Rx 300 Struts

[stephenwmorgan]

How long should factory installed struts last? My mechanic says to replacethem now at 52,ooo miles at $650.

[RX in NC]

OEM strut life is very dependent upon how the vehicle is driven and serviced. Well-maintained roads, a lot of highway driving, easy acceleration and braking, no towing, and taking care of your tires and wheels can cause OEM struts to occasionally last the lifetime of the vehicle. On the other hand, rough roads, off-roading, jackrabbit starts and stops, potholes and speed bumps, heavy towing, and neglect can wear out a set of struts in a relatively short period of time.

You may want to obtain several other opinions before you decide that you do in fact need new struts. If your ride quality has declined, if your chassis bounces more harshly over speed bumps and takes longer to recover from them, and if your tire wear has accelerated or become greatly uneven, your mechanic may indeed be correct. All of these occurences can be signs that your struts are shot.