My 01 Accord (77K miles) makes terrible noises on the front end whenever I go over certain bumps in the road at a fast enough speed. I am assuming the struts are bad. I looked online at the offerings and am confused. I see different looking parts available for the same vehicle, so I don't know which to buy - or are they equivalent, just made differently?
Also, how difficult are they to install? Is it easy enough than a hacker like me can install them, or should I have my shop do it for me?
Thanks

 

what are the terrible noises like? are they like a high pitch squeak? is it predominately one side? have u lowered your car? on my 97 accord the LH rear shock is busted (which i noticed when i lowered my car). it may just be one side and you may not need to replace both. i particularly didnt see it as a hard task to remove the struts and shocks, but you'll need the right tools. you will most definitely need a spring compressor and an impact driver makes it a hell of alot easier. i also used a rotory lift so i had the suspension at eye height for easy access. I only had to remove a bolt under the car and three under the hood and i kind of had to wedge em out. if u dont have to tools just take it to a shop. if u dont have a spring compressor you'll most likely get hurt. i hope this helped

 

It makes a banging or rubbing sound.

 

my kind of does that bu with a squeak incorporated. it sounds to me like you have a busted one. like i said if you dont have the tools take it to a shop. if you wanna check see if you can jack up the car and feel the top of the shaft where the rod goes into and see if you have any fluid around it. if so, you have a busted strut. ill try to post up a picture because i cant think of a better description

 

lol.... my paint diagram. feel where the arrow points for any fluid, im not sure if you will be able to depending on how high you jack the car and how big your hand is because of the actual spring perhaps being in the way.

 

If you're going to replace the struts, make your life easy and get the quick struts by Monroe. They include a new strut, coil spring, and strut mount pre-assembled. You replace the entire assembly at once and don't have to mess w/ spring compressors. It will save you a lot of time, plus it doesn't make sense to put a 77k coil spring on a brand new strut.

 

a slight bang/rattle might also be worn balljoints, or control arm or strut mount busings. Best bet will be to jack up the wheel and wiggle the tire around. It shouldn't move. If it does, look at where the play is and start from there.

 

spring compressors and impact drivers can be "rented" from autozone for a deposit returned to you when you return the tool. but, as rob pointed out, no point in putting an old spring on a new strut. now if they are lowering springs, and pretty new, you might consider keeping it...

 

i agree with everyone above, and i second that if you are getting new springs get lowering springs. if you feel like dishing out more cash, buy coil overs but you are going to need some pretty agressive shock/struts to go along with them. I bought coil overs not realizing how bad the shock/struts would handle it.. lol. and also to come find out i have a busted shock and i think ive busted another one. i recently bought a set of kyb agx's (shocks/struts) but they havent been shipped yet. ill let you know how they ride...