At 70k miles, I'm needing new struts, end links. I've been reading up on monroe and kyb quick struts. The post I've been reading were older from like 2012, and there were some issues regarding the quick struts.

My gut is telling me to go with the OEM, and keep the factory springs (fe3).
Opinions?

Seeing as I won't be doing the install, and I don't want to hold up my mechanic, are there any other components to the OEM strut I should be replacing i.e. strut mounts etc. This was a one owner florida vehicle, so it wasn't subjected to anything to drastic besides salty humidity.

 

Replaced mine with Gabriel Quick Struts off Amazon. Perfect fit, and tightened up my suspension quite a bit. I think they are FE3 spec.

Also will take the pain of changing springs out of the equation for your mechanic.

 

Spring wear out.

The quik strut issues were resolved a long time ago, just look for the double "**" under the part number if you find old stock. I'm not sure if they still do that, it was used when they modified the design.

It's 30 minute job with quik struts, a full hour with just struts.

If you add all of the parts that are included with quik struts, they are actually the same price, maybe cheaper. Mount/bearings,springs,skirts,bumpers.

Stay away from "no name" parts, they are "collision parts" cheap crap to make a wreck salable.

 

Strange , the price difference on those Amazon struts.

Here's the left and right part numbers for the Monroe Quick struts

https://m.summitracing.com/search/pr...olet/model/hhr

And Moog struts.

https://www.carid.com/2007-chevy-hhr...-55996690.html

 

For unknown reasons one side is usually more expensive than the other. I noticed that the first time I went shopping for struts.

 

But it is confusing as when you look at the picture, it's the swaybar mount that indicates it's for left or right side! And when you enter into fitment you have a 2LT , they apparently aren't correct! They direct you to these


Which apprear to be collision replacement and wrong length swaybar end links.

 

Judging by the last post in this thread (2015) is making me want to go oem even more. Is it possible that the end links are gone, and the struts are fine? Other than a knocking noise, the car drive straight, brakes no problem, and is not noticeably harsh over bumps.

 

What post and thread ?

 

Oops sorry https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/brak...s-35544/page6/

 

That unhappy customer had the "old" struts. He states he got them 3 years before 2015.