Does replacing struts raise the car up higher?
Posted by QuasiJudicialBoofer@reddit | askcarguys | View on Reddit | 25 comments
I've got a 2008 Toyota matrix, 130k miles, that is groaning in pain when I get in. Shop told me it needs new struts and it probably does.
But the driveway of my new house is so steep that my front bumper is getting whacked frequently. Really needs to hit at the perfect angle to avoid scraping.
Would replacing the struts, would I get some height. This is a game of CM anything would help. But I don't really want to put much money into it if I'm just going to beat the bumper to shit.
HazelKevHead@reddit
It depends on whether its a quick strut or just a strut, cuz if the spring doesn't get replaced you're not gaining any height.
EffectiveRelief9904@reddit
No. Only if you get coil overs, then you can change the ride height but it’s usually for lowering, not lifting
roosterb4@reddit
If you have struts with spring combo, yes it will probably raise your bumper a half an inch.
ElGordo1988@reddit
The "pre-assembled" all-in-one struts do in my experience, but especially the Chinese brands
I know Chinese brands get shit on generally, but ironically when I bought some "generic" Chinese pre-assembled struts the front end of my Jeep rose like 2 inches instantly lol... 😳
After I left the shop and came home my neighbor remarked "did you put a lift kit on that thing?" since you could visually see the 2" height difference - caused a slight "squat" in the back actually
I suspect the reason for this is more lax quality control or something, maybe they used a coil spring for a larger truck or something? In any case, it was a noticeable "boost" over the Monroe struts I was using before
For what it's worth (...and I don't know if they're even still in business anymore), the brand was called "Replacement"
Alrjy@reddit
I'm not sure about the Matrix, but many cars have suspension that can be ordered with OEM "cargo" or off-road springs which may raise the car over an inch. I believe this is typically sold in developing countries with unpaved roads but can often be ordered locally.
Crawlerado@reddit
Seek out some Gambler 500 nerds. One of them will know what year Venza struts swap over. Or you could do strut top spacers.
secondrat@reddit
It’s possible but not likely. Some new gas struts will raise the car a touch due to higher pressure. but it’s usually less was than an inch.
andervic209@reddit
Springs/lift kit
rscottyb86@reddit
The struts themselves, no. Struts with new springs....maybe...but probably too small of an amount to notice or change things for you
jlusedude@reddit
Unless it’s a 3rd gen 4Runner with saggy ass. Replacing the springs fixes that and is noticeable.
Nextyearcubs2016@reddit
This is the only answer. New springs will probably give a slight lift, but new struts will do nothing to lift
tOSdude@reddit
Complete struts will sit a touch higher until they settle.
Normal-Memory3766@reddit
Only if you swap the springs for higher ones. You’d probably have to find a trashy looking high off the ground aftermarket front bumper to avoid scraping as bad
Big_Campaign_467@reddit
...if the suspension you have on there is wickedly worn...installing new strut/spring combo CAN raise the vehicle. They come in assemblies called "quick strut" or "easy strut" depending on the manufacturer. Costs a lil more, but labor is straightforward if you DIY and saves time. Do you intend to keep this vehicle for a long time? Worn suspension destroys your tires and wears them unevenly...adding more costs to your budget... For the first fewdays/weeks after install (depending on how much you drive) the vehicle will look oddly higher as it settles with time. How are your control arm bushings? New components in a system also wreak havoc on older worn components related to said system...just food for thought.
Never owned a matrix (or Pontiac Vibe) but I am WELL aware they run forever. (With proper maintenance of course)
freshxdough@reddit
Struts don’t contribute to ride height
ML_for_HL@reddit
I'm just chgd struts and shocks ony odyssey..no height chg noticed..but braking is better. Hope it helps
albertpenello@reddit
Springs control ride height, shocks are to dampen compression and rebound.
If you remove the springs, the car would go straight to the ground. If you remove the shocks, the car will bounce up and down like a trampoline.
So your car is not going to "raise up" in a material way with new struts since the shop will most likely re-use the springs. BUT, for things like going over bumps, or even up a driveway, blown shocks/struts will help prevent the car from bottoming out as it "bounces" up the driveway.
MysticMarbles@reddit
Order some cheap strut spacers and install em, or buy slightly taller tires.
Replacing suspension components with original spec replacements isn't going to buy you more than a small fraction of an inch unless your car is CLAPPED out.
imothers@reddit
If the car has the original shocks and springs in it, there's a good chance the shocks have been worn out for some time. This allows the spring to oscillate up and down more than they would do otherwise, which tends to wear out the springs. So the car may be sitting a little lower than it did when it was new. Also, the worn out shocks will let the car drop down more on bumps, increasing the chance the bottom scrapes.
If the car has the original suspension, there's a good chance that putting in "quick struts" (preassembled shocks and springs, sold as a package) in will solve the rubbing problem. Labor costs are lower for this than just replacing the shocks, which helps offset the higher price for the parts compared to just changing the shocks. If you haven't replaced any ball joints or tie rods, the mechanic may tell you some of these need to be done as well. Good chance they are correct... at 16 years and 130k miles some of these parts may be worn out enough that they have to be replaced to be able to do an alignment.
tripleriser@reddit
Apparently you share some parts with the Prius and, for some reason, there's a couple lift options for the Prius. If you want to get weird with it, do a hockey puck lift and you'll get a inch or two
briman2021@reddit
Struts don’t carry weight of the vehicle, they control oscillation. Other than collapsed bushings you won’t see any height change. My jeep is currently sitting in my garage without the shocks on it as I’m waiting for parts, it sits at exactly the same height as it did with them in.
AlaskaGreenTDI@reddit
Check to see if you can get a set of lift springs for it. You might still only gain an inch or two over your worn struts and springs but that would make a big difference with your bumper situation.
Tendie_Tube@reddit
There is a product that wedges between coil springs and essentially raises the vehicle, but this comes at the expense of more spring stiffness because there is less spring that is able to compress. I've even seen rednecks do it with pieces of wood, lol. Might be worth a try, but be careful around curves and bumps until you figure out how it handles. Also check if your tires are the correct size for the car, and are inflated correctly.
glade_air_freshner@reddit
Can we see a pic? Anything is possible, but sagging springs are very uncommon on these cars.
captain_sta11@reddit
You might(keyword is might) get a small bit of height out of it since the old suspension is probably tired at that age and mileage. But it won’t be anything super substantial unless something is collapsed.