Struts in 2000 Avalon

[hayes55987 0]

hey guys! got some quick questions about struts/strut towers/suspension in a 2000 Avalon XLS. I'll describe the problem first and then tell you what the toyota dealership quoted the problem and solution would be.

I have a 2000 Avalon XLS, pretty good condition that I bought from my uncle. 105,000 miles on it and all the options. I've noticed some problems with the suspension though. Some things I've noticed are a "clunking" noise from the rear when I go over bumps, the car kind of "skips" across the road, especially when i am like...merging into traffic at higher speeds on the turn and when it hits a crack in the road while i'm turning, the car feels like it really jumps across the road or something of that sort. Mainly though it is that skipping/clunking/jumpy ride that has been happening when i go over bumps or are on a poorly maintained road.

Toyota took a quick glance at it and their assessment was that it was needing to have the struts replaced and it would cost 800 dollars. I'm assuming that this is all of them?

Upon looking around on the internet though, i'm concerned because i've read on some of the forums that this can be a common mistake made my dealerships and that sometimes all it is is the bearings in the struts or just an improperly tightened nut on the strut or something along those lines. So i'm worried that either A) it is the struts but 800 dollars seems to high, or B) it is a different problem and toyota looked them over quickly and automatically assumed it was the entire struts.

Are there any tests i can check myself? such a re-torquing the nuts to a proper amount or something? help me out if u can guys!

[hayes55987 0]

anyone?

[Aaron Clinton 2,372]

Is there a possibility of failing or failed bushings or mounting brackets?