Front end grunts over speedbumps... struts??

I'm sorry, it's really hard to offer advice without hearing or tangible hands on observation.

I think it clearly "could be" struts.

My concern would be how long have you had this issue? And what timeframe as far as warranty and expiring warranty are we dealing with.

I hope this isn't a case where under warranty...the dealership magically couldn't hear the problem...

But once the warranty has expired...magically now they can.

If that is NOT the case?= Then I would say it could clearly be the struts. I would also think that it shouldn't be vague. They should be able to KNOW where the sound is coming from. It's either the struts or not. I believe a good technician should be relatively sure...it's shouldn't be a $900 gamble..it is either the issue or not.

 

All I can offer, is before the vehicle I owned now? I owned a 16+ year old Accord. It routinely made a "spring compression" like sound when I went over speed bumps or sharp driveways. I noticed it was also leaking some power steering fluid.

I was told it was the front axle. Specifically front axle seals. On a Honda this meant total front axle replacement. I was also told that it wasn't unsafe as long as I kept an eye on the power steering fluid level.

The leak was minor...add some fluid about once a month or longer...and I learned to simply live with the sound. Given the age of the vehicle and my plans to obtain a new vehicle I did not feel investment into a new axle was worth it.

You have "near" 100,000 miles? That would be the other question I would ask. Do "they" feel the struts pose any safety risk?

If there is no leaks..and/or they feel the struts are performing safely? You could decide to simply live with the sound.

The key would be "safety". I can live with an occasional sound, but IMO you shouldn't live with a safety risk.

 

I'm wincing at the price they quoted.

Like already stated, it is difficult to diagnose without actually driving the car or seeing something like oil leaking out of a strut. That being said, struts don't last very long and by 60k most OEM struts are pretty well worn out.

Does the car tend to do a slow motion bounce when hitting large bumps in the road or when pulling out of a driveway? It is very easy to identify the type of bounce I am asking for once you have felt it. Imagine not having and struts on the car. When you hit a bump in the road it will feel like you are just bouncing on springs. Instead of a couple somewhat sharp bounces you will experience a long drawn out series of bounces that gradually taper off.

This video may help.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNG-e_04Q_g&feature=youtube_gdata_player]Do you know the Symptoms of Worn Shocks? - YouTube[/ame]

 

Be sure to check the rubber bushings between the struts and the chasis, too.

 

The car I had before the Prius, had a habit of making similar noise from the sway bar bushings, might be a good place to look. Years ago when cars had lube points, we sprayed down all the rubber moving parts with "rubber lube" never hear of that anymore.

 

If it helps you any, the replacement struts are KYB GR2. I believe I paid about $400 for the setof 4 and labor in my area runs about $250-$300 to install them. The fronts are more expensive than the rears but if you shop around you should be able to get all 4 done for under $800 in my opinion. Try a couple of suspension shops and see if the dealer will match their price.

 

You have to maintain the chassis. Its a machine it must be oiled. Your car is dry as a bone underneath and probably pretty rusted.
Real easy to maintain just get a spray can of grease and go at all the moving suspension parts up front. Especially the bushings in the control arms up front. There's bushings on both ends of both arms. You soak the bushing area real good. It prevents water from entering and lubricates it. They really start to groan and clunk as the bushings wear out.
And spray grease lightly on all the bare metal underneath and all bolt heads. Don't go crazy just very lightly. You'll be rewarded with a very quiet and rust free car.
But its to late for your car as far as rust but you can quiet it down alot.
If you look under the front and examine all the suspension components you'll see everything is badly rusted. And its going to squeak & groan.

Use this stuff found at Home Depot and whatever you do DO NOT USE WD-40. That stuff is awful & stinks and will make you sick. This stuff is grease that stays put and does not smell. Great product:
Blaster Corrosion Stop Protectant - PB Blaster

And while under the front look at the big black rubber boots on both ends of the cv axles. There 2 inners and 2 outers. Spray this stuff on them to keep the rubber pliable. That may be to late too. 'Cause if the rubber boots dry up and crack it allows moisture and dirt into the cv joints and they fail. There very expensive and alot of them fail simply because the $10 boots dry up & fail:
http://www.blackmagicshine.com/pro-shine-protectant.php


Do the same to the rear end. While under there spray paint the back and front of the muffler with high temp black paint you can get at any auto parts store. That will prolong the rust out of the muffler a year or two saving you more money. $5 saves you $100.

This is just really really simple stuff that really helps the car last over its life.
Like the wheel welded to the hub issue the Gen II's have. All you have to do is grease the hub before you put the tire back on. And grease the castle nut to. The castle nut assy if not lubed is just a pile of rust after 5 years especially up north. No big deal unless you need to change a wheel bearing and then your in it $$$$.

By comparison my 5 year old car looks brand new underneath and is very quiet. Nothing under the hood is corroded. All it took was about $20 of spray grease over 5 years. I was under there anyway to change the oil. Really pays off when you go to sell it 7 years later.

I keep a new car 7 years and then sell it and get top dollar for it. Its easy to keep it running ok. Fluids and grease.

 

I was quoted $500 parts and labor by two different shops (non-Toyota) to replace my struts. But being cheap, I did it myself. Next time I will probably pay the $500.

 

Yeah I've done it once myself. Which is why I came up with the labor of $350 which is high but I guess I was remembering how hard it was to do. Never again.
The spring compression is not fun at all and very easy for a novice to get hurt.

And at the time I used really high quality struts compared to the oem's that were on there. It was like a different car with really good struts on it.

 

This is curious. So the shock absorber characteristic, or viscous damping, gets tighter, with more friction, rather than looser, as the struts wear? I don't know the internals of these things, but am trying to picture how that would happen.

 

No not tighter it just looses its dampening but since the suspension is pretty firm to begin with up front you will not get the bouncing prevalent in much older cars. It will just hit harder and if real bad will make noise to boot. I would bet if the OP could bounce the car corner with 2 people they would hear it make noise.

The struts are crap on this car and way gone at 95,000 miles.

Since the op never listed there origin its hard to see what kind of terrain its subjected to.

 

Before spraying any lubricant around the underside of your vehicle make sure it is safe for use on the many rubber components, flexible brake hoses, tyres, rubber suspension bushes, etc as serious damage can result from some oils and greases.

 

Yes. Make sure it stays dry as a bone and rusted. Or else serious damage may result. From oils and greases.

Oils and greases. I give up.

 

I think you should read my post again , I said "some" oils and greases not all oils and greases.
I also said "before spraying" not do not spray.