Tension Struts... Let's chat, I found something interesting..

[Mr. iNCREDIBLE]

for awhile people have been having the Tension Strut Bushing Fail, this causes clunking and vibration when driving..

Back at Spring Fest, Chrysler had a Cut-Away Challenger Model on display, I was able to see the Tension struts and get the part numbers off the arm..

cross-referencing that part number (5290828AA and 5290829AA (Right and Left)) showed that Chrysler had changed the part in 2009 (talking about SRT part here)

additionally the part for the SRT and the v6 and 5.7L models was now different (as of 2007) those part numbers are 4782612AC and 4782613AC (right and left).


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Ok so since there is a difference in part numbers and my research here and on LXF showed that the SRT guys were not having (or at least reporting) the issue as much as the V6 and 5.7L lead me to believe the part is actually different.


So one day when I was working at the three lettered race shop everyone hates, I was able to look at and compare an SRT and 5.7L Tension Strut..

Both parts are the same length, but the SRT part is thicker, the bushing is thicker but not as large in diameter, and the bearing on the other end was more than twice the size in diameter.

So I ordered some of the SRT parts and they fit perfect on my 5.7L and low and behold 3 years of steering vibration (very slight, but still there) at 65-75mph was gone..

I bought them a few weeks prior to my torque convertor seizing and taking the short block and tranmission with it.

so while my car was getting warranty repair for those items I asked the dealer if he could install the Tension Struts as everything was apart anyway.

Since technically the Tension Struts are a warranty item, they replaced them using my SRT parts under my Max Care plan.. But they had to order the replacement parts (this was back on July 24th BTW)


That brings us to today:

I got a phone call this morning that my parts were in.. WTF? Well since I had supplied my own Tension Struts, and they warrantied it, they had to order the correct parts for my car, so they thought to be nice they would just give them to me and allow me to return them for cash to cover the cost of the SRT ones I purchased..


That was very nice of them, however once I saw the Tension Struts I opted to keep them, and this is why...


There is a new V6 and 5.7L part number for 2010, and that is what I received..

the box was marked with the 2009 replacement part number 5180607AA and 5810606AA (left and right)

BUT

the parts in the box were marked 5070123 and 5070122 (Left and Right) revision is presumed to be AA (last 2 digits)

Dealer look it up and it is a new part number for 2010 and this is why:

a completely revised bushing:






compare that to the old bushing, which is solid:



and cracks like this:








additionally you will note that the bushing has it's own part number 5180608AA and dealer showed this had a cost of $1.00 but I suspect that is because there is no actual price set for it yet.. But this means the bushing can now be ordered separately and pressed into the existing Tension Strut, I didn't want to remove the safety cap off the bearing, but I am wondering if that too will be a separate part number, seeing as Moog is now making/selling it as a separate part.

[CoolVSRT8]

hmm you got me thinking now because even though my suspension came out of a car with 7k miles the front bushing is split just like you showed me.
What do they go for at your dealer?

[Mr. iNCREDIBLE]

Originally Posted by CoolVSRT8

hmm you got me thinking now because even though my suspension came out of a car with 7k miles the front bushing is split just like you showed me.
What do they go for at your dealer?

$65- $75 each, depends on dealer. Seen them as high as $99..


www.moparpartz.com has them on the $60 end of the scale.

[NWH_300C]

wow, thank you for the info, book marking this for when my tension struts fail

[GoofyTimL]

Me thinks I best have a look under the H.E. as we have a little over 46k miles now... I might be in need of some bush(ing) whacking.

[Mr. iNCREDIBLE]

Originally Posted by GoofyTimL

Me thinks I best have a look under the H.E. as we have a little over 46k miles now... I might be in need of some bush(ing) whacking.

yeah, mine have been replaced twice, both around the 35K mark, the last set I got the SRT ones, only have like 3,100 miles on those so far..

[Scarbs]

I had to replace the Tension on the Maggie this summer I went with the SRT's too. Good to know that Chrysler is at least tring to improve parts we know are bad.

[BIG SMOOTH]

So Marc, am I still good on the SRT tension struts I got installed in June?

No issues with them but are the new 2010 ones even better?

[UK CHRYSLER 300C]

I replaced my tension strut on my 05 5.7 a couple of weeks ago and it has the same part number that you stated but I must admit I never noticed any difference in the bushing and as my old arm had no splits in the bush I didnt really compare but I will go and check in a minute and see if there is any difference,thanks for the info

[Mr. iNCREDIBLE]

Originally Posted by BIG SMOOTH

So Marc, am I still good on the SRT tension struts I got installed in June?

No issues with them but are the new 2010 ones even better?

the SRT ones are vasty bigger, and have a thicker bushing and larger ball joint bearing..

comparing this one to the SRT ones on my car, as best I can without climbing under the car, i'll stick with my SRT one.

should they fail I'll go the pedders bushing route on the next round, and keep the heavy duty SRT strut arm.

I won't go as far to say these are better, just redesigned and different..