What should i replace first? Sway links or shocks and struts?

[manderson7015]

Hey guys and gals,
Got a dilema here. Time to go through suspension on my 03 trailblazer. needs shocks and struts as well as sway links and bushings. What should i replace first? Do it all in one shot or piece by piece every pay check? Any disadvantages to changing one before the other if i do a little each payday (i.e.: sway links and bushings first, struts and shocks next, then ball joints and control arm bushings)?

Thx,
-manderson7015

 

[HARDTRAILZ]

I would do it all at once. Sucks taking some of it apart and I would rather do it in one fell swoop than redo work.

 

[smokey262]

Which of those parts are the worst? Is there a need to fix any of them immediately? Do you have another vehicle in case you don't finish all in one day?

 

[Sparky]

You'll be disconnecting the sway links to do the shocks anyway (at least in the front).

 

[Envoy_04]

Pony up and buy the SuspensionMAXX sway links. The regular ball and socket style, even the most expensive Moog ones, will wear out inside a year and a half. I learned this the hard way.

 

[Sparky]

I like Moog in general but their sways for this platform suck. They are not sealed in any way and let all kinds of crap in, which wears them out. I tried another brand which at the moment I cannot remember the name, but the boot is sealed around the base. So far, so good. They've been on there longer than my Moogs were and nothing is loosened up yet.

Everything else on here is Moog though (ball joints/tie rod ends/etc) and those have been fine as expected.

 

[RPJ 03 Envoy X]

Food for thought. I would rather replace all at once ; however I just replaced a front strut on my Envoy yesterday and did not have to loosen my links to get this done. My truck is an XL and family hauler and with 140k I needed the strut mount bearing brackets as mine are toast. I found Gabriel Readymount complete strut assembly for $110 each on Amazon. Not bad if you are a regular commuter. The best price I could come up with the Bilsteins HD and a strut mount is $98 per side and I still had to do the disassembly and install.

 

[The_Roadie]

Monroe also makes Quick Struts for easy installations. Problem is they are a compromise for low cost, and both the spring and the shock may leave you unsatisfied especially if you're an enthusiastic driver.

Worn shocks also can make for an unsafe drive if the wheel starts hopping, and wear out tires and then you have secondary expense.

Work end links and bushing just make noise, but won't ruin the driving.

 

[Envoy_04]

Quick struts are the devil. Another hard learned lesson, especially when they cost more than the shock and upper mount. If you can do the labor yourself, definitely stay away from the quick struts. I have a nasty forward rake now due to the springs on mine being too weak.