Hey,
I just had my front brakes done at meinike and the guy there said my struts and shocks needed to be replaced. My 95 Se has 124k on it. My car rides fine, doesn't make any noise going over bumps, ride is very smooth, no squeks or rattles, passed the old push on the front fender test. He claims because my tires show wear in the center tread its because of my struts and shocks. I never heard of that before. The tires are due for replacemant soon, their good for at least another 5k safely, plan on doing next month, car does shake between 65 mph and 80 but I know its out of alignment, I'll get that done when I get new tires. Is he hosing me?? How can I tell when I really need to repalce struts and shocks, Ive always waited until they died...

Tires that wear in the middle may be overinflated. Struts/shocks show wear on one edge or the other typically. Find another shop. These guys sound a little shady.

Or you have many lil flat spots on the tread surface of the tire.....

I knew they were tryin to screw me... I only went there so I could get lifetime warranty on brake pads... Thay must think everybody who drives a car is an old lady who owns buick century!! I checked my tires in spots like you guys said, they look fine to me, a little worn but thats all I see. You know when I got my oil changed at around 2 years ago
the shop where I get my oil changed said my tires were dry rotted and I should replace them that was 15k ago!Everybody wants to hose me!!! I wish I had never moved, I had a great honest mechanic back home...Oh well, what are ya goin to do..
thanx for the info

were hearing more and more stories like this.
Glad I do my own work. These struts last a long time on our cars.

Yeah, I had Wheel Works tell me the same thing, and my car had like half the miles yours has. The thing is, you need to look at this logically: There'* a whole list of things that can make your tires wear funny, that are much more common: Like having a slightly imperfect alignment, and having slightly over or underinflated tires. Even if it was your struts causing the tire wear, ask yourself how bad the tire wearing is, compared to your otherwise satisfaction with the bounce test, the ride quality, etc. -Would it be worth the cost of struts for slightly better tire wear, or would your money be better spent on tires when they finally wear out? -Or on an alignment? I say if there are no other signs of strut problems, your money is vastly better spent on alignments every 2 years or so. The struts on our cars *DO* last a long time, and in many posts on these forums there were people who were unhappy with their replacement struts. So I say unless you have a blown out strut, with oil leaking down the outside of the cartridge, just ignore when shops like Meineke tell you that you need struts. You don't need struts, they just want your money. And the lifetime warranty on brake pads is okay, except they charge you full labor to replace them. Still, unless you do it yourself you have to have *someone* do your brake jobs.

Also when you discover uneven tire wear, it might sound ridiculous but it could be the rim being out of round. I had this problem with Sears, they said is the struts. Then I went back the next week and told them that GM dealer inspect the struts and they're fine. So they changed the story. They suggested tires in the first place, why would they put brand new tires in f..ked up struts? I had a fit, so they said I'll get the replacements unless I replace the struts. I went to another Sears, this store said is the rim, they are out of round. So my rims are being reconditioned and they would put new tires. These people are theifs, whatch out. They think the "cuping" of the tire is because the struts. Could it be the Springs, tie rods, what is it.

Dealers here charge $100.00 an hour to see what is causing the problem.

I'm not ritch, I'm lucky to have this car, which I still owe.

good luck

More reasons why its great to be on a forum like the BC!