Why Offering Strut Replacements Makes Sense For You and Your Customer

Struts may be out of sight and out of mind for many customers, however, they are a crucial component of a vehicle's suspension system.  

Struts are one of those things that are just out of sight and out of mind. Unless your customer comes in asking for a quote for some reason, has excessive scalping wear on their tires or is just getting bounced all over the road, they are unlikely to lay down several hundred dollars for strut replacement without some level of salesmanship. As a repair shop owner, it's up to you to educate your customers about the benefits of strut replacement. By doing so properly, you can help to maximize your customer loyalty and profitability for your repair shop.

What are some good selling points when a shop wants to sell a customer new struts?

There are several selling points that can be highlighted to help convince the customer to make the purchase. Here are a few:

Improved safety: New struts can improve the handling and stability of a vehicle, which can lead to increased safety on the road.

Better ride quality: Worn-out struts can cause a vehicle to bounce and vibrate more, making for an uncomfortable ride. New struts can improve the smoothness of the ride and make it more enjoyable. Even if the customer does not feel anything unusual, remind them that their tires are likely taking the brunt of excess bouncing. Tires are more expensive today than ever before. Replacing struts can help the tires last a lot longer.

Longer lifespan: Installing new struts can extend the lifespan of a vehicle's suspension system, reducing the need for costly repairs down the road.

Improved performance: New struts can enhance a vehicle's performance by improving its handling and responsiveness. Less swaying around corners, means geometry and turning angles are less affected. This results in much better cornering, less stress on the tires, suspension and steering components. 

Resale value: A vehicle with new struts may have a higher resale value since it is likely to be in better condition overall. The fact that the car owner can present receipts showing proper maintenance like replacing the struts, helps them sell their car at a higher price.

Cost savings: While new struts may seem expensive at first, they can actually save the customer money in the long run by reducing wear and tear on other parts of the vehicle.

Warranty: Many new struts come with a warranty, which can provide the customer with peace of mind knowing that they are protected if anything goes wrong.

As mentioned above, struts are a critical part of a vehicle's suspension system, and they help to absorb shocks and vibrations from the road, which can cause wear and tear on the tires. When struts wear out or become damaged, they can no longer properly absorb these shocks and vibrations, and this can lead to uneven tire wear, as well as other issues such as poor handling and even reduced braking performance.

Some of the signs that worn struts may be causing excessive tire wear include uneven tire wear patterns, such as cupping or scalloping, as well as excessive vibration or noise while driving. If there's any of these symptoms, it's a good idea to replace struts, especially before installing a new set of tires. 

As a quick recap, there are several signs that a strut may be bad or worn out. Here are some of the most common signs to look out for:

Uneven tire wear: Worn or damaged struts can cause uneven tire wear, which can manifest as bald spots or areas of the tire tread that are more worn than others.

Bouncing or swaying: When struts are worn, they can no longer absorb shocks and vibrations from the road properly, causing the vehicle to bounce or sway more than usual.

Excessive noise: Worn struts can cause squeaking, rattling, or knocking noises when driving over bumps or rough roads.

Poor handling: Worn struts can also cause the vehicle to handle poorly, with reduced stability and control while driving, especially during turns and sudden maneuvers.

Vibrations: Damaged or worn struts can cause vibrations in the steering wheel or body of the vehicle, especially at higher speeds.

Leaking fluid: If you notice oil or fluid leaking from your struts, this is a sign that they are worn and may need to be replaced.

It's generally recommended to replace struts in pairs, even if only one of them is worn, leaking or damaged. This is because struts work in pairs to absorb shocks and vibrations from the road, and if one strut is bad, the other one is likely to be in a similar condition.

Replacing struts in pairs helps to ensure the vehicle's suspension system is balanced and provides consistent performance. If you were to replace only one strut, it could lead to uneven handling and stability, which can compromise the safety of your vehicle.

Additionally, replacing struts in pairs can often be more cost-effective in the long run. If only replacing one strut now and the other one fails shortly after, the car owner will need to pay for another alignment and maybe sustain damage to a new tire, assuming the tires were replaced at the same time.

In general, it is not recommended to reuse strut mounts when replacing struts. Strut mounts are an important component of a vehicle's suspension system and help to ensure that the struts operate smoothly and efficiently. Over time, however, strut mounts can become worn or damaged, and they may need to be replaced along with the struts. Certain makes have more problems with strut mounts than others.

When replacing struts, it's important to inspect the strut mounts to determine their condition. If they show any signs of wear or damage, such as cracks, corrosion, or looseness, they should be replaced along with the struts. Reusing worn or damaged strut mounts can compromise the performance and safety of your vehicle, and can also lead to premature wear and tear on the new struts.

Additionally, it's important to use high-quality replacement strut mounts when installing new struts. Cheap or low-quality strut mounts can fail prematurely, which can lead to additional repairs and costs down the road. By using high-quality replacement strut mounts and replacing them along with the struts, you can ensure that the vehicle's suspension system is working optimally and providing the best possible performance and safety.

As a repair shop, one of the most important services you can offer to your customers is the replacement of worn or damaged struts. Struts are a critical component of a vehicle's suspension system, and when they wear out, they can compromise the handling, stability, and safety of the vehicle.

OT6637 Strut Tamer II Extreme - This one mounts on the wall which can save floor space in any shop.

When replacing struts, it's important to use high-quality parts and to have the right tools and equipment on hand. A proper spring compressor, such as the OTC Strut Tamer or a less expensive option like the Calvan spring compressor, is essential for safely removing and installing struts without damaging the vehicle or causing injury.

CV91300 Strut Compressor Floor Mounted - A much lower cost alternative to the Strut Tamer, which will pay for itself a lot quicker!