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Some scrupulous mechanics will spray some oil on the struts/shocks and then say they are leaking.
The price quoted OP is ridiculous. I had heavy duty struts and shocks and alignment for my SUV for less than $800.00.
Not at all. A shop has to make money somehow. Had the OP said the quote was $500-600 or so, I'd figure that would be reasonably inline with expected markup on the part and the appropriate amount of labor involved.
But $1K+ sounds like a dealer quote, and I bet the cost of OEM struts is something like $300-400 each or so.
As one who pulls wrenches for a living, this I say: ALWAYS get a second opinion. If you have any doubt or question whatsoever, get a second opinion. Rear struts could very easily run $1100. I doubt they do, but they could, depending on the price of a strut, labor rate, the alignment after replacement. Lots of factors. I think $1100 is high, but the GM dealer wanted $1330 to put front shocks on my Suburban. I did it myself for less than $400. Shop around!
This not the type of suspension where replacing the "strut", actually more a shock with a coil over it in this case, can change the alignment.
It's not accurate at all, regardless of whether they're MacP struts or shocks. Once the oil has settled and the air bubbles have migrated out, if there's enough oil in the shock to reach the piston, any shock will feel like it's still working when the car is sitting still. But on the road when the piston is agitating and aerating the oil, the shock becomes pretty much worthless and you end up with this:
...and if your car is heavy enough (like this Taurus) you can't even tell it's happening. Well until you try to swerve and brake to avoid something and your car spins out because that tire isn't offering any road handling abilities since it's airborne 50% of the time.
Technically, once the shock has started leaking, it is a failed shock. There is gas pressure inside to compress the oil to squeeze air bubbles out. Once the pressure is released, the oil begins to aerate. Now this alone won't cause your tires to start bouncing down the road, but it does decrease the shock's ability to dampen vibrations. How long it will take for the shock to become as bad as the one in the vid..who knows? A month? 6 months? It's up to you to decide what's more important - $75 for a shock, or quite possibly one hell of a thrill ride...
I doubt a Honda suspension needs a repair with just 88k on it as Don mentioned but I am not the one driving the car so I am also gonna recommend a second opinion. BTW, I drive a 04 Accord with 280+k miles so.........
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