struts on 96 sts

[blkmonday]

i have a clunking noise in my front end...sounds like a worn strut or strut mount. its a 96 sts, so im thinking of replacing the struts and stryt mounts. i found an aftermarket company on the web that makes really nice replacement struts (arnott inc). has anyone ever replaced these themselves? im wondering if this is a job i should consider. im a decent backyard mechanic but most of my experience is with classic cars, therefore ive never replaced a set of struts before. im wandering if i should splurge and have a local shop do them. if anyones ever had them done do you remember a price range? thanks for any info in advance

[toolfan8102]

I have a 92 STS and I was looking to replace mine, but GM doesn't make the OEM adjustables anymore , they did offer me a replacement that was non adjustable, but they were $270 per strut, and on top of that you had to buy a wiring adapter that would turn off your service ride control warning. I havent looked into aftermarket yet, but I would imagine they are around $100 per for decent ones. As far as replacing them, it shouldn't be to hard. I think there are three bolts at the top of the strut mount in the engine bay, and two bolts connecting them to the hub assembly, once it is out use a spring compressor before you take the retaining nut off the top, then just slide the strut into the spring and reverse the process. I do recommend getting an alignment after you are done just to make sure everything is set right. Also make sure you replace the rubber bushings at each end of the springs. It took me about an hour and a half per side. I don't know the specifics of the caddy, but I changed them in a car with a similar setup.

[blkmonday]

i found a few prices on aftermarket struts...both companyes say they are exact replacements and plug into the wiring and will function correctly with the system
$229 suncoreindustries.com
$300 arnottinc.com
thats the price for a set of fronts. not to bad...i also have heard the strut mounts are usually faulty as well. i think they range in price from about 30-75 bucks a peice. i would probably think its wise to just replace them while the struts are off instead of finding out it was a bad mount instead of a strut and having to do the job twice.
im gonna tackle this job and order up a set in the next few weeks, ill let ya know how it goes.

[toolfan8102]

I would definatley spend the extra $$ and do it right the first time. I forgot that after 1993 they went to an air suspention, I have the electronicly controlled one.