Community Forums:

>How do you know if your car needs new struts?

The rattle doesn't sound like struts, more like bushings, ball joints or loose hardware, most commonly the back end bushing in the A-arm. The horizontal play could be outer, inner or both tie rod ends. Helps to have someone wiggle the tire while you feel and observe. But also could be that rear control arm bushing mentioned.

The need for new struts can be difficult to assess if you have nothing but that car to compare. See if you can drive another 240 that has been well serviced or recently had new struts and note how much more sure the feet feel over lumps, bumps and pavement cracks especially while turning. Applies to rear shocks too. There are other bouncy symptoms too, where the rebound may feel good with large obstacles (rr tracks, curbs) but jittery or bouncy on relatively smooth cruises.

Biggest trouble is the pneumatics and hydraulics wear gradually so you get used to it beyond when it becomes dangerous. Like yama said, the general rule is mileage and how rough the service has been.
--
Art Benstein near Baltimore