Bought 2 new front struts from Rock Auto late last summer. They were supposedly genuine GM 506287 and 506288 but were "wholesaler closeouts" with a 30 day warranty. That should have been a warning I didn't heed. Due to multiple issues with my wife's health and ultimate death, I did not get around to trying to get them installed until January. The car had a couple of other minor issues and I left the car at local mechanic. An hour or so later he calls and says he won't install them as they are bad out of the box! Seems they will compress fine (with tension) but will not extend when released. So now I'm out $180 for 2 junk struts. Just a warning to others.

 

Very sad news of your wife passing away, I’m so sorry for your loss. As for the struts reach out to RockAuto, explain your issue, you never know.

 

Seems they what now? Compress fine with tension? Are you sure they are supposed to "extend when released"? When those dampeners are mounted, that's the spring's job. Gas charged dampers usually extend when released, not terrible forcefully, not necessarily all the way. (My KYB's came with packing straps to keep them compressed so they'd fit in the box.) I don't know if monotubes do that, or if those are monotubes. In any event, those are large rods with probably pretty tight seals, which may keep them from behaving like 'Matic rear shocks.

How long ago did you receive the struts? A supplier should be willing to take back unused defective parts, 30 days or not, especially if they knew they were defective and didn't disclose it. RA's reason for those deals are that they are "closeouts" no longer carried by a particular supplier, not necessarily discontinued, not defective. I don't remember any sold "as is," although there may have been some. Selling know defective parts as "closeouts" would be fraudulent. That doesn't strike me as RA's style.

 

I probably could have used a better term. They arrived without any straps and compress with some resistance (not tension) but will not extend at all on their own after being fully compressed. According to the mech, they should. Sorry to sound so ignorant but this is the first struts
I've ever dealt with as I've owned nothing but pickup trucks since the mid-80's. I do have another pair on the way and will advise if they work any differently.

 

Update on new struts. Yeah, I know, it's been a while. The wife's death took a while to really set in and when it did, it set in with a vengeance. Was in a really dark place for more than a few months. But things finally seem to be looking up. Anyway, after the 'good' new struts were installed I STILL had that same annoying 'thump'. I thought I posted about it on here but I can't seem to find it now. In my defense, my memory for the last year hasn't exactly been the best. Meanwhile, had mech look at it 2 more times but could not find a suspension-related problem. Decided to quit that mech and find another but am still searching. A few months later whilst changing my oil I finally discovered the problem: bad engine mounts. Am now planning to replace all engine/trans mounts. Was looking to trade for a decent used CR-V but prices have gotten downright stupid so now new tires are on the way. Im going to fix up the ol' girl and hopefully run her for another 100K. Just wanted to let y'all know it's not always what you think it is.