So for my 2005 Toyota matrix AWD with 210k miles, I decided to get some new Suspension, as the originals were showing their age.
For the fronts, I got the KYB Strut plus, they are the entire strut, spring, mounts, bearings, everything. The rears did not have that option for awd sadly, so I got the GR-2 / Excel-G Struts and got the KYB strut mounts and re-used the original springs. Sway bar end links were also done, front and back, Dormans as Rock auto showed them as being their best.
I had this done at a local Mavis, I know, chains are bad, but I know a lot of the guys there, and the mechanic doing the work has quite a bit of experience. I figured struts are not too hard, and I don't have a spring compressor to do the job anyway.
So they did the install, and at first it was marvelous the difference. Ride quality was much better, but right after I did notice a bit of rattle in the rear. I removed anything that I thought could be the cause, but after driving for delivery work today, it got worse. Driving down a nice road is no issue, but if there are bumps, the rear end is rattling pretty good. I also noticed that when going around a curve, if it has some bumps, It would...hop a tad and I could tell it is not performing correctly.
When I noticed that, I checked the bounce in the suspension, fronts were perfectly fine, backs are all kind of bouncy now. I swear the rear is worse than it was before I switched it. When looking at the struts, I don't see anything wrong with them, at least what I can see without being on a lift.
Any ideas what could have gone wrong that would have messed up both struts? I would think it points the finger back to the mechanic, perhaps messing something up? One strut was purchased from Rock Auto while the other I got from amazon. The amazon was the last one left and a good price, otherwise I would have gotten both from Rock Auto. I don't see how both struts could be bad.
Thanks!
I would go back to the Mavis and talk to the guys. Take the mechanic for a test ride around the block and over some speed bumps or whatever to show him the rattle. See what they say.
I would not have used two different shocks on each side. No two shocks by different manufacturers are the same. Maybe it's causing some kind of instability. Or maybe they just missed something.
First you have to be able to reliably replicate the rattle. If you can do that without the vehicle moving that's even better.
Thanks I will give them a good test drive.
The shocks are the exact same type, I just got one from Amazon, from the kyb store, and one was from Rock auto. The rattle happens a bit even when just bouncing the rear end.
what a coincidence ... this was just posted about "Mavis"
https://carkiller.com/scottykilmer/qa/warning-about-mavis-tire-brakes/
LOL yeah I saw that, not exactly great to hear.
The only thing going for the one here, is that it is a really small town. Pretty much every mechanic shop has a really good reputation here, I think because if they mess up much, word will spread and they be out of business fast.
When I moved up here I was surprised to see that, because where I lived before had so many mechanics that had a bad reputation, and bad reviews online.
