flavor

I have pretty major front strut /shock noise above the front right wheel- -the dealer said i need a new front shocks stut tops or whatever. The way I see it I have three options since the car is out of warranty.
It is a 99 RX300 with only 67k.

I am thinking the original OEM shocks suck--so is it a good idea to get those again. What would you do:

Go to a dealer and pay $1300 for OEM shocks
Go to a 3rd party (like meineike or something) and get OEM shocks and pay $650
Go to a sears and get monroe's premium shocks and pay $650

Or does anyone have a better idea? THANKS!!

Woogie

okay heres' the deal...

If it turns out to be your strut caps (or your strut mounts), then you can purchase them for about 95 bucks each and have them install it. I dont know how much they'll charge your for labor. If you're dissatisfied with the current suspension you have, then try les schwab and see if they can put anything else on there.

flavor

That could save a little money, but is that really better long term, as I'm thinking it would cost 95x2=180+ 200 labor= $380 at least for that option

HarrierAWD

You may need new strut top mount, and it's better to do both front end. Go to a Toyota if you want to save a few bucks in labor.

Meineke is OK with domestic makes. Their techs are not very good with foreign cars. They don't know how to do wheel alignment well either.

Don't get Monroe's. They suck.

Francis

I've the same problem. Dealer quote me big buck to replace the front shocks/****. I was about to do it. But I kept searching the forums and I found a post (may be from GS or IS) with a solution. I coundn't find the post again but sloution is very simple.

The cause: shocks were too dry so they made noise. And the solution: WU-4D/oil the shocks. Open the hood and you will see the shocks mount (or the top of the shocks) on both side. You will also see the black bowl shape things/shock mount. Just oil that mount.

I oil them a lot and the noise is 90% gone. Try it, it may save you some $$.

Francis 99' RX (85k mile)

KeysRx300

Here is a link to some pictures and instructions on this problem. Its on the RX300 how to web page.

http://rx300how2.home.comcast.net/fr...rut_squeak.htm