Anatomy of a quality strut assembly

Introduced in 2003, Monroe Quick-Strut assemblies had an immediate impact on the strut replacement category, helping to revolutionize the economics of what had traditionally been a time- and labor-intensive service process.

The proven benefits of the first complete, ready-to-install strut assembly made this Monroe innovation exceptionally popular among repair professionals. Perhaps not surprising is the fact that this popularity attracted the attention of other suppliers, some of whose own strut assemblies look similar to genuine Monroe Quick-Strut units but might not offer the same quality and performance you need and expect.

One customer. One chance. Because service providers often have just one chance to perform a strut replacement on a given vehicle, it’s important to do the job right the first time. This means understanding the risks you could be taking by selecting a product that might not have been engineered and manufactured with the precision, professionalism and high-quality materials you have come to expect from an industry leading product. Examine the details over the next few pages to learn more about the critical advantages built into the industry’s premier strut assemblies.

1: Precision engineered, assembled, fit checked & testedVital to customer satisfaction? Yes. A repair resulting in improper ride height and/or a ride that is either too harsh or too soft could trigger an expensive comeback and possibly lead to the lost customer. Monroe Quick-Strut assemblies have been tested on the corresponding vehicle model to verify that they help restore proper ride height and OE-style ride and handling.

2: Premium OE-style upper strut mount & bearing plateVital to customer satisfaction? Yes. Material strength is critical in any suspension component. The robust materials and design of the Monroe upper mount plate, as well as the SAE-grade hardware, help ensure exceptional strength, security and safety.

The upper mount and bearing plate are also key to restoring “like-new” steering precision and preventing NVH concerns, “memory steer” and other issues that could lead to an unhappy customer. Tenneco’s precise quality standards result in parts you can count on.

3: Premium Upper Spring Seat
Vital to customer satisfaction? Yes.
A lower quality spring seat could increase the chances of steering complaints, unwanted NVH and other issues. It would be easy to substitute a lower quality, less expensive spring seat, but that’s not in the best interests of your customers and your businesses.

4: Application-Engineered Coil Spring Featuring U.S. SteelVital to customer satisfaction? Yes. Using a substandard coil spring or a spring featuring the wrong design can lead to a variety of ride and handling issues, including increased noise and a change in vehicle ride height in certain situations. Low quality spring steel might be more likely to corrode and/or break under certain conditions. The springs used in every Monroe Quick-Strut assembly are precisely designed and calibrated for each vehicle model. In many cases, for example, Monroe Quick-Strut assemblies are equipped with side-load, or “banana,” springs to match the OE technology and help ensure OE-style ride and handling characteristics.

5: USA quality
Vital to customer satisfaction? Yes.
Your customers deserve to know where the products you install on their vehicles were designed and assembled. Monroe Quick-Strut assemblies are assembled in Tenneco’s North America Aftermarket ride control plant in Paragould, Ark. In addition, a vast majority of Monroe shocks and struts sold in North America — including most struts featured in Quick-Strut assemblies — are manufactured in the Paragould facility. In fact, in 2015 alone the Paragould facility produced approximately 18 million replacement ride control units.

6: Premium boot & bumper kit
Vital to customer satisfaction? Yes.
No part within a strut assembly should be an afterthought - each component should be specified, manufactured and assembled to strict quality standards. This includes the dust boot and bumper, which play important roles in preventing premature wear and damage to the strut.

Many of these parts might look alike, but there can be significant differences in performance and wear characteristics based on material formulation and manufacturing methods. As a service provider, you don’t have time to check these parts in order to protect your customers and your business. By choosing a Monroe Quick-Strut assembly, you can be certain Tenneco has done that for you.

7: Premium strut technology
Vital to customer satisfaction? Yes.
What do you really know about the quality and performance characteristics of the strut featured in any strut assembly? If you choose Monroe Quick-Strut assemblies, you can be certain the strut was engineered and built specifically for the vehicle you are repairing, with highly advanced, application-specific valving tuned and tested to provide OE-style ride and handling.

For European, Asian and North American passenger cars, the premium strut within a Monroe Quick-Strut assembly will feature Tenneco’s OE-style, application-specific Velocity Proportional Valving Technology. This velocity-tuned valving automatically adjusts the strut control as wheel speed changes to absorb irregular road impact.

For light trucks and SUVs, which have higher centers of gravity, the premium Monroe strut will feature ASD (Acceleration Sensitive Damping) Technology that senses road impacts within 12 milliseconds to absorb harshness when needed for improved control.

8: A warranty you can count on*Vital to customer satisfaction? Yes. Vital to customer satisfaction? Yes. Your reputation is invaluable — it is your business’ most precious asset. And so, when a customer reports a problem with any component you have installed, your reputation is on the line. By choosing a Monroe Quick-Strut assembly, you are protected by a limited lifetime warranty from a leading global ride control manufacturer. Will another supplier step up in the same way to protect your good name?

9: 90 days cash-back offer*Vital to customer satisfaction? Yes. Because of the comparatively high cost of strut replacement, some consumers are hesitant to say “yes.” Will they really notice a positive difference in ride and handling performance? One way to build customer confidence is to offer a cash-back satisfaction guarantee. By choosing a Monroe Quick-Strut assembly, your customers can enjoy the benefits of the Tenneco Safe & Sound Guarantee. If for any reason a Monroe Quick-Strut assembly doesn’t live up to the customer’s expectations within the first 90 days, replace the product and Tenneco will refund the original product’s purchase price (less any discounts and/or rebates), plus labor (up to $50 per axle).10: Upper & Lower Spring IsolatorsVital to customer satisfaction? Yes. These components prevent metal-to-metal contact and related wear and noise complaints. Does your strut assembly supplier use only premium materials and designs that help ensure proper performance and durability? If you choose Monroe Quick-Strut assemblies, the answer is “yes.”

*Restrictions Apply. Visit monroe.com for additional details and information on Monroe’s Limited Lifetime Warranty and the Tenneco Safe & Sound Guarantee.