Evan Kaplan

About 3 months ago I had a new suspension installed. Struts/ Shocks etc.. Now, Yesterday while I was looking for a coolant leak I decided to jack up the side of the car to get a better look and noticed that the struts never looked like they were touched. 1. they strut itself looks old. 2. the bolts holding it looked like they also were never touched. My question is can the strut be replaced without removing it. could they have just put in inserts. To my knowledge the 1990 944 S2 had sealed struts. Could they have just screwed me. According to my receipt they used Part#944434303119. Please help me. I;m ready to go back down to the shop and bust some heads...

Thanks, <img src="graemlins/cussing.gif" border="0" alt="[grrrrrrr]" />

M758

Something seems fishy here.

New struts are required for the S2's.
They should be much cleaner than everything else under there since they are relatively new.

Compare the dirt on the springs to that of the struts. If they look exactly the same something does not look right.

Evan Kaplan

They are both dirty. It lokos as if nothing was ever done. But i paid for it. How would you recommend approaching the mechanic. I'm ready to go down there with a baseball bat.

Jonathan Martini

I'd try to use a more subtle approach. If you really believe they jipped you on work and its been three months, chances are they don't remember you or your car.

Take it down and say you think some mechanic might have jipped you on some strut work. Ask them if they can take a look and see if they think the work was even done.

If they say that yes, sure enough there is no way the struts could have been replaced recently you cooly pull out your receipt (you did keep the receipt) and cooly say "You are SOOO Busted" ala American Beauty.

If not they should be able to say either they can't tell or show you how they can tell. Either way everybody stays cool and no baseball bats are involved.

After all its just money, and you've already spent it so you can't really miss it that much. Better to play it cool and if that doesn't work just don't go back to that shop again. After 3 months I don't see how your going to prove that there isn't just 3 months worth of dirt on the new parts anyway.

tt9714

What type of replacement shocks & struts did you specify when dropping off the car (e.g. Sachs, Koni, Bilstein)?

Michael Stephenson

Replacement of the struts requirs a front end alignment. Did you have this done as well?

If it were not mentioned to you as being a necessary part of the repairs, I would guess that the struts were not replaced.

Is there the possibility that they installed the strut insert retrofit as sold by Paragon Products? These would use your old housing, but you would now have struts that were adjustable by turning the little tips on the end of the strut (located in the engine bay). However, the struts need to be removed to do this work and you would still need the car realigned.

Evan Kaplan

I specified OEM. The screwes did not even llok to be touched. Normally when you unscew a bolt it leaves mark. No mark what so ever.

Tom R.

i had the inserts installed in my S2, and my mechanic marked off where the bolts went so i didnt need an alignment.

the fronts look just a crappy as they did before i had the inserts replaced.

check under the hood on the tower to see if there is what looks like a small flat head screwdriver sticking out. that is where the adjustment **** goes. if not there you probably dont have the koni inserts.

go to paragon-products web site to compare part numbers.

Olli Snellman

If you have only 3 months with your "new" struts, they should still look like new !

Use that baseball bat <img src="graemlins/cussing.gif" border="0" alt="[grrrrrrr]" />

Olli
'88 951

Loki

If they committed fraud( I think that is illegal). I'd be sure to get the money refunded and go elsewhere. Keep us updated on their lame excuses and your progress.
Keep Your Cool! If it comes to a legal battle and a lawyer, you need to appear like the perfect little customer that got shafted.

Chris