Is A Strut A Strut?

StangVert00 · Dec 28, 2005

Greetings,
I own a '00 GT 'Vert.
It's time to replace my OEM stock struts @65k miles.

My question is this.
Is a stut a strut? Meaning, does the brand name of a strut really count for quality and/or for a good ride?
What would be the difference if I took my Stang to Ford to have them replaced, or to take it to Midas or even Sears to have them replaced?
I have heard the brand names ...Monroe and McPhearson(sp?)
Are these good brands to go with? Or, as my Thread asks, is a strut a strut? I just want a bettter ride than my worn out struts are giving me now, and I don't want any problems with the ones I will be replacing shortly.
Thanks for any advice.

StangVert00

ponysarepretty · Dec 28, 2005

There are aftermarket struts that incrase performance and there are your plain crappy ones

StangVert00 · Dec 28, 2005

ponysarepretty said:
There are aftermarket struts that incrase performance and there are your plain crappy ones

In short, you get what you pay for?

I actually went to Midas today to get a quote for a pair of struts.
The guy behind the counter tried to sell me the struts by telling me that they come with a "Lifetime Warranty".
Those "Lifetime Warranties" don't make sense to me.
I know that "stock" struts and shocks need to be replaced at around 60k miles. (I know...it sometimes depends)
So, when I take my Stang in to get the struts replaced at 65k miles, just how long do you think the average Stang owner keeps their Mustang past, let's say... 90k miles? I would vote, not that many. So, a "Lifetime Warranty" with a 'Stang with that many miles on it, really means nothing to me. (IMO, of course!)

tomustang · Dec 28, 2005

StangVert00 said:
Greetings,
I own a '00 GT 'Vert.
It's time to replace my OEM stock struts @65k miles.

My question is this.
Is a stut a strut? Meaning, does the brand name of a strut really count for quality and/or for a good ride?
What would be the difference if I took my Stang to Ford to have them replaced, or to take it to Midas or even Sears to have them replaced?

doesn't matter who puts them on, they can all mess up working

StangVert00 said:
I have heard the brand names ...Monroe and McPhearson(sp?)
Are these good brands to go with?

MacPherson is a Strut design, it's a coil-over design and Ford doesn't have a 'Real' MacPherson strut, i think they just use the name because the guy MacPherson worked for Ford

StangVert00 said:
Or, as my Thread asks, is a strut a strut?

a strut is more of a damper for the springs

StangVert00 said:
I just want a bettter ride than my worn out struts are giving me now, and I don't want any problems with the ones I will be replacing shortly.
Thanks for any advice.

StangVert00

bilsteins

StangVert00 · Dec 28, 2005

tomustang said:
doesn't matter who puts them on, they can all mess up working

MacPherson is a Strut design, it's a coil-over design and Ford doesn't have a 'Real' MacPherson strut, i think they just use the name because the guy MacPherson worked for Ford

a strut is more of a damper for the springs

bilsteins

Bilsteins??

Thanks for your reply. Are my worn struts causing any damage to the springs?
Or can the springs handle a damaged /worn out strut....for a while?
Thanks!

tomustang · Dec 29, 2005

I've had worn shocks/struts before and they didn't ruin the springs

blackfang · Dec 29, 2005

StangVert00 said:
In short, you get what you pay for?

I actually went to Midas today to get a quote for a pair of struts.
The guy behind the counter tried to sell me the struts by telling me that they come with a "Lifetime Warranty".
Those "Lifetime Warranties" don't make sense to me.
I know that "stock" struts and shocks need to be replaced at around 60k miles. (I know...it sometimes depends)
So, when I take my Stang in to get the struts replaced at 65k miles, just how long do you think the average Stang owner keeps their Mustang past, let's say... 90k miles? I would vote, not that many. So, a "Lifetime Warranty" with a 'Stang with that many miles on it, really means nothing to me. (IMO, of course!)

A mustang is not the only car they see coming in, and a lifetime warranty is a "reason to buy". That is why the salesman said it. Some people keep cars longer than that as i have serviced cars with 100k,150k,and 300k.

Yes some struts are built better than others. Some build the oem struts and shocks for manufacturers but make their own better. Monroe makes struts for the F150 series and owns Rancho and makes the shocks and struts for the FX series too. I am willing to bet their own ride control is better than what is on the Fords being Ford gave them specs to build on.

53BigDog · Dec 29, 2005

I like my tokio blues! Good middle of the road

03ghoststang · Dec 29, 2005

tomustang said:
MacPherson is a Strut design, it's a coil-over design and Ford doesn't have a 'Real' MacPherson strut, i think they just use the name because the guy MacPherson worked for Ford

its actually a modified MacPherson strut design and somewhat the conventional type all in one

FalconGuy016 · Dec 29, 2005

03ghoststang said:
its actually a modified MacPherson strut design and somewhat the conventional type all in one

Yet somehow they managed to mix a bunch of bad qualities of a variety of designs, into one.

I wouldn't reccomend getting replacement OEM struts/shocks, since they suck. If you can afford it, as said, I'd reccomend Bilsteins as they not only increase comfort, they are night and day difference in performance. You would be amazed by the road confidence you would gain with a set of those (and matched springs). Also, I am not just pulling this out of my ass, I have driven many high performance handling cars, along with a Mustang with Bilsteins, and it was such a difference.

That said, you'd need an alignment too, so keep that cost in mind.

Edit: I can link you to a place where you can get the BTS (Bilstein Tuned Suspension) which is basically matched springs and shocks/struts for $713 shipped, if you wanted.

TrueBlue03 · Dec 29, 2005

i've been to 2 mechanics that keep telling me that mustangs do not actually have struts up front. they are not considered struts they say. they are differently designed shocks. i dont know much about it, but i believe with real struts, the spring actually sits on the perch of the strut. in our cars, the struts are basically just shocks and i guess are not classified as true struts.

blackfang · Dec 29, 2005

Sorry they are struts and he is misinformed. They are of a strut design and bolt in just like any other strut would.

TrueBlue03 · Dec 29, 2005

i dont know much about struts but 2 different mechanics at different shops misinformed?? i thought struts have the springs perched on themselves and not an A arm or something like that and also i thought true struts are supposed to go through the center of the spring (unlike mustang strut-like shocks).....like this true strut:

FalconGuy016 · Dec 29, 2005

They were modified by Ford from the true strut design to having the spring uptop, for cost and ease of service for the trade off of performance.

john_324 · Dec 29, 2005

StangVert00 said:
Greetings,
I own a '00 GT 'Vert.
It's time to replace my OEM stock struts @65k miles.

My question is this.
Is a stut a strut? Meaning, does the brand name of a strut really count for quality and/or for a good ride?
What would be the difference if I took my Stang to Ford to have them replaced, or to take it to Midas or even Sears to have them replaced?
I have heard the brand names ...Monroe and McPhearson(sp?)
Are these good brands to go with? Or, as my Thread asks, is a strut a strut? I just want a bettter ride than my worn out struts are giving me now, and I don't want any problems with the ones I will be replacing shortly.
Thanks for any advice.

StangVert00

Getting back to a part of your original question about the difference between brands of shocks/struts, it's a matter of what you're seeking from them, both in terms of performance and price.

A lot of people here tend to be die-hard performance guys, hence the preference for performance stuff like Bilsteins or Konis. If you want to improve your car's handling, definitely go for shocks like these. Downside is they are expensive. You get what you pay for though.

But if your preference is for drop-top cruising, then it's not really worth it to invest in stuff you don't really need. OEM stuff or muffler-shop brands would likely work just fine for you. I think Tenneco makes both the Motorcraft replacements as well as some of the muffler shop brands.

If you're looking for a middle ground between all-out performance and economy, as 53bigdog mentioned, check out Tokico shocks (esp. the "Blues")...they make some nice, but reasonably priced equipment. Tokico also makes the shocks that Ford used OEM on the Bullitt and Mach 1 models...

And you should be all right with the worn-out stuff for the time being...though you'll really start to feel it if they get bad.

helty · Dec 29, 2005

good read about late model mustang suspension

http://www.miracerros.com/mustang/t_suspension.htm

that first paragraph should clear things up for you.

TrueBlue03 · Dec 29, 2005

ahhh. allright. yea that makes sense. thanks! sorry for highjackin the thread, just wanted to clear it up cuz i didnt know much about it.

helty · Dec 29, 2005

yeah, a true macpherson has coil-overs like the 05 GT. late model mustangs (79-04) have a modified macpherson, with the springs mounted inboard of the struts.

tomustang · Dec 29, 2005

helty said:
yeah, a true macpherson has coil-overs like the 05 GT. late model mustangs (79-04) have a modified macpherson, with the springs mounted inboard of the struts.

i THINK, ford calls it 'modified' is because the mustang II's use to have a true macpherson design, but where the fox came out they redesigned the front suspension so it because 'modified'. I'm not positive but it's the best thing i can come up with

Ronald Jones · Dec 30, 2005

TrueBlue03 said:
i dont know much about struts but 2 different mechanics at different shops misinformed?? i thought struts have the springs perched on themselves and not an A arm or something like that and also i thought true struts are supposed to go through the center of the spring (unlike mustang strut-like shocks):

Shocks and struts are similar in that they both damp (slow down) the vehicles motion. The difference of a strut vs. a shock is that a shock only controls the cars motion while a strut is a locating member of the suspension. If you remove a shock the spindle or axle will still be completely attached to the vehicle. If you remove a strut the spindle or axle will be able to move outside of its normal motion. Shocks and struts may or may not have a spring mounted to them also. It is often assumed that any damper with a spring is a strut, but this is not the case.

Usually but not always, low pressure gas for comfort and high pressure gas for performance handling.

Is A Strut A Strut?

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