This past weekend I was changing my brake shoes when I noticed that the back shocks where leaking. Dealer said that shocks/struts are covered under factory warranty. I took the car to them and they told me "they are in working condition". Could this mean that they havent leaked enough to lower performance?

If I do change the struts and shocks at my own expense, what do you guys recommend. Im not looking to lower my car. I wish monroe made their reflex for our cars, but they dont. I dont want the sensatracs that they offer. What other brands are out there that are trusted?

Also, I was thinking of changing the rear shocks myself and having a shop change the front ones. Do you think this is the best way to go.

Thanks in advance

 

Most trusted brand Koni IMO

 

I agree, but there outta my price range.

 

napa's struts and shocks are working fine for me.

 

I have a set of stock ones. About 3k miles on them.

 

Shocks and struts should be covered under the warranty as long as they're defective...I mean, they technically are a wear item. Still, if it's leaking at all, I would think that calls for immedate replacement. Did they even inspect them or just take your car around the block and say it "feels" fine?

Anyway, you can do the fronts almost as easily as the rears. Just need a spring compressor and either an impact wrench or 3 foot+ breaker bar to get that top bolt off. Or ask Chuck Norris to help.

 

Spring compressor? I've never heard of it. I'll to advance to check it out. Hopefully I can save on labor now. Thanks!

 

Because the front springs are under load, if you were to remove the topnut without the spring compressors (they are basically a vise clamp that's curved to seat the spring) the load bearing spring would shoot upwards with quite a bit of force.

You can rent them at your local Autozone or Advanced Auto parts, and when you return them you get your money back.

 

Im gonna see how much a shop would charge me to swap the spring from the old strut to the new strut when I take the whole assembly off. It'll probably only take about 15 min. Thanks though.

 

There's a how-to on swapping springs in the how-to sub forum. Check that out, and you'll see exactly what it is and how it works. I do believe most Autozones, Checkers, etc. will rent one out to you free with a deposit.

Most places will charge upwards of 1 hour of labor per strut for replacement. Maybe a little less if you buy it from them. I believe Sears quoted me 50 bucks per on the fronts many years ago on my old car. But they also wanted like 160 per strut.

 

it's not a 15 minute job. you have to take off the wheels, disconnect the sway bar on both sides, take the strut out, compress the spring, and then re-install it. you'll probably get raped on install price for something that's not hard.

i bought a set of spring compressors online for about 20 dollars, and i have done probably close to a dozen spring installs with them with zero issues.

if you are comfortable twisting a wrench, you can do this install yourself following the how to's posted on this site. if you were local i would help you do it. but any time i've ever helped someone install springs on their cobalt, they couldn't believe how easy it was.

 

You might want to call GM customer service and make your case to them. If they are visible leaking they might instruct the deal to do the repair/replacement. I would say the best replacement would be stock if you don't wanna to upgrade to something more performance oriented.

 

I like KYB.

 

I might have missed this, as I just skimmed through, how many miles are on them?

 

What???? KYB are good shocks but according to everyone I talked to they are not available for Cobalt/G5 yet???

 

I meant that Id take the strut assembly off myself and just drive over to the closes shop and hand da mechanic my old and new struts. I use to have a 93 passat and this guy swapped the springs in less then 15 min. I think he coulda done it blind folded.

Anyway, meineke has a buy 1 strut and get the 2nd one 50% percent off. I might not have to get my hands dirty But Ill try GM customer service first, anyone have a ph#?

BTW, car has 35k miles on them.