Oredy Struts Review

It’s very important to maintain your vehicle and keep it in good shape. As expected, that takes a great investment, not just in money, but also in time and effort. One of the most important things to consider as you ensure your vehicle is in its best form is the condition of your struts and shocks.
That said, the market is awash with choices when it comes to shocks and struts, which can leave you feeling a little overwhelmed about which are the best options. That’s what this guide is for: to help you navigate this complex world and find the best option for your car.

1 OREDY Front Driver & Passenger Side Complete Struts Shocks Assembly

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OREDY is one of the largest manufacturers of shocks and struts in the aftermarket for auto parts.
They have an extensive line of high quality parts that are ready to install and complete out of the box.

This particular set of front struts for the driver and passenger side have some great features that you’re going to appreciate for your vehicle.

Main Features

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This set of front struts is engineered to perfection for the Toyota Camry and Solara models to ensure you get a quiet and comfortable ride.

The parts are of superior quality, are chrome plated, coated, and painted so you never have to worry about durability, rust, or corrosion.

Despite the generous warranty, however, we had a pet peeve with these struts. A few of the people we spoke to claimed that they heard clunking noises after using the struts for less than a year.

Now, since this was only a few of the cases, we suspect that it might be due to manufacturer defects or improper care on the part of the owner. However, given the warranty and service team, we recommend you take full advantage if you notice anything wrong with your struts.

2 OREDY Rear Pair Complete Struts Assembly with Shock Coil Spring Replacement

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This set of rear struts is much like the set of front struts outline above except it goes above the rear wheels.

Main Features

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These rear struts come with all the components you need to install them. No extra tools are required and installation is both fast and easy.

The set also comes with an instruction manual and a set of precautions to be taken straight out of the box.

The materials used are of the highest quality and each strut is nitrogen gas charges for optimal performance.

Now one thing to note about these struts is that they do claim to fit a Camry 2002-2006 model.

They would lift your Camry about 3 inches higher and create quite a bit of distance between the wheel well and the top of the tire.
If you’re into that look, then you should love these. If not, then perhaps you should reconsider.

3 Monroe 139105 Quick-Strut Complete Strut Assembly

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Monroe gives you a set of durable struts that comes with all the parts you need for a full installation. Monroe is well known for using factory specifications so their products will fit well into as many car models as possible.

They also use high quality materials that are lightweight so your car has only the best of the best and also does not feel heavy.

These struts fit on very specific models, so it is important to check that your model is one of the ones recommended.
A customer or two have also complained about manufacturer defects.

Sometimes the dust cover tends to come pinched, probably because of issues during fabrication. If you notice this when your package arrives, call Amazon immediately and have it replaced. Other than that, these are pretty solid struts!

Main Features

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The entire Monroe is well engineered so that as long as the tools fit your car installation is exceptionally easy.

It is guaranteed to last a lot longer than more other struts you will find on the market. The set also comes with the necessary tools you need to fit it to your car, which makes the work of installation fast and easy.

They even have an instruction manual for installation. You seriously do not have to an expert to fit the set.

FAQ/Buying Guide

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What is the difference between Struts and Shocks?

You may have heard the terms being used interchangeably and wondered what on Earth the difference between the two is. It takes a bit of affinity for nuance to understand that difference.
To start with, they both do the same job at heart, which is to dampen the oscillatory movement of the car, such as bouncing and shaking. However, in as much as they are built to do the same fundamental job, they are not the same thing and there is a distinction between them.

You can replace your struts with shocks when they get work out and need some replacement. However, you cannot use struts to replace your shocks when they’re worn out and in need of replacement. That is the first key difference. This also means that you can’t have both shocks and struts on the same when on your vehicle. It’s either one or the other.

Usually, you’ll find that a vehicle either has only shocks or only struts on all wheels but rarely will it have a mix. In fact, it’s not recommended.
Another key difference is that struts are a structural part of the car’s suspension system.

They are integrated into the car’s suspension as a whole. Shocks, on the other hand, are not an integral part of the car’s suspension system. They are merely added to supplement what the car’s suspension system is already doing. With that in mind, struts are arguably a far more crucial aspect of the vehicle’s steering system than shocks and therefore definitely need to be of the very highest quality.

People typically get confused when they set out to buy struts or shocks. They’re not sure which will give them a smoother ride. Struts are part of the suspension system while shocks are a part that is meant to help the suspension system by doing the same thing as the struts. However, the more crucial are the struts.

How long do Struts Last?

To be entirely honest, there is no standard answer to this question. We can’t set an expiration date to the struts on a vehicle because there are a lot of factors that determine how long your struts will last. Some of these include your driving routine, your driving manner, the condition of the roads on which you drive, the weather conditions under which you typically drive, the overall condition of your car, and how much mileage the struts have seen.

Since there isn’t a single factor to determine how long your struts will last, the question is complex and it is futile to set an expiration date for your struts. If you take good care of your car, your struts will last longer. Conversely, if you don’t take good care of your car, your struts won’t last as long as they would have had you taken good care of your car.

That said, you will hear many experts saying that the best time to replace your struts is after between 50,000 and 100,000 miles, depending on the other factors mentioned above.

This is general information and should definitely not be taken as a rule. The best way to know when it’s time to replace your struts is to follow the recommended maintenance schedule of your vehicle. You should also contact an expert to examine your struts and tell you whether they need replacement or not.

How do you choose the best Struts?

So now that we know a little about struts, let’s talk a bit about the process and factors we should go through when looking for the best struts in the market for our vehicles.
The very first step, of course, is to know exactly what you’re looking for.

You should first find out the exact model of the strut that you want to replace on your vehicle. To start with, does your vehicle have shocks or struts? Inspect them and note their model numbers then decide whether you want to replace them with shocks or struts. Since this article is about struts, we’ll be assuming you’ll only be buying struts for your vehicle. That said, here are some things you can do to help you know which struts to look for for your vehicle.

Search the Year and Model of the Vehicle

Finding out the year and model of the vehicle, then it should be relatively easy to figure out which struts you need for your vehicle.

Struts are manufactured for certain types of vehicles and are marketed as such. Sometimes all you need to do is enter your vehicle model and year along with the word struts on Google or Amazon and you’ll get a bunch of options.

Find the Original Equipment Manufacturer

In case you are having a hard time finding the year and model number of the vehicle, then this is another method you can try. Basically, check out the existing struts or shocks currently installed in your vehicle.

They will have a little sticker with the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) details written on it. This information should tell you about the type and model number of the strut or shock and make it easier to find a replacement on the market.

Finding the right Strut

Once you have the exact model of the strut you should be looking for, you’re about halfway towards your goal of finding a replacement. Now you just need to make sure you find the perfect replacement.

There are a few things you should look out for that help you determine whether the struts you’re looking at are the best quality or not.

• The pistons are chrome-plated – This is an important thing to look for, considering how quality materials are of utmost importance in struts. The struts will, after all, be an integral part of your suspension system so they need to have the right quality to do their job well. Some of the best struts, especially for Toyota vehicles, are chrome-plated. Chrome plating on the piston ensures that the strut as a whole will last for a long time.
• The paint is high quality – The paint is an important part of the strut as well. You want the paint to be of the highest quality so it can protect the metal underneath from rust and corrosion. If the paint peels off then your strut is going to rust and corrode much faster and more easily. You need to be looking out for your car.
• The shafts are polished – Here is another thing that matter. Good struts have polished shafts which allow the whole thing to run fairly smoothly.
• The struts should perform better than the OEM version – This is one of those things that you will only be able to observe over time as you use the new struts. It’s more of a confirmatory observation than anything else. However, it is still a good indicator that you’re dealing with high quality stuff. Good quality struts will perform at the same level or better than the original ones that were in your car.
• Special features – Special features can also be a valuable thing to look out for. Some struts are designed especially for heavy vehicles while others are designed for sports vehicles. Depending on the type of vehicle you drive, you should look for struts that perform best for that kind of vehicle.
• The struts should have a good warranty – This may be the last, but it’s certainly not the least important thing to look out for. A long warranty is a sign of quality as it means the company is willing to back their claims with a guarantee. They are putting their money where their mouths are. A good set of struts should have a warranty of at least a year.

What brand of struts is the best?

Oredy is among the best brands, in our humble opinion, due to their high quality products, generous warranties, and long period of operation and trust from many customers. Other great brands include Monroe, Gabriel, KYB, Pro Comp, and Bilstein.

How do I know my struts are bad?

Some obvious signs include a bouncy ride, vibration after hitting a bump, badly cupped tires or noticeable tire shaking, the suspension bottoming when driving on rough roads, and the body of the car swaying when driving in strong crosswinds or cornering. It is advisable to see an expert and get an expert diagnosis on your struts.

What happens if you don’t replace struts?

Struts are crucial to the proper functioning of your suspension system. Not replacing them will not only result in a severely uncomfortable ride, but may also directly cause an accident.

Should I replace springs when replacing struts?

Coil springs are much more durable than struts. They don’t typically have an expiration date. So long as they are in good shape, replacing the struts is enough and the vehicle will be performing as it originally was in no time. Only replace coils when they are sufficiently worn out.

Should you replace strut mounts when replacing struts?

A general rule of thumb is that if your struts are being replaced because they are worn and torn then you should replace the mounts as well. You should, however, get a qualified technician to have a look at the strut assembly to determine which parts, if any, need replacement.