GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

I.m in the process of replacing the front struts but found out my strut boots are all torn to pieces. I've looked at several places to find the part NAPA/Pepboys/O'reilly for the part but the pic doesnt match the part. I'm looking for the Front Coil Sprin Insulator Upper LH. Does this part come with the strut mounting kit? from this stores. Do I need to go the the dealership for this part?

They are often called "bellows" as well... many incorporating the bump stop.. Usually they DON'T come with the mount or tophat.. you shouldn't have to get them at the dealer.. http://www2.partstrain.com/sto...63295

Well I decided to go with the dealership on this. The spring insulator/bellows is attached to the rubber mount that the spring presses against. That part is worn all out and also the bottom insulator is torn and worn out. The dust seal that covers the bearings is in pieces also. i had to order them cause they were not in stock so hopefully this weekend I should be good to go.I'm keeping this car for a while so I might as well go with all original parts.

Suit yourself, but the parts I listed would have worked fine, what's the dealer charging ya..?

The mount with insulator is about $21 ea. and the cover is about $6 ea. i forgot how much was the lower insulator.

A Toyota dealer is always a good option too. Often but not always cheaper.

Oh wow, so you didn't get raped.. good.. !!

this response is too late for you but may help others later --I'd just count on replacing the boot if its been 50K mikes or more. They don't last. The newer KYB boots are sort of a stiff plastic compared to rubber from 10 years ago. maybe they'll do better.Should also go ahead and replace the strut mounts (upper bearings) while you are in there. The parts a few bucks but the labor is most of the cost and putting in a new one won't create any more labor. Replacing the old mount 10K miles later will create a lot of labor.My installer prefers KYB over Monroe (but they can both fail). Monroe often runs rebates on sets. He also likes to replace them in pairs though I don't think it saves money installing -- just the suspemsion will be balanced, and of same brand. The OEM brand on my 2003 was KYBYou can save a few bucks corraling the parts yourself if your installer goes for that and some may; its a pain to find the right parts/takes time and they generally aren't stocked. There's a big spread in prices, esp for mounts. I found an inexpensive mount by Gabriel (an old US shock maker) at Autozone that was $24 apiece, way less than the KYB and monroe ones. It was Chinese....for DIY people, you can buy the strut assemly with spring -- extra bucks but so is paying someone to swap in a new strut on a compressor. Labor is most of the cost

Where do you find that? I have only seen the strut for sale by itself, never with the spring. I figured I was just going to have to re-use the springs.

From Monroe, the complete assembly is typically referred to as a "quick strut". I just looked it up though, and they don't appear to sell this for the Vibe - only the strut and mount kit separately.For what it's worth - if you do find a "quick strut" assembly that's made in China, I would skip it. A friend of mine at a parts store here told me they've had nothing but trouble with them.John

Quote, originally posted by j42.snyder »............For what it's worth - if you do find a "quick strut" assembly that's made in China, I would skip it. A friend of mine at a parts store here told me they've had nothing but trouble with them.JohnIsn't that statement a given anymore? If it says "made in China' it is automatically highly suspect of being inferior quality, short lived and possibly dangerous.We all know this, we all joke about this but "we" still all buy this crap! Granted, sometimes without knowing or without other options, but we are all fueling the China Crap Import engine.There is a saying about the joy of a low price soon being replaced by the need for its early replacement.We are all stuck on the Joy portion of this equation in so many areas.It used to be Japan, it was also Hong Kong and Mexico.Dave

So is there no single one-stop shop for the suspension?? I just want to replace the worn out struts. I don't want anything fancy or to lower it, seems like that should be easy to find