How Long Does a Strut Assembly Last?

Most modern cars on the road today use a combination of shocks and struts in the suspension system. Struts are used on the rear, while each front wheel is equipped with a strut assembly. Struts and shocks are pretty similar, except for a few key factors, including the assembly used to mount them to the vehicle.

A strut assembly includes a number of different pieces. There’s the strut itself, of course, Then there’s a coil spring, as well as at least one rubber damper (usually at the top, but some designs have one at the top and the bottom).

Your struts are in use at all times, technically, but they see the most stress and wear while you’re driving. Your car has either gas or fluid filled struts, and over time, the seals on the ends will wear. When they fail, the gas or fluid inside will leak out, affecting your suspension, ride quality and handling.

In terms of assembly wear other than the strut itself, there are a few things to be aware of. For instance, the rubber dampers tend to dry out and become brittle, reducing their ability to eliminate noise and vibration. The spring can be affected too, but this is rare and mostly seen in older, high mileage vehicles. Rust, corrosion and general wear can reduce the spring’s tension, allowing the suspension to sag.

There’s no real rule about how long a strut assembly should last. Struts themselves are regular maintenance items and should be inspected at each oil change so they can be replaced immediately when necessary. The rubber dampers and springs will possibly need replacement at some point during your ownership, but your driving habits will have the most impact on those.

If your strut assembly (generally just the strut itself) fails, you’ll definitely notice it. While you can still drive your car, the suspension will not work right, the ride height will be off, and you’ll experience a lot of discomfort. Watch for these signs and symptoms:

  • Vehicle seems to be sagging on one side (in the front)
  • Clunking or banging from one strut assembly when going over bumps
  • Car feels “loose” while on the road, particularly when going over hills
  • Your ride is bumpy and unstable
  • You notice uneven tire tread wear (this can be caused by other problems)

If your strut assembly has seen better days, then a professional mechanic can help to inspect your suspension and replace a failed strut or strut assembly.


Next Step

Schedule Strut Assembly Replacement

The most popular service booked by readers of this article is Strut Assembly Replacement. YourMechanic’s technicians bring the dealership to you by performing this job at your home or office 7-days a week between 7AM-9PM. We currently cover over 2,000 cities and have 100k+ 5-star reviews... LEARN MORE

SEE PRICING & SCHEDULING

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Recent Strut Assembly Replacement reviews

Excellent Rating

(916)

Rating Summary
873
18
5
3
17
873
18
5
3
17

Sebastian

6 years of experience
254 reviews
Sebastian
6 years of experience
Jeep Grand Cherokee V8-5.7L - Strut Assembly Replacement (Front) - West Palm Beach, Florida
He's a super mechanic and very thorough in the task he's working on. He also takes a interest in the job.
BMW X3 - Strut Assembly Replacement (Front) - North Palm Beach, Florida
Sebastian was professional, knowledgeable, and gave me great advice on my vehicle! After he finished, he did a total inspection and went over the work he completed on my vehicle.

Chris

19 years of experience
600 reviews
Chris
19 years of experience
Chevrolet Tahoe V8-5.3L - Strut Assembly Replacement (Front) - Allen, Texas
Showed up on time and fixed the car for exactly price quoted! Rides like new and will use again/recommend to anyone !

Scott

39 years of experience
607 reviews
Scott
39 years of experience
Jeep Grand Cherokee V8-5.7L - Strut Assembly Replacement (Front) - Westminster, Colorado
Scott was great to deal with on this project. He was early, communicative, friendly, and treated my Jeep like it was his own. This is the second job that he has done on it and I’ll let him do a third one if needed.

RYAN

6 years of experience
103 reviews
RYAN
6 years of experience
Ford Edge V6-3.7L - Strut Assembly Replacement (Front) - San Antonio, Texas
Best mechanic I’ve ever had the pleasure of speaking to. Mr Ryan is knowledgeable and very very honest . Hell make sure you get what’s worth your money.

Need Help With Your Car?

Our certified mobile mechanics make house calls in over 2,000 U.S. cities. Fast, free online quotes for your car repair.

GET A QUOTE

Related articles

Why Replacing a Strut Can Be Tricky
When fixing a car strut, the proper tools should be used. The whole unit should be replaced, including the shock absorber, spring, and camber block.
How to Replace Hood Support Struts
The hood struts, or lift support, support your vehicle's hood while you access the engine compartment. A failed strut is a safety concern.
When to Replace Front Struts
Know the signs of front struts in need of replacement and when to take your car in to have them fixed.

Related questions

Most of my lights on the dashboard besides engine light are lit up and also there is a little moisture around the transfer case and oil plug.
The dash lights could be on for a loose or broken ground wire to the chassis. Check all of the ground wires on the chassis and make sure that they are tight and clean. The moisture on the transfer case...
shakes really bad when driving
Hello. I suggest you have steering and suspension evaluation done on your vehicle. The shaking you are describing is likely coming from a control arm bushing, or shocks and struts. A technician should be able to pinpoint which component it's...
How long can I ride on bad struts
Hello, thank you for writing in. The time you have will completely depend on how bad the struts are now, and how much stress you want to put onto the rest of the vehicle. Worn struts will cause stress to...

How can we help?

Our service team is available 7 days a week, Monday - Friday from 6 AM to 5 PM PST, Saturday - Sunday 7 AM - 4 PM PST.

1 (855) 347-2779 · hi@yourmechanic.com