How do you buy a shock absorber wisely?
When buying shocks, is there a “low end” and a “high end” shock absorber - cost/mileage wise? I know there are gas shocks which are more expensive, but can I just flat-out ask my mechanic for a low-end shock? Would a low-end shock last me, say 30,000 miles?
You can buy cheap shocks, and they will last 30,000 probably, but that depends on road conditions (bumpy and dusty bad, smooth and clean good). I am in Australia and can’t advise you on brands, but I would have thought that a few phone calls will give you some idea.
You have four struts on your 93 escort wagon, I just looked it up.
Replacing the front two will be the most expensive, as that will also involve (if done properly) front end alignment.
Look at your local auto parts store. Check their prices on the struts alone, look at the cheap vs. expensive ones. I paid less than 100 bucks for all four struts on my 82 escort. And I bought the good ones.
The dealer struts are the cheapest ones you can get, and they usually cost the most.
Once you know what the struts cost, get a quote, a reputable mechanic will replace them for not much more than the cost of the struts, say cost of struts plus 20%.
Watch for specials, too. Often K-mart and Wal-mart stores have strut specials, loss leaders, really, and you can get the high end gas struts installed for under $100 per pair.
Gabriel and Monroe are the two best consumer brands.
Midas and other chain stores are usually ripoffs. Replacing struts takes a special tool called a spring compressor, and about the intellectual capacity of a pile of dung. I’ve done it in the rain, in the dark, under a car being held up by it’s own spare tire, with no more than a crescent wrench and aforementioned spring compressor.
In the meantime try to avoid the really big potholes.
B.