Hi folks,

I am looking for replacement front strut assemblies as I have 2 broken springs and a leaking shock. All as I have managed to find in one side on eBay motors but need both. Can anyone recommend a place to get these replacements? I am stuck.

Bruce

 

Rock Auto

 

Could someone pls post links to the Opel forums in the UK? The Astra is a rebadged Opel ....

 

This is on ebay uk.

 

Many thanks folks! RockAuto only had the rear coil springs unfortunately. I purchased from eBay UK. Parts should arrive 16 June.

 

We purchased some suspension parts from Europe too.

Make sure you are replacing everything that is worn while the car is apart. If you can't tell, have a tech check.

While you have everything apart, you should replace a few parts that wear quickly IMHO:

- strut mounts (they are included in the strut assembly pictured above. but if you are just buying the struts & springs, you might need some additional parts or recycle the old ones with a spring compressor, like the strut mounts, bellows)
- Tie rod ends
- Drop links (the metal ones provide better handling IMHO. Ones with grease fittings require periodic greasing but are rather difficult to reach but last a longer time).
- Consider the lower control arms even if they are working fine, as there is not a better time to replace them.

When you take the front suspension apart, you need to have the alignment (tracking) done afterwards or the tires & suspension will wear out quickly.

 

Hi AstraFasta - I did as you suggested and ended up replacing the lower control arms, sway bar links and strut mounts (with used parts that I pulled myself). Front end rides a little higher now of course so maybe I will tackle the rear springs later this summer. The rear springs seem to be available for the 2-door XR fairly readily from PartsAvatar (kind of the Canadian equivalent to RockAuto) the front springs which I couldn't find anywhere in Canada. Alignment done and all good on that front.

 

The control arms and sway bar links are available new on RockAuto. It would have been preferable to replace the existing parts with new parts for stuff with ball joints/grease fittings and bushings as the Astra only existed in 2008 and 2009, meaning the used parts would be just as old though not necessarily as worn as the parts on your car. But nothing is free. New parts cost much more than used. I'm sure there's a valid reason for the route you took; I'm not ******* you. You seem to have gotten some improvement from your efforts and that's what matters.

 

FYI - BILSTEIN LOOKUP SITE THAT CAN HELP WITH CROSS REFERENCES
https://web1.carparts-cat.com/defaul...B018004&12=100

SOME OLD SATURN ASTRA THREAD PART REFERENCES. THESE NUMBERS MAY BE WRONG OR HAVE CHANGED.

IIRC GM consolidated a lot of the spring-strut-shock numbers using XE and killing the lower-stiffer models for the US market. There still are sources in Europe for this stuff.

-----ONE-----
bdshaffer;1517945 - Here is how Alldata breaks down the different options.

Coil Spring

Front - Without AC - Manual Trans #93179402
Front - Without AC - Auto Trans #93179698
Front - With AC - Without Non Variable Steering #93179698
Front - With AC - With Non Variable Steering #93179666

Rear - Without Sports Chassis #93178630
Rear - With Sports Chassis #93178632

Shocks/Struts

Front Strut - Manual Trans - Right - Without Sports Chassis #93179397
Front Strut - Manual Trans - Right - With Sports Chassis #93179685
Front Strut - Manual Trans - Left - Without Sport Chassis #93179398
Front Strut - Manual Trans - Left - With Sports Chassis #93179684
Front Strut - Auto Trans - Right - Without Sports Chassis #93179397
Front Strut - Auto Trans - Right - With Sports Chassis #93179685
Front Strut - Auto Trans - Left - Without Sports Chassis #93179398
Front Strut - Auto Trans - Left - With Sports Chassis #93179684

Rear Shock Absorber - 2 Door #93178641
Rear Shock Absorber - 4 Door #93178640[/QUOTE]

-----TW0-----

SATURN PART NUMBER
95024167
2009 XE5
shows part numbers
93195914 left strut
93195915 right strut
93179698 spring set (front)


85059514
2008 XR5 non sport
shows part numbers
93195914 left strut
93195915 right strut
93179666 spring set (front)



85136789
2008 XR5 SPORT
show part numbers
93179684 left strut
93179685 right strut
93179681 spring set (front)


85047721
2008 XR3
shows part numbers
93179684 left strut
93179685 right strut
93179681 spring set (front)

I didn't bother with the rear. Left and right struts bolt only to the left or right side so each side has a part number.

 

Hi bcovey!

I think GM killed the XR lower/stiffer springs, struts, and shocks for the Astra.in North America Consolidating to just a few part numbers.

We have an XE with 16" wheels and used the "new" struts/shocks. I think we used Bilstein B3 springs on the front but can't remember. Rear springs were changed at the dealer earlier so I assume GM parts too. Anyways, height and ride is identical to factory new XE as far as I can tell.

The rear shocks are super easy to change. There rear coils are slightly more work but easy too IMHO. You should consider new rubber mounts for the springs.