A worn strut doesn't just affect ride comfort — it affects steering response, stopping distance, and tire wear. For Kenmore drivers on SR-522 and the Lake Washington loop routes, Tom's B&M Auto replaces struts as complete assemblies: cartridge, spring, top mount, and bearing plate together. We perform a four-wheel alignment same day after strut replacement — without it, your new struts will wear your tires unevenly within weeks.
Road test and bounce test to assess strut condition. Lift inspection of strut body for leaks, spring for cracks, and top mount bearing for roughness. Both sides inspected and compared.
Complete strut assembly installed — not just the cartridge. Monroe Quick-Strut or equivalent complete assembly eliminates spring compressor risk and ensures the new bearing plate is correct. Correct spring rate for your vehicle confirmed.
Four-wheel alignment performed same day after strut installation. Strut replacement changes front camber and caster — driving on misaligned wheels after strut work causes rapid tire wear. Alignment included in our quote.
A strut cartridge replacement without replacing the top mount bearing is a shortcut that comes back within months. The top mount bearing allows the strut to rotate during steering — a worn bearing causes a clunking or snapping noise during low-speed steering. Complete assemblies are the correct repair.
Spring compressor work is one of the most dangerous procedures in automotive repair — a compressed coil spring stores enormous energy and can cause fatal injury if the compressor slips. Pre-assembled strut units eliminate this risk entirely. For vehicles where complete assemblies aren't available, we use industrial spring compressor equipment with proper safety locks.
Cartridge, spring, top mount, and bearing plate installed together.
Four-wheel alignment performed same day — included in the strut replacement quote.
Pre-assembled units used wherever available. Industrial equipment when not.
Strut replacement includes road test and bounce test, complete strut assembly installation (cartridge, spring, top mount, bearing plate), four-wheel alignment same day, and post-repair road test.
From Tom's B&M Auto - serving Kenmore and the greater Seattle metro.
Tom's B&M Auto · 17820 Hwy 99, Suite E, Lynnwood · Serving greater Seattle
Also serving: Edmonds, Mountlake Terrace, Shoreline, Mukilteo, Kenmore, Alderwood Manor