[Jeepman]

I just verified my right strut is leaking. I first suspected a leak when I replaced the brake pads/rotors last month. Thought it might be fresh corrosion protection product. So much for Mopar quality on that strut, should have lasted for 300,000 km at least.

I'm considering a KYB, Mopar or Gabriel strut and reusing the Mopar spring and mount.

Other than the leak and a light noise going slow over some bumps, the strut seems to be working okay. There's no lean in the corners and ride/handling is normal.

 

[Mtfix20]

@Jeepman, I think my grand caravan has a similar issue. If I remember correctly I saw some very slight seepage on the right strut a few weeks ago. Both sides also makes a light “thump” noise over small road imperfections at slow speeds. Also, when turning the steering wheel all the way left, there is sometimes a single pop sound from the right strut.

I remember another member on here (Katoom?) said that their right strut was replaced under warranty around 30k miles, if I remember correctly. Seems like it may be a somewhat common issue.

I don’t know if a bare strut by itself can make any noise. I know for sure that bad strut mounts can make all kinds of noises such as popping, clunking, thumping, and a springy noise.

As much as I like things to be fully perfect, I might just let’s these struts ride until they make a lot of noise or they get bouncy.

 

[milanz0102]

When I recently replaced my front struts (August) to kyb they developed a clunking noise in October because when installing them I didn't have the right tool to tighten the rod nut to 48 ft.lbs. so I'm guessing I had about 20 ft.lbs.
I bought a 17mm deep socket and ground out half of the centre half way through so that I could fit a 6mm hex key through it to hold the rod while I torqued the nut with a torque wrench on the socket. No more knocking.

 

[Mopar John]

Even though pricier, OEM is the only way when talking about struts. The aftermarket Chinese spring material has a smaller diameter then the OEM. The smaller diameter isn't as strong, compresses easier giving it a mushy ride through road dips. Okay for an older beater upper or Caravan, but if you want the smooth ride you had off the lot (not slushy mushy, or swaying), stick with OEM struts and springs, especially the springs. I had about 176,000 miles on my 2007 T&C (original owner) and went the cheaper $350 route. Bad mistake. My original 176K mile struts were better than the aftermarket. These last 15 years I've been driving through intersections in my subdivision that had rain runoff dips (two per intersection), 2-3 round trips every day. That's a lot of strut compressions and they were pretty mushy. Two weeks later I was pulling them off and ordering OEMs for about $520. Night and day to say the least. Six months earlier I had overhauled all the front end bushings and motor mounts, so knew it wasn't my bushings.

Remember, the T&C has a "tuned" suspension over the Dodge giving it the better ride. It's been a year now and I don't regret going with the OEMs for a second. Just saying!

I totally agree with your assessment. My experience with the Chinese made products are No good and not worth it. OEM is the way to go, despite the price.

 

[garyh]

I wonder where Mopar Struts are made Now ? I would like to return my Moog quick struts under the Lifetime Warranty, However they came from Rockauto and i will probably have to return them on my dime for shipping. The best i will get is more Chinese junk. The juice is not worth the squeeze !

 

[Jeepman]

Speaking of junk, the OE RF strut on my 2016 DGC started leaking back in September / 2022 at 164000 km / 101905 miles. I wasn't impressed. OE should last twice as long.

We don't have to go to China to find bad products, just take a look at the life of the plastic components on the Pentastar engine and the down home ticking of the rocker arms.

I have a Costco Kirkland battery in my 2016 DGC - made in China. We will see if it can last longer than the OE battery which died April 2021 / 130000 km. I expect 6 years out of a good battery, 5 years is a little soon.

 

[Sienile]

Batteries have gone down in quality since the manufacturer switched from using the name Johnson Controls. Forget what they call themselves now. 5 years is about all you'll get these days.

 

[YotoWerks]

Here is my take on this.

Lets take for example the motor mounts the front and the rear.

The Mopar mount is around 150$ from Mopar.
Ancor sells one for 30$. I am damn sure that the rubber stiffness is not the same. OEM one lasts 100k. Anchor one you buy for 30$ and it lasts say 30k miles. Now you are like, I should have bought the OEM one but it's 5 times more expensive. Anchor gets another sale out of you so now you bought 2 of them for 60$, and say you replace it a third time you ultimately bought 3 bad units and had to replace them over and over with labor costs etc. Buying the more expensive unit likely could have saved you money but I am cheap and I am always trying to find cheaper parts that are as good as the oem but lets face it they dont really exist.

OEM units are overpriced so if Anchor is selling theirs at 30$ the part is likely 10$ to produce. Local shops sell that part for 70$. 40$ profit on top of Anchors' part.

The Mopar part itself is also 8-10X marked up so whoever makes the part for Mopar is selling it for 10-15$ to begin with but with proper rubber selection.

Struts is the same deal, OEM units will last longer but lets face it who wants to spend 500 or 600$ for new set of oem units. Often time you can get by with 200$ set up and yes it will not last as long in most cases but with the age of these vans one fender bender totals them and if you dumped big $$$ in parts you ultimately lose out.

 

[Jeepman]

I'm a great believer in OE parts as well but have some reservations;
White box brake parts for a 2004 Acura TSX that outlasted the poor quality OE garbage.
Mopar parts that are just reboxed brand names like NGK, NTK or Champion for examples. Why pay the extra price (Mopar inflation).

On rockauto.com the KYB and Gabriel are the more expensive strut assemblies. How long do they last before a seal starts leaking like the OE RF Strut on my 2016 DGC (102000 miles)? My 2002 DGC had the original struts on it when sold in 2018 / 230000 miles. Does price reflect better value for the dollar? I would think so except possibly when the more expensive Mopar name is on it, especially if that name is on a plastic part.

"Economy" or "standard" designations are indicative of a shorter life. That's a given.