I recently purchased a 2007 Honda Ridgeline. The car looks like it has been kept in good condition with service records at the delership. It has about 190,000 miles and I hear a little raddle when I back down my driveway and off a curb, or when I go over a bump. All my strut boots are torn, but the drive is nice (no shaking or bouncing in the steering). I hate to spend the $800 just to replace the front struts. The strut does not look like i it is leaking any fluid though. Any thoughts.
Thank you!
Todd
I hear a little raddle when I back down my driveway and off a curb, or when I go over a bump.
You should find out where the rattle is coming from and fix that before it becomes a hazard. Jack up the vehicle, and tug on the struts to see if its the mounts. Tug on everything else too. Watch Scotty's suspension video playlist.
All my strut boots are torn
the boots keep dirt off so the struts last longer. If they're not leaking now, they will soon.
but the drive is nice (no shaking or bouncing in the steering)
well your steering may be ok, but bad struts affect vehicle roll stability at high speeds, and reduce your traction over uneven surfaces when they can't absorb the impacts. Stand on the corner of the bumper and rock the truck to see how it recovers.
