Strut Insert

Nobody wants to go through a rocky ride. And neither do you. So avoid this by installing a Strut Insert in your car's suspension today.
In life, it's the little things that matter. That's also true for automobiles. But too often, we tend to take our vehicle's "small components" for granted. Do you know that when one of these minor components fails to function well, the rest of your auto systems will come crashing down? In your suspension system, you have your struts, which act as both shock absorber and suspension spring for your car. Aside from improving ride quality, each strut also enhances your car's performance by ensuring efficient drivability. Inside each strut is a myriad of components that helps hold the strut together. One of them is your Strut Insert.
r suspension, constant use and the abuse experienced by such assembly makes it prone to damage. Instead of replacing your entire strut assembly, a quality strut insert replacement should be used and recalibrated later to help restore your suspension's original performance.
When looking for replacement strut inserts, you better purchase this aftermarket auto component online. Most online auto parts providers have a wider collection of strut assembly parts and offer great discounts on select products. To make the right purchase, ask your local mechanic for great brands of aftermarket strut inserts that meet your vehicle's specifications, or check your owner's manual for recommended strut insert brands.

• Crucial suspension components like your strut insert will wear out over time regardless of how often you drive.
• The strut insert’s function is to dampen the oscillations and improve ride control when you are driving over road bumps.
• Typically, you should have your strut assembly and other components checked every 40,000 or 50,000 miles.
• Symptoms of a failing strut include knocking sounds from the front or rear wheel, excessive body rolls, front end diving, rear end squatting, uneven tire wear, and a rough and bumpy ride.
• The price range of replacement strut inserts on CarParts.com is from $36 up to $513. Each strut insert can either be sold individually or in sets of two or four.

Whether your ride is a daily driver or a weekend cruiser, the strut assembly—which is a crucial part of your suspension system—is guaranteed to wear out over time. When that happens, the ride quality and handling of your vehicle may suffer. The only way to prevent this outcome is to immediately replace your faulty strut assembly components. One specific part that you should check is the strut insert.

A strut insert is a component of a serviceable strut. Its main function is to dampen the oscillations and aid in ride control especially when you’re driving over road bumps. In a serviceable strut, there is no need to replace the whole strut. You can simply install a new strut insert to restore the whole assembly to working condition. Typically, a strut insert or body is found in older cars.

There are several variables that can affect the lifespan of your strut inserts and the strut assembly as a whole. However, suspension system components are expected to last five years or even 10 years if the vehicle has not been subjected to harsh driving conditions. Just to be safe, though, you should get your suspension parts checked after the first 40,000 or 50,000 miles. After that, you can do the inspection annually. Regular inspection will alert you of any signs of wear and tear on your strut inserts and other suspension components.

If you missed to check your suspension system for a certain period, there are other ways to tell if your strut assembly or its components like the strut inserts need changing. Here are some symptoms to watch out for:

Rough and bumpy ride

A busted or broken strut can cause your vehicle to move up and down excessively especially when you are driving over a road bump, pothole, or on an uneven road. It can also be a sign that important strut components such as the strut insert are worn out. Whatever the cause is, make sure to get your vehicle’s suspension inspected once you experience an abnormal level of roughness and bumpiness from your ride.

Knocking sound from the front or rear wheels

Another symptom of bad strut components is a knocking or clunking sound. When the strut or one of its parts like the strut insert, bushing, or shock wear out, the metal-to-metal contact that comes with it will produce these unusual noises that might come from the front or rear wheels. Once you hear these sounds, it is high time to get a strut replacement.

Front end dives, rear end squats

The strut inserts as well as the other strut components work to ensure the stability of your vehicle when braking and accelerating. When one of these parts is faulty, the weight of the vehicle would be too much to handle for the strut, making its front end dive when braking and/or the rear end squat when accelerating. To make sure that you’ll have more confidence and control when braking and accelerating on the road, replacing worn strut components is a must.

Excessive body rolls

One more symptom of bad strut components is excessive body rolls when cornering. If you notice your vehicle’s body leaning even during the slightest turns, there’s a good chance that your stock strut or some of its parts are in bad shape. Only by equipping your ride with a new and reliable strut assembly can you get rid of excessive body rolls.

Uneven tire wear

Since the struts or its components are not doing their job when they are already worn out, other parts of your vehicle take a beating. One of them is your tires. With bad strut components, your tires are not firmly planted on the road. They bounce when you are driving, causing them to wear out unevenly. Worn out tires can also put more stress to your transmission components. This makes it more important to replace failing strut components before they affect other parts of your vehicle.

The actual replacement of the strut insert is not difficult at all since you just have to remove the old one from the housing and replace it with a new insert. However, detaching the strut assembly from the vehicle is going to be a tricky task especially if you have not done that before. It would be better to bring your ride to your trusted auto repair shop and have a professional mechanic work on replacing your strut inserts.

The price of a replacement strut insert depends on your vehicle’s year, make, and model. At CarParts.com, the price range of a single OE replacement strut insert is from $36 to $270. A set of two strut inserts can cost anywhere between $79 to $513. Our website also has a set of four strut inserts that cost around $196. Each part is designed to be a direct fit to your vehicle’s strut assembly, and it usually comes with a warranty from the brand.

If regular replacement strut inserts do not satisfy your needs, you can always go with adjustable strut inserts. These strut inserts can be easily adjusted to cater to your preference when it comes to ride handling and control.

Searching for the right part is hassle-free with CarParts.com. Our website employs a vehicle selector where you can plug in the year, make, and model of your car so only parts that would fit will appear in the search results. Also, you can easily filter the search results by price range, brand name, location, series, and quantity sold.

There is no need to be too technical when looking for the right strut inserts for your ride although it may be best to check your strut insert dimensions before buying new ones. Our vehicle selector ensures that you will get only compatible parts when you are searching for your replacement strut inserts.

Every time you drive, you're bound to pass through roads that have an uneven surface. And if you're suspension system isn't backed up by the right parts, you'll find it very uncomfortable to drive through these roads. So to ensure that this doesn't happen, consider equipping your vehicle with a strut insert. This device works just like a shock absorber and can be placed inside the strut assembly housing. Once inside, it helps reduce the impact dealt to you when you pass through rough roads. As a result, driving becomes more enjoyable for you. It also doesn't leave you with an aching lower back after every trip. Now to make the strut insert effective in its job, it's constructed from high-quality materials so that it can withstand the strain of absorbing shock. That way, you're assured that it will last long despite being used on a regular basis. Lastly, to avoid hassles installing it into your vehicle, this component is constructed to come in a direct-fit design. This design also keeps you from making unnecessary changes to the part's structure. Since passing through uneven roads are bound to happen when driving, make sure your vehicle has a strut insert in place. That way, your car can absorb the impact dealt to you whenever you drive through these types of roads.

It's impossible to not notice a busted strut insert. You'll feel it the moment you drive in first gear. Your car bounces even without hitting a bump or pothole, making handling terrible. Mere acceleration or braking can even cause you to lose control of your vehicle.That's because without fully functioning strut inserts, your car's springs have nothing to stop them from expanding and contracting. The main job of a strut insert, which is commonly found on MacPherson strut assemblies, is to absorb a car spring's kinetic energy.The insert contains fluid that flows back and forth through a single piston. Think of a syringe - it's not as easy to pump it once filled with liquid. That's how it basically works. Take a peek under your car's fenders.If you find fluid dripping all around your shocks, then it's high time for a replacement. CarParts.com should be able to provide you with the right parts.


• Prevents excessive bouncing

• Provides more stable vehicle handling

• Lasts longer than stock strut inserts

Struts can be really tricky to mount on your car. But there's no need to worry because we've come up with a detailed process to help you install a new strut insert.

• 22mm offset box end wrench
• 19mm socket
• 17mm open end wrench and socket
• 13mm open end wrench and socket
• 7mm Allen socket
• Spring compressor
• Crescent wrench
• Large pair of channel lock pliers
• Flat blade screwdriver
• Pipe wrench
• Torque wrench
• Chisel
• Hammer
• Bench mounted vise

Step 1: Put the car in the garage where there's enough room for you to work on either side of it. Jack up the vehicle and place the 4-ton jack stands underneath the front of the automobile. Remove the tires.

Step 2: Mark the lower part of the strut where the eccentric bolt and washer are located.

Step 3: Remove the brake line from the support on the strut. Take the 17mm wrench and socket and loosen up and remove the eccentric bolt and pivot bolt below.

Step 4: Before you remove the strut, it's a good idea to mark the top of the bearings so you'd be able to put them back the same way they came out. Remove both 13mm bolts from the inside of the engine compartment that hold that struts to the body.

Step 5: Compressing the spring to allow it to be removed from the strut bearing can be tricky. Carefully compress the spring until you feel that the tension is removed from the strut bearing.

Step 6: To take out the bearing, use the 22mm offset wrench and crescent wrench to loosen the locknut on the insert. Remove the bearing and the spring from the rest of the strut.

Step 7: Inside the strut housing, you'll find a large nut that's holding the insert in. To remove it, put the strut in a vise and a pipe wrench around the nut. You may also need a hand with this process because the nut can be really tight.

Step 8: Put the spring back in the strut housing, reinstall the strut bearing, and screw the lock nut. While tightening, check the bearing to make sure that it's still spinning freely. If it binds, you'll have to remove and check all the parts to see if everything was installed correctly.

Step 9: The spring can be released once everything is back in place. When it's compressed, the strut assembly is ready to be mounted on the car.

Step 10: Put the strut back into the vehicle and make sure to line up the beating the way it came out. Install and torque the 13mm nuts to 15 foot lbs. Mount back the hub/brake assembly. Insert the pivot bolt, the eccentric bolt, and washer. Tighten the nut using the 17mm socket and torque the pivot bolt down to 52 foot lbs. Insert the brake hose and you're done!