[Brian R.]

They probably don't know how to use their strut machine. The only guy who knew how, left. Now they're guessing.

Another possibility is that they don't want to deal with your struts, since you didn't buy them there.

I vote for number 1.

[GSS123]

Here's the problem. An honest hard working small one man shop that purchased a spring compressor from Monroe when Monroe first entered the after market strut business. This thing is older then dirt. Works great for GM cars with struts and many other makes with simple strut configurations. As long as when the strut is mounted the spring and strut shaft are more or less centered for a straight down compression. There is no adjustments with this older machine.

The 1994 front Camry strut has the strut rod just off center to the center line of the coil spring when everything is taken apart. I dropped the struts off at a different shop this morning and made sure they could do the work. They took me back to their work area and gave me the nickel tour. Their strut change over equipment had more ways to adjust position of strut and coil spring then Carter has pills.

I purchased all parts from the local Toyota dealer put they wanted $45 per strut. I thought this was high. The new shop I dropped the struts off will charge $15 per strut which increase my costs by %50.

I'm delayed an evening of my time. But learned some thing about struts and strut equipment. That's what being a shade tree mechanic is all about in my book.

[GSS123]

Auto repair shop just called and struts are ready. Dropped them off at 8:00 AM and the call came at 9:17 AM. $33.06 with tax

Now the fun of putting them back in tonight. I wish Brian R. was close by for moral support.

[Brian R.]

Originally Posted by GSS123

The 1994 front Camry strut has the strut rod just off center to the center line of the coil spring when everything is taken apart.

Learn something new every day.

[GSS123]

Brain, its more visual thing. My explaination just doesn't convey very well the problem.

[yotatechie04]

Hey that's completely understandable.