I had my new tires installed and balanced at Strauss (they had the gsp9700). The mechanic figured that I need new struts because my car was hanging low and the chassis hit the bump when he drove it into the shop. My bro-in-law says in europe people change their struts every 20k-30k miles. I was shocked as I know the ones on my 2001 Audi A6 2.7T are factory original and I have over 171K miles.

So how often do we need to change struts and how do we tell if they need replacement?
I also read on blauparts kit page that the newer struts are 50mm thick vs 45mm thick on 2000-2001 A6 models...
Do I need any special tools to install the struts?

 

I guess it really depends on how well your car drives, how well you drive the car (fast over bumps) and the road conditions in general.
Some people take it up to the mileage you have it before replacing them, others replace them around 100-120k and others are not so lucky and have to replace them around 50 to 60k.

I replaced mine around 120k but not because they were bad but because I wanted better ones.

There are a few tests you can do to check how well they behave (shaking/driving/braking hard) and when you crawl underneath your car you can also check if the struts are leaking.

Average? I'd say somewhere after 100k is probably nothing unusual

 

Yea, my car always bottoms out on bumps, especially 60mph+. I ordered new struts and coil springs from blauparts, for all 4 sides came out to $834... More work for me to do, ughhhh, i guess I will do the upper control arms when I get the struts and springs so I dont have to remove them twice... Gotta find spring compressors to rent out somewhere now...

 

I had a friend with a spring compressor but after we got half way through with only 1 spring we said screw this, took all 4 down to brakes plus and for 30 bucks they used their machine to take the old struts out and but the new shiny Koni's in . Much faster, safer and easier!

 

sounds like a good idea, I wish they would do it for anywhere close to $30 anywhere in NYC, but I HIGHLY doubt it.

 

Just had my the struts replaced today. Les Schwab took care of it with a lifetime warranty. ($315) The guy let me take a good look at her while up on the rack. Looks like I will be doing a DIY for upper control arms bushings, other than that, for 100K she looked great! -- thanks to a PO that kept good care of her.

 

I had my struts replaced at 75k and noticed a significant improvement I both ride and handling.

 

i already have a HUGE improvement in my ride and handling from changing lower arms and new tires. cant wait to see what new struts and spring will do.

 

I know it's a little late to chime in but it's recommended to change your shocks and struts every 50k miles to keep grip, handling and breaking distances optimal.

 

I'm running original shocks at 204k and according to my indie guy who checks them every 8-9k when I bring it in for an oil change, they look fine...no leaking. When I push down on the car it rises and stays. I cannot tell if it is less stable over bumps after driving it for 170k miles. So how else can one tell if you need new shocks. I'd hate to put a grand in and discover it rides just about the same.