Hey Brian, thanks for doing your channel. I cant imagine how much extra work it is to shoot, edit, and produce the videos on top of your full time job. After working as a mechanic for years I was burnt out and gave up, switched careers. Your videos have me excited about working on cars for the first time in years. I picked up a Forester XT and tackled the timing belt, and had a blast doing it. Thank you.

I love the quick struts. I scored a set from the junkyard, practically brand new, for my daughter's Taurus. They came off of a Sable that the City towed during a Snow Emergency and the owner never reclaimed it. Best score from the junkyard that year!

Your commentary keeps me smiling. Nice work with good tips, thanks again.

Best way to go in my opinion. Plus springs will lose some of there tension as they age so new springs will help restore ride height.

Indie Saab mechanics are so laid back... back before I did all my own work I went to this really nice guy who just did Saabs, he was the most leisurely and nice guy... he worked out of a 30 foot ceiling shop and one day I noticed a hole in a panel in the ceiling. I asked him what happened, he said "Oh I forgot I had a spring under tension and tossed it in a pile, it shot through the roof." Of all the things to be so nonchalant about lol... it's a miracle the guy hasn't crushed himself honestly.

I just changed the struts on my 00' Elantra GLS. I did it the "dangerous" way. I rented the spring compressors and torque wrench from autozone. It was definitely sketchy taking the old springs off and putting them back on the new struts. I will say, the wagon version of the Elantra is much easier to replace the rear struts due to the easy access. Was a long process though but man she corners so well now...

"Won't want anyone else touching your stuff 'cause you know you'll do a better job" true that Brother Brian! I'm going to be installing suspension all around in my P71. Happy to see that they offer quick struts in severe service spec. I'm done with building strut assemblies. I still have Vietnam style flashbacks to the ol ratchet strap coil compressor lol. Thanks for uploading!

I have been watching your videos for years now. I enjoy your details and your struggles. This what makes your videos interesting. It’s the small details that make the difference. You look as young as you did when you started these videos. What is your secret?

Brian, you must have been in a great mood when you recorded this, very entertaining!

@briansmobile1

6 жыл бұрын

Things have been a lot better lately. Lots of cool stuff going on.

@TheFreeg8407

6 жыл бұрын

Brian, in the description I can find all tools you have used but I would like to know what kind of camera do you use ? Thanks !

That quickjack is awesome. I gotta get me one of those.

Twice I have used quick-struts from monroe and both times they failed in less than 3 years/30,000 miles. During the autopsy's I found one had the thrust bearing installed upside down and another one was missing a spacer washer so it allowed the rod on the strut to move around inside the mount. Coupled with most aftermarket parts are just not as good as oem I would rather reuse the oem spring and hardware provided its not damaged and only replace the strut itself. I used to have the 'just replace it all so its all new' mindset and after getting burned multiple times I take a much more conservative approach to fixing things and often reuse original parts where there is no outstanding reason to replace them.

@scottfirman

5 жыл бұрын

I have to agree with you. Get the parts you need, pull the shock tower and find a shop that will replace the shock for you. Reuse all OEM parts if possible. On a really old beater, it doesnt matter. We recently traded a 2010 Forester in, had 125k on it and was ready to start replacing everything. I decided instead to just trade it in and get a low milage newer car. I have always wanted an Outback and am happy to own one. I may buy an older one next summer and do what needs to be done. I did have to replace the alternator on our 2010 just before trading it in.

@StilettoSniper

3 жыл бұрын

I have found the same thing, people just do not get it. Quick struts are a compromise! The mounts, bearings and coil springs in most quick struts are substandard and do not compare to the OE equipment. This is why so many people complain of low ride height, too stiff of a ride or creaking, groaning, cracking and thumping coming from new quick struts that are less than a year old. You want cheap, easy and quick, go with a quick strut. You want to restore the OE ride, keep your original spring (if it is not damaged) and replace any worn out strut components with OE components, especially bearings and mounts!! And take the time to understand how to install struts correctly so you don't hurt yourself or have to do it again.

Brian, you have the patience of a Saint. I've changed more struts that I care to count; AlWAYS check the alignment of the strut mount with the bottom (against the old one) before lifting it up (this was a little girlie car). On the front struts, you can turn the top hats without a compressor, since they are on a bearing. Even on the rear, I bet you could turn the mounts at the top without compressing the spring. Try it next time.

@briansmobile1

6 жыл бұрын

I tried on camera- didn't budge at all. I think I edited it out due to a long silent pause at 20:49. Probably should have left that in there. Front struts are more forgiving. I just always line them up with paint anyway.

@reneneron2971

6 жыл бұрын

briansmobile1 you won't be able to turn a rear strut top mount by hand. Try putting the strut in a vise, with a block of wood in the axle mount to prevent crushing the mount. Then use a 2x4 to turn the top mount at the studs (you're not turning the spring). You have a strut tamer, but most people buying a quick strut won't and may not have a spring compressor available. Don't force it, as you don't want to bend the top studs, but the top mount is not indexed...only the spring locators are.

haven't watched in a long time but enjoyed this video a lot, made me wanna work on my car lol

An alignment after installing struts is critical. Even my 1990 Camry where the manual said that camber was not adjustable. There was enough slop in the bolts that the camber alignment could be repositioned considerably.

I have the same Milwaukee 12v ratchet - love iT!

Great video! Thank you very much! Which timing belt kit would you recommend for a 1999 Honda Accord? People generally recommend Gates, but occasionally people say their good belt came with cheap components. Thank you very much for your expert opinion! :)

Nobody does quick struts for my old volvos. I gotta go back in after doing my struts cause I did not get the springs aligned properly as you pointed out you must. Now when I hit a pot hole the steering wheel jerks harder than a $10.....

always enjoy your videos. I have a question for you. Have you ever converted a Dodge RAM 3500 van to a rack and pinion? I just got rid of my Subaru wagon because of the rear struts. I'm getting older and just don't have the time to fight the bloody things. Thanks as always still waiting for you to visit Tacoma and check out my ST1300 cop bike. ride safe and fly even safer.

I think I may have found a new parts place, impressed with their prices for my car(s).

Nice little lift

Great video and fun too.

Hey, as long as you're gonna paint that and kind of make it decent again you should think about seeing if you can get one of the guys who sponsors you to donate like 80 square feet of sound deadening. I've never done it myself but I read that 80 square feet should do the whole cabin in a car that big, it'd be really neat to see this well worn car get a paint job AND have a nice quiet ride as well!

Brian, do you know who carries a full set all the way around. For my 2000 Forester L? I'm in Tucson. Thanks.

+briansmobile love the work you do! Went back to this vid because I remembered you made it. Would you please recommend a quickstrut brand to use on my wife's daily driver (Camry based) '04Lexus ES330? Awesome how the oem lasted this long! Not sure if I should go Monroe, Moog, Gabriel or Amazon/EBay Unity brand. Can the China stuff be good or is it a big gamble? They're so cheap! Which part actually lasts in your experience?

Unless you have a Escort ZX2 S/R (only 2000 were made), they have Eibach springs and Tokico struts. If a strut fails replace it in pairs with S/R spec Tokico's or simolor but DO NOT toss the old springs (unless its broke of course).

thanks for being honest

I bought a 1986 Hyundai Elantra back when they come out I had to take it back at least 8 times for stupid things 1 was it would snow in the car when ever the AC was on . 2 was the radio and speakers would die and never the same thing I worked at ASI back in 1978 to 1984 as a digital radio warrenty tech and could fix any radio. I had to go there and show them how to fix it once and for all I also have the same boat . I live in the catskills NY and it has gone from 90 to 41 in the last 3 weeks usaly its 55 or so in the day time and 40 at night today it was 77 but tommory it going to be 50

I have this car it's been a great car to me I still drive it today I have the GT put the back spoiler 2.0

Living in western NY I learned the only strut you buy is a quick strut. By the time you replace the mount and the strut it’s not hard to upsell the entire unit. Especially if you warn them your not liable for damages on rotted components

@StilettoSniper

3 жыл бұрын

No thanks. I'll do my own strut rebuilds than you and keep my OE spring, mounts and bearings. Or if they need replacement, I will replace them with quality OE components, not the offshore crap that is included in most quick struts. Quick struts are a compromise for people who don't know any better. I'll take quality instead.

Quick Strut or not. I have decided because other than only get the strut mount/ bearing, I also need the rubber boot and not sure the strut is still able to bounce back. In additional to that, I need to buy a spring compressor which I may only used 2 times. For Peace of mind without killing myself by the spring, I go with quick strut. Thanks for your video. 👍

lol, worse than that man... I intentionally leave my tools dirty with the grease and oil I get on them because I live in Florida, the tools have to be coated lightly or they'll rust. No point in cleaning them off just to put different grease on it.

Great video Brian but here in Ohio anti-seize on reassembly is the way to go.

@briansmobile1

6 жыл бұрын

After doing the Pull-a-part challenge there in Cleveland- I believe you!

Good job - tell them people off about the strut bolts that were off - not a real big deal though - that strut tamer is not cheap - $771 ??? but helps out a lot - didn't see the price of the struts or did I miss that

@briansmobile1

6 жыл бұрын

If normal struts are $45-$65, the quick struts will often be $89-$120. Check them out at buyautoparts.com

A battery powered impact... That's incredible!

wahoo i watched the bonus footage !

Hi there great video, I own one 2000 model almost done 300k miles my daily driver no major issues. How many on yours.

@briansmobile1

6 жыл бұрын

250K, but it's had the full junk yard transplant done.

There's brian advertising the quickjack. Thats ok, i bought a set because of it.

How long do springs last?

get a impact driver, best purchase I made for auto repair!

Monroe or kyb...??need to make a decision

07 Compass, would you put quick struts or use old springs with new struts?

@briansmobile1

6 жыл бұрын

If they're rusty, I'd do the quick struts.

@Bigshows93

6 жыл бұрын

Cool thanks that’s what I ordered and I’ll be installing in a couple days. Thanks for the quickest reply ever!!

I noticed that was clocked wrong when you compared them next to each other 😯

@briansmobile1

6 жыл бұрын

Good eye. I'm not only human and prone to mistakes, but man does filming take your attention and divide it.

You speak swedish too?

I'd never use the stock jack on the stock lift points on a car that rusty.

I can't belive this is how I find out I'm adopted.

Lol Avatar reference (the great version)

@briansmobile1

6 жыл бұрын

I love that song! Yeah!

lets put it this way, back in the day, you changed the shock and not the spring, and compressing the spring to install the new shock can be hairy, every time I have installed the whole new assembly the ride height changes due to the matched spring because the old spring was shot, why would any body want to install a new shock in a worn out spring is just a waste of time

@StilettoSniper

3 жыл бұрын

"matched spring"? In a quick strut?? Does not happen. Some cars have over a dozen different spring variants that could have been selected by the manufacturer during build (minivans are a great example). Quick struts use pretty much a "one size fits all" approach to the different variants of any particular model vehicle. THAT is why the ride height most often changes drastically from what the owner was originally used to, not so much that the OE springs are actually "worn out". Why anyone would be willing to discard their OE springs for cheap generic springs is beyond me, it's just a major downgrade overall.

No need for quick struts when you have the strut tamer.

yea those strut mounts don't taste good. especially if they are under a few hundred psi. going in. you take that nut off carelessly. you gonna have a mouth full of it!!!! great struts Batman. I need a whole set for a 94 camery.