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Monroe, Gabriel, KYB, or Other Struts, Complete Assemblies
Struts Poll
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By Counterman
You might know them by one of their coined terms like quick struts or loaded struts, but either way, it means you’re getting a completely assembled strut, rather than one or many separate pieces. There are many advantages to this, many of which are best realized by remembering what brought about the idea in the first place.
Before the common availability of a complete strut assembly, replacing a bad component in a strut required a coil spring compressor so the unit could be safely disassembled. It was far more labor intensive, and you always had to use caution working with the coil spring. A bad shock absorber was almost always the component that was being replaced, but a problem often encountered by technicians was that one of the other components such as a bushing or bearing would show considerable wear upon disassembly. Nobody wants to reassemble something with worn parts, and since many of the components weren’t considered “normal” service items, you would often have to wait a day or two to get them.
This, of course, made for an inefficient repair, but it’s not the ultimate reason that assembled struts became popular. When strut suspension systems first saw widespread use, they were used on small, lightweight, front-wheel-drive vehicles. As a result, the coil springs rarely wore out or broke, and the only component that went bad frequently was the shock absorber itself, so it was common to disassemble the strut just to replace the shock.
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A completely assembled strut saves a lot of time
and eliminates the possibility of mistakes. As the strut suspension design became more popular and the many advantages of it became clear, it quickly found its way onto full-size sedans and trucks. Suddenly, the struts were no longer holding up meager economy cars, and we began to see broken coil springs, worn bearings and strut mounts, and worn spring insulators, on top of worn shocks. Almost every time you disassembled a strut, you found that all the components needed to be replaced.
Stocking all the different strut components for every make and model was cumbersome to say the least, but it was necessary, so the idea of offering a completely assembled strut was a welcome revelation. Limited at first to a few of the most common models, the idea took off quickly, and now you can get them for almost any application.
The advantages for a counter-professional, a technician or a DIYer can be summed up the same way for all of us. It’s simply easier. Technicians prefer them, and almost always ask for them first. DIYers may not be familiar with them, so as a counter-professional, you may have to explain the advantages.
Safety is number one. There’s no danger involved when you don’t have to compress and remove the coil spring, and it saves on the tool too, which a DIYer will either need to borrow or buy. Even though it’s possible that purchasing a single component such as a shock absorber or coil spring may be less expensive, the process of building or assembling the strut is where the biggest hurdle can arise.
Overall, there aren’t too many different pieces involved, but there are almost always some type of spacers and washers. Placement is critical, and it’s easy to make mistakes or lose one of the small components without realizing it. You can end up with a strut that rattles excessively or, in the case of a front strut, binds up during turns. An assembled strut eliminates the possibility of any of these problems.
There’s also a savings in labor time, which trickles down to the customer who’s paying the bill, or if you’re doing the job on your car, it saves your personal time, and nobody complains about that. The advantage of all-new components allows you to guarantee proper performance, no noise or rattles, and a long-term repair.
The final part of the equation is that struts should always be replaced in pairs, and you’ll often have to explain why. No, you can’t stop somebody from buying just one, but replacing only one side means you’ll have unequal performance side-to-side, and as we all know, if one side is worn out, then the other is, too. It’s as simple as that.
Selling completely assembled high- quality struts is the quickest way to a satisfied customer, and it makes your job easier, too. Occasionally, you might have an old-school customer who wants to do it the hard way, but install complete strut assemblies once, and it’s all they’ll ever ask for.
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By Counterman
link hidden, please login to view, brand of the ADD Group, announced an expansion of Complete Strut Assemblies in the North American Aftermarket. The new applications cover light vehicles, SUVs and pickups. The launch includes models like Honda Pilot, Acura MDX, Jeep Compass, Audi Q5 and BMW X3, among others, according to PRT. “Our highly automated factories support both OE and Aftermarket production, providing the latest in innovation and technology,” explains Bruno Bello, director of global marketing at
link hidden, please login to view. “PRT is continually developing new products, bringing the best solutions to the aftermarket. These new additions expand our range and strengthen our presence in the North American market. The new items are in stock and ready to ship!” The new items represent nearly 9 million vehicles in coverage.
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By Counterman
Gabriel announced the launch of its all-new website on
link hidden, please login to view., which the company said, “offers a modern user-friendly experience with fresh SEO-enriched content, vivid product images, a vast video library, online & retail dealer locators, mobile friendly interface and easy to navigate structure.” In a news release, Gabriel also announced the launch of its new centralized Part Finder. In addition to traditional search capabilities by vehicle year/make/ model, Gabriel’s new website part finder also offers extensive search capabilities based on OEM, competitors or Gabriel part numbers, and now includes part position on the vehicle such as front, rear, or cab shock positions, the company said.
“Our new website reflects Gabriel’s customer focus and commitment to providing the best ride control products, quality content, and premium service available in today’s market,” says Jennifer McKheen, Gabriel’s vice president and general manager. “As the ride control industry experts, Gabriel is excited to launch this website as the foundation for exceptional service and our successful journey in digital growth.”
The company added that quick links are easily available for each of Gabriel’s social media accounts, encouraging customers to easily keep up with Gabriel’s social posts and events in the digital landscape.
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By Counterman
In the summer of 1974,
link hidden, please login to view introduced a limited line of MacPherson Strut replacement cartridges, Gas-a-Just and Premium Heavy Duty shock absorbers to North America. Celebrating the Past, Looking to the Future
Surviving the turbulent ‘70s, KYB took full advantage of the economically booming ‘80’s, building a new 500,000-square-foot North American manufacturing plant in Franklin, Indiana just outside Indianapolis. The Franklin plant has been building OE and aftermarket shocks and struts since 1986. It continues to grow with the addition of a research and development lab, “clean” room for assembling shock valving, and most recently, being honored as the 2019 Industrial Plant of the Year for Wastewater Quality for reducing wastewater discharge 40% to the City of Franklin, KYB said.
The next few decades saw growth, with a new office being opened in Addison, Illinois, in 1999, and the launch of highly popular MonoMax truck shock just after the Millenium, according to KYB. In 2008, the company debuted the Strut-Plus complete assembly, which it said helped to set the standard in aftermarket ride control.
2011 saw the opening of a 275,000-square-foot distribution center in Greenwood, Indiana, just up the road from the Franklin manufacturing plant. The close proximity of these two locations allowed for quicker development and manufacturing of new applications and product lines, as well as faster distribution to customers throughout North America. The Addison, Illinois, office was moved to the Greenwood facility in 2014, completing the consolidation of administration, distribution, and manufacturing.
As it celebrates the past and looks to the future, KYB said it continues to grow, with monthly announcements of additional applications and fitments, new product releases, such as KYB JAOS lift kit applications, and a new product line scheduled for release in 2025.
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