PontiacBonnevilleClub.com

That's the strange part, they were listed for Pontiac not long ago. That us why we have several members here that have used them. Maybe Monroe realized there was a problem and stopped using that part number for our cars. I do know that basically everyone that used them was not happy with them due to the increase in ride height from a taller then factory spring.

What is the part number for the struts on your car?

crash93ssei wrote:That's the strange part, they were listed for Pontiac not long ago. That us why we have several members here that have used them. Maybe Monroe realized there was a problem and stopped using that part number for our cars. I do know that basically everyone that used them was not happy with them due to the increase in ride height from a taller then factory spring.

What is the part number for the struts on your car?

I am having part # 71685 installed today with my stock springs..that is if they are in good shape..they looked fine to me, but then I'm not a mechanic either..

Yes, the ride height was unbearable!! That is why I was so persistent that it just wasn't right!! The part that is on there now is # 171822..I can't even believe it bolted on, but it did!! The pic below is before the quick struts..imagine it sitting up about 3 times that in the front...HORRID!

OMG YOU GUYS HELP ME!!!

The dealership called me and said the struts I took him where the same ones on the car now!!! How is this possible when one is a quick strut and the other is just the strut?? He also informed me the old strut and assembly I took him isn't even from my car?? OMG!!!

Do you think they are just trying to get out of working on it??

Hard to say, any idea on the part number for the strut that you brought them?

All a quick strut is, is just the strut itself complete with a new spring, bearing, and mount so you can just swap the original with the old one whereas if you just do a strut you have to remove the mount and spring from the original strut and swap them on to the new one.

crash93ssei wrote:Hard to say, any idea on the part number for the strut that you brought them?

All a quick strut is, is just the strut itself complete with a new spring, bearing, and mount so you can just swap the original with the old one whereas if you just do a strut you have to remove the mount and spring from the original strut and swap them on to the new one.

yeah its a monroe 71685 (just the strut). I know that a quick strut is all inclusive..I took my OLD assemblies to them so they could use what parts they needed (spring/bearing/mount)..I wanted my old springs to be used if possible...I'M SO FRUSTRATED!!

crash93ssei wrote:Odd, maybe they very recently changed things, I was looking for struts for my '03 SSEi (quick struts would have been the same for your '05 SE) not even two months ago and they had Monroe quick struts everywhere, now I only see them on O'Reillys web page and on Amazon, but no longer on Rockauto.com. The part numbers they list are 181685 and 171685.

I just got off the phone with the guy at Monroe, he said the 171685 is for a buick Lesabre and WILL NOT fit on my bonneville.. OMG this is driving me nuts!!

Well then there was some mix up along the way at some point as they WERE listed as fitting a 2000 - 2005 Bonneville, and still are in some places.

wow..that is just plain crazy..I can only imagine the frustration of all those Bonny owners. Especially if its anything like mine..OMG!! Next, I am just going to "NOT" ask for anyone's opinion and just say "I will pay you to put this on", because that is what I want. I might have to buy additional parts, but that is fine. I just want it fixed. I can't stand knowing the wrong part is on my car! Only because of the "shudder" and ride height is off. If the correct struts don't fix the shudder then I will address that when I KNOW the correct struts are on the car.

another story..

The Chevy dealership basically blew me off yesterday. They said the new struts I took them and the new struts currently on the car were the same part #, umm no they aren't, one is a reg strut (meaning NO SPRING OR ANYTHING ELSE ATTACHED) and one is a quick-strut (WITH ALL THE GOODS ATTACHED)!..I don't see how they can be the same part #..They also told me the old strut assemblies I took them were NOT from my car to begin with!! WOW! The guy did say he thought the wrong struts WERE currently installed on the car, but "HE" wouldn't worry about it and just drive it. He said "this car has 130k on it, It would cost 1500.00 to install new GM parts to fix it, but I wouldn't sink much more money in it, can I interest you in a new CAMARO, you'd look good in it!!??" So, with all bad info coming from them, I'm out 40.00 for the rental and 47.50 for them to tell me NOTHING!

Am I getting the run around because I'm a girl?

Am I making too big of an issue about this??

I've been digging around for weeks on this issue and have gathered a lot of knowledge, about my car and lots of other things. I feel I'm very informed about the strut issue and I also feel that I am making the best decision by getting those quick-struts off of there!

What would you do???

Any service shop can give you the run-around on things. It's hard to say if being female adds to it. If you want to go through things again with them, you could try talking to the service manager. Another option would be to take it to a small, independent shop and see what they will do for you.

You could also check with Andrew (harofreak00) to see if he may have a good set of used ones. The entire assembly is relatively easy to replace, and with a little advice from here, you could probably do it yourself, if you have the proper tools.

If it was my car, I'd put the proper struts and springs on it. Especially as it appears as if it may be causing you problems.

I don't think I will be going back there. I've always preferred smaller shops (support the little man) and there are a few here in town. Thank you for your support. A few are making me seem like I am a little crazy for being so obsessed with this. I love my car and just want it to drive like I know it should and did before these new struts started this avalanche of problems. I'm not getting my hopes up, but another solution is in the works. I picked up the correct springs/mounts and insulators (already have the struts) and dropping the car off tonight for installation tomorrow. fingers crossed!!

Good luck!
You should soon be driving that Bonnie, not fretting over it.
;-)

MW

well, had the springs replaced with moog springs that are the correct ones (now correct struts and springs are on it) and it sits 3/4 inch lower in the front, hopefully with more settling to come. Car is still shuddering during take-off and turns..so very annoyed at this point.

Did the shop find any transmissions codes? Was the PCS (pressure control solenoid) replaced during the rebuild?

Archon wrote:Did the shop find any transmissions codes? Was the PCS (pressure control solenoid) replaced during the rebuild?

I've had two places tell me my transmission is fine (not sure if they know this by scanning or driving it)..I'm not sure I'm buying it, but like I've said, I'm not a mechanic..as far as the PCS, I don't know, but the rebuild was done in May of 2011..do they go bad or need replaced often?

Try the lube guard its only like $8. There's a couple kinds u want the anti-shutter for 4x4. Found at o Rielly's.

xcbullet wrote:Try the lube guard its only like $8. There's a couple kinds u want the anti-shutter for 4x4. Found at o Rielly's.

I put some in. No change..

Listen to me.....

my car is doing the same thing.

i have original struts and springs. the only thing that makes the strut assemblies wrong are the springs on them. monroe for some reason makes the springs to high or heavy and causes the ride height issue. the rest of the assembly ie the strut and mount should be the same.

i have 2 new or at least very recent axles in the car. first the drivers side. then the passengers side when they started slinging grease. only after the passenger side did i notice the problem.

i also have the hockey puck mount installed in the front and i noticed today the rear mount is badly cracked.

now im sure its possible that the rear mount could be causing an issue but id put my money on the passenger side axle.

before i read your post i thought it was just me who had this problem but now i think i will replace my axle and send it back as a defect. i replaced my axles with cardone select new axles. maybe something is wrong with it. never had a problem with any other car ive installed them on but nothing is perfect.

hope i helped a little at least.

2003BlackSapphireSLE wrote:Listen to me.....

my car is doing the same thing.

i have original struts and springs. the only thing that makes the strut assemblies wrong are the springs on them. monroe for some reason makes the springs to high or heavy and causes the ride height issue. the rest of the assembly ie the strut and mount should be the same.

i have 2 new or at least very recent axles in the car. first the drivers side. then the passengers side when they started slinging grease. only after the passenger side did i notice the problem.

i also have the hockey puck mount installed in the front and i noticed today the rear mount is badly cracked.

now im sure its possible that the rear mount could be causing an issue but id put my money on the passenger side axle.

before i read your post i thought it was just me who had this problem but now i think i will replace my axle and send it back as a defect. i replaced my axles with cardone select new axles. maybe something is wrong with it. never had a problem with any other car ive installed them on but nothing is perfect.

hope i helped a little at least.

So, I found out through a lot of questioning about the assembly..and you are right the only thing different was the spring..so I had the moog springs put on..The only issue about the axles is, the car was doing this shudder thing BEFORE I had new axles put on and immediately after the new strut assembly. The new axles made no difference whatsoever..I'm just dealing with it now..I'm SO tired of chasing this problem and I'm not throwing any more money at it..its interesting you are having the problem though, with only new axles and stock struts and springs??

Please keep me updated if you solve your problem..

Just checking to see if you ever found a resolution? I have the EXACT same issue with my Bonneville, same as yours, started right after the strut replacement.. Like you, I was sold Monroe Quick Struts (Per Monroe, these should have never been available for a 00-05 Bonneville, as the spring rate is too high, two alignmen tshopes couldn't even come close on an alignment). After talking with a tech at Monroe, he said the only issue is with the springs. Like you, I purchased Moog springs. Car then sat noticeably lower, thankfully. Alignment shop was then able to align it, could not physically do it with the springs from Monroe. I have new control arms, new axles, new engine mount. Shudder is still there. Shop that is working on it now thinks the frame or sub-frame twisted during the strut replacement process ( I did the work myself and used jack stands, on the front only, which I was told was a no no). Reason they think this, is that if both axle nuts are off and wheels are off the ground, they can push the passenger side axle in until it stops (there is enough thread to still put the axle nut back on). When they do this procedure to the drivers side, the threads are all the way inside the steering knuckle/wheel bearing assembly. Anyway, did you ever find a resolution?