I'm replacing the struts on the Brat, and the new ones look nothing like the old ones. I know this is a common issue with aftermarket parts, but these look so different I think I got the wrong ones. What do you think?

Is the new one actually smaller in diameter or is that just how the picture makes it look? Also the last two sets I bought, Gabriel 15-16 years ago and Sachs a month ago both came with the bottom spring perch. Get the numbers off of the strut body and cross reference them. They look to be wrong to me!

They seem to be the same size in diameter. I havent checked them with calipers but they seem the same.

Not exactly sure how to cross referance the numbers on the old piece.

Bought the new one from Rockauto, the parts number on the struts I have matches the ones they say my car needs.

Edited April 21, 201411 yr by Godsmulligan

Is that the Sachs strut? You don't have the spring perch in the picture. If it is the Sachs it is the right one. Has the height adjustment bolts that mount on the spring perch.  The picture made the new one look smaller.

It's an acdelco, if that helps. Not sure what you mean by Saches, guessing brand name. Not sure about the sorting perch. It didn't come with one. Do I have to buy those separate. The fact that it doesn't have the spring perch on it was one of the reasons I was worried it was the wrong one.

According to them it is for an 82-87 Brat so you should be good to go. Does look mighty different though. Does it have the one tab down with hole to bolt to the knuckle? How does the perch mount?

Edited April 21, 201411 yr by bratman2

If the spring perch is the rectangle price of metal the bolts go through, it looks like it's welded on. Don't see any mounting holes in the new one.

I am calling the spring perch the big round piece that the bottom of your coil springs sits in. Don't know if that is the proper name. I am not seeing in the picture what holds that in place.

Doesn't look right.

 

Return it while you can.

Doesn't look right.

 

Return it while you can.

+1

 

Quick image search annddd...

http://www.carparts.com/details/Subaru/Brat/Gabriel/Shock_Absorber_and_Strut_Assembly/1985/GABG55726.html?TID=80000000CP&origin=pla&CP=1&CP_SRC=PPC&003=27372932&010=cpgashabanstas85subarubrat19821987gabrielgabg557261&gclid=CP-O_P6C8r0CFUFrfgodG3gAMg#

 

Stupid phone lol

Yup, that's what it should look like. Calling them today. Hopefully they won't give me to much crap. I'm over the 30 day warranty by 10 days.

Good news: Rockauto verified it was a catalog error. they sent me a shipping label and are accepting it as a return.

 

Bad news: it will be at least a couple weeks before I can get the right ones and get them installed. Work sucks, kids. Don't ever do it. Become homeless.

and be careful you don't just get bare inserts that are made to slip into a tube housing that has the mountings - they were for pre 84 MY. I got caught out there !

Depending on the model, yo may not want to buy a strut that does not have the coil spring included, can be a real hassel.

Have you ordered from them before, because that price seems insanely cheap.

http://www.carparts.com/details/Subaru/Brat/Gabriel/Shock_Absorber_and_Strut_Assembly/1985/GABG55726.html?TID=80000000CP&origin=pla&CP=1&CP_SRC=PPC&003=27372932&010=cpgashabanstas85subarubrat19821987gabrielgabg557261&gclid=CP-O_P6C8r0CFUFrfgodG3gAMg#

Stupid phone lol

Depending on the model, yo may not want to buy a strut that does not have the coil spring included, can be a real hassel.

 

That's what spring compressors are for.

No I've never ordered from them, mainly giving credit to where I got the image...

 

If it helps though I checked the ratings and they avg 8.75 (4.5 stars) from the 4600 people that rated them

Edited April 29, 201411 yr by TallonX

I did some more research on carparts.com. From what I've gleamed of the net and the forums it looks pretty sketchy. If you bought struts for your suby, where did you buy them?

Edited May 1, 201411 yr by Godsmulligan

I buy locally, easier on the warranties n mishaps from miss stock or miss numbered

 

Last time I did struts on a subi was a set of Gabriels through advancedauto

 

Doesn't look like the bigger chains are stocking them anymore

Edited May 1, 201411 yr by TallonX

That's the problem I'm running into. Can't find em around here

Nobody sells a Brat strut with springs except the salvage yard. That is a good price on the Gabriels. That what I had for the last 15 years are so on my Brat. I installed Sachs a few weeks ago. That picture looks like the right one also.

Nobody sells a Brat strut with springs except the salvage yard. That is a good price on the Gabriels. That what I had for the last 15 years are so on my Brat. I installed Sachs a few weeks ago. That picture looks like the right one also.

If you don't mind me asking, where did you buy them from?