# 1993 Dodge Grand Caravan - Where to get cheap struts? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** dodge\ **Created:** [June 17, 2020, 5:44am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1993-dodge-grand-caravan-where-to-get-cheap-struts/165903 "2020-06-17T05:44:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Marvin37](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@Marvin37](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Marvin37)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2020, 5:44am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1993-dodge-grand-caravan-where-to-get-cheap-struts/165903/1 "2020-06-17T05:44:39Z")
I have a '93 Dodge Grand Caravan (yeah, I know), and the struts are bad. I am trying to figure out where to get $700 to replace them but for now I just tolerate the poor ride quality and avoid doing anything sporty. Can I just go on suffering the ride or am I heading for a catastrophic breakdown? ---
**Author:** ![COROLLAGUY1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/corollaguy1/32/7575_2.png) [@COROLLAGUY1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/COROLLAGUY1)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2020, 1:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1993-dodge-grand-caravan-where-to-get-cheap-struts/165903/2 "2020-06-17T13:01:41Z")
You can buy quick struts because they are set up for quick installation.Springs are already mounted on the struts so you don’t have to deal with a spring compressor.Munro has quick struts for your van. The handling, ride quality and braking will be much better with them. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2020, 1:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1993-dodge-grand-caravan-where-to-get-cheap-struts/165903/3 "2020-06-17T13:24:16Z")
> [@Marvin37](#): > > Can I just go on suffering the ride or am I heading for a catastrophic breakdown? Without actually seeing the struts in person that can’t be answered . But if the ride and control are poor then it could be a real problem at any time. It sounds like you are going to have this done and if so start calling places for estimates and see if any have a financing option. Do you not have a credit card ? Even if you have to pay interest it will be less expensive then a wreck and towing . ---
**Author:** ![ledhed75](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f6c823/32.png) [@ledhed75](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ledhed75)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2020, 1:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1993-dodge-grand-caravan-where-to-get-cheap-struts/165903/4 "2020-06-17T13:40:02Z")
$700 seems a bit high to me. I had the front struts, rear shocks, and some other suspension pieces replaced on my Dodge Challenger for about $1200. That isn’t a dealer price is it? I’d definitely shop around for more than one quote. ---
**Author:** ![common-sense-answer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/common-sense-answer/32/716_2.png) [@common-sense-answer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/common-sense-answer)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2020, 2:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1993-dodge-grand-caravan-where-to-get-cheap-struts/165903/5 "2020-06-17T14:20:56Z")
Are you doing the work yourself or paying somebody else? Do you have a trusted mechanic/shop? Many repair shops will not let customers supply their own parts, and they make up a bunch of reasons and excuses, but they want the profit from marked up parts prices. I have an experienced “retired” professional dealership mechanic who operates a clean, modern, shop at home. He does not mind using parts that I supply for my vehicle. Your parts can be purchased from an online store, such as _Rock Auto_ (They rock in my opinion!), for probably less than 200 bucks ( 2 front strut/spring/mount/bearing _assemblies_ for easy installation & 2 rear shock absorbers). I choose parts with the red heart icon ❤. It wouldn’t be a big job for my guy to lift the car on a hoist and bolt those parts in place. His labor would be well under 200 bucks, probably under $150. The car will need an alignment after the installation. That will cost probably an additional $75 to $100. That whole job would be less than $400 to $450 for me, but you’ll have to see what it is where you are. I have an older Caravan, also. Keep in mind that for a 93 that’s not likely to become a valuable classic or collector’s car, you don’t want to see how much money you can put into it. 😉 _ **CSA** _ 🌴 🕶 🌴 ---
**Author:** ![shanonia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@shanonia](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shanonia)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2020, 2:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1993-dodge-grand-caravan-where-to-get-cheap-struts/165903/6 "2020-06-17T14:41:44Z")
One downfall of some of those older Chrysler minivans is strut tower rust. It’s wise to investigate that body area where the tops of the struts mount. It’s a highly stressed area and if too rusty, not a secure one for your front suspension to rely on. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2020, 2:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1993-dodge-grand-caravan-where-to-get-cheap-struts/165903/7 "2020-06-17T14:44:52Z")
And for a '93, you might also have to deal with worn out suspension parts contributing to the problem. Ideally, you’d have a trusted mechanic who would take a look and tell you what all is needed to keep it safely on the road (expect to pay them for this). ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2020, 3:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1993-dodge-grand-caravan-where-to-get-cheap-struts/165903/8 "2020-06-17T15:07:28Z")
When you operate a vehicle with worn out struts, it puts a burden on other steering and suspension components. This results in worn ball joints, tie rod ends, and broken sway bar end links. But probably the most dangerous part of operating a vehicle with worn struts is, it can result in a broken strut spring. And when that occurs, this can happen. ![STRUT SPRING TIRE DAMAGE](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/2X/6/68741cbc03d27577b2897308ff4a07fc1706ea11.jpg) Tester ---
**Author:** ![tcmichnorth](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tcmichnorth/32/25126_2.png) [@tcmichnorth](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tcmichnorth)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2020, 3:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1993-dodge-grand-caravan-where-to-get-cheap-struts/165903/9 "2020-06-17T15:41:35Z")
Yes, primarily the one behind the battery. ---
**Author:** ![JoeMario](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3bc359/32.png) [@JoeMario](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JoeMario)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2020, 4:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1993-dodge-grand-caravan-where-to-get-cheap-struts/165903/10 "2020-06-17T16:40:00Z")
All good replies on things to think about. I especially agree with Shanonia’s reply about checking for strut tower rust before replacing the struts. The Dodge/Plymouth/Chrysler vans of that vintage were known for rusted strut towers. ---
**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2020, 4:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1993-dodge-grand-caravan-where-to-get-cheap-struts/165903/11 "2020-06-17T16:51:25Z")
Strut tower rust out is a common problem here, we have welding shops that have new tower tops already made up to weld in. It won’t get you more than a tear or two though because if the strut towers are rusted out, other critical parts are not far behind. I replaced my own struts in my 92 Plymouth minivan and did not use quick struts. The parts store loaned me a free spring compresser. The struts were about $14o and an alignment was $80 ---
**Author:** ![PvtPublic](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/pvtpublic/32/13089_2.png) [@PvtPublic](https://community.cartalk.com/u/PvtPublic)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2020, 11:14am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1993-dodge-grand-caravan-where-to-get-cheap-struts/165903/12 "2020-06-18T11:14:57Z")
> [@Marvin37](#): > > avoid doing anything sporty You mean that was an option to begin with?