We have an '01 SE Sedan with over 200k miles on it.

Lately, we've been getting a "clunk" in the front end when we run over a bumpy road.

Also, a serious "Squeeeek" that really seems to happen when coming up the driveway at home.

Had it check at a local garage. They said everything looks OK, but the front struts probably need replacing. They also said it's pretty expensive and declined to quote me a price! Yeah..I know that means it's probably a PITB to do it.

So, I know this is probably a job for a "professional", but I know for some cars you can get what's called a "complete strut assembly" that makes it easier for a DYIer.

Do the Stratus Sedans for '01-'0? have something like that? I've looked on the Monroe site and have not found a listing for the front, just complete strut assemblies for the rear.

EDIT:

I see that Unity now offers these as part numbers 11651 and 11652.

Has anybody installed these? Any advice recommendations comments?

Thanks?

EDIT 2:

Saw a video on youtube that shows how to remove the old front strut assemblies.



Here is another longer video showing how to replace the upper control arm, which is part of this compete assembly. If you use the complete strut and upper control assemblies, you don't have to rebuild the old ones, as he is doing in this video, so not all of it applies, but there are some good hints in this video on doing the removal and install:


Another video extolling the benefits of the Unity all-in-one solution:

 

yes it is a real pain in the butt to do them took me about 5 hours never done before, I have never heard of them research them thoroughly !!!!!!! .I looked on carid.com they're around 155 dollars ,that's 70 dollars less then just the top mount costs at dealer, if there any good that's a great find . think its about 2 hours labor each side to take them out and disassemble/reassemble and reinstall should cut labor in half .if you buy them please let us know if any good

 

From what I am seeing, these are the same as used on the Chrysler Sebring, so that's probably the main market for them.

I found this link on a Sebring forum:

http://www.sebringclub.net/board/vie...t=31568http://

CarID and some other sites cross reference them to the Stratus, so I guess they will work.

I have already had both the lower A arms replaced not to long ago (part was cheap, labor was $$$). Those ball joints should still be good.

If I do this, then the upper joints, the struts, coils, etc will all be renewed. For the price of the part, it's cheap. Since these are kind of new and made in China (apparently) the jury is still out on the long term durability (according to the Sebring folks).

But the front end of our car needs help...I can spring the $300 or so for parts, but not $1000+ for a "front end rebuild" that it would cost me to have a shop do it.

 

I didnt realize the sedan set up was so complicated. The coupe suspension is a breeze compared to that.

I browsed rockauto.com and found the same UNITY complete assemblies you found. $142.79 for each side complete sounds like a great deal. I cant imagine them being too difficult to replace. Unbolt the old , bolt in the new. (Easier said than done, I know).

 

Rebuilding the original "shock assembly" is time consuming, apparently. The labor quotes from places around here are ridiculous, but I think its because nobody really wants to do it.

One of those videos in my post show a guy who takes one out and basically rebuilds it...puts a new upper control arm and bushings. Why he doesn't put a new "strut" (called a "shock" in the sedan and convertible) in there, I can't explain. If I was going through all that trouble, I would just do it too and avoid having to do later.

The whole thing is not terribly hard, but it's time consuming (expensive if paying full labor rate) and it's more than I would to mess with myself, being a driveway/shadetree mechanic.

However, with a nice weather weekend (not this one!), I could see myself dragging out the floor jack, jackstands, wheel chocks and using my el-cheapo Harbor Freight impact wrench and possibly doing the Unity thing.

Probably would need to take it somewhere and get them to do an alignment afterwards. If I am really lucky, I might find some tire shop who will work with me and pay them to do an install and alignment for a reasonable price.

 

With a lift, a strut swap would be a piece of cake.

The coupes dont have an upper control arm. The strut bolts into the strut tower with access in the engine bay, and there are two bolts holding the lower part of the strut to the lower control arm; super easy.

May want to check with the shop though. Sometimes they dont like for customers to bring in parts they supply- because they cant ramp the price up, and for insurance reasons. Though if you sweet talk them and bring them new unopened parts, and promise to have them align it, they may be willing to work with you.

 

Most cars this size use the Mcpherson strut and I know that is how the Neon was.
And you can get "easy struts" which have the strut, spring, bearing, mount, etc. all setup and ready to go. The rears for this Stratus are available like that.

But the second gen Stratus/Sebring sedans and convertible use this fancy front end. Until this Unity part was available, there wasnt an all in one solution for the front end fix.

I work with a couple a places that might install it for me. Havent talked to them yet, but thought I would checked to see if anybody else has been a guinea pig for it.

The car handles nicely....when its new, but gets clunky as time rolls on.

 

the front struts on the sedan are much more mechanically difficult then the coupe