{"id":549,"date":"2026-10-09T06:26:02","date_gmt":"2026-10-08T22:26:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.damoa8949.com\/blog\/?p=549"},"modified":"2026-10-09T06:26:02","modified_gmt":"2026-10-08T22:26:02","slug":"can-i-use-used-auto-suspension-parts-4adc-a09810","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.damoa8949.com\/blog\/2026\/10\/09\/can-i-use-used-auto-suspension-parts-4adc-a09810\/","title":{"rendered":"Can I use used auto suspension parts?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hey everyone, it\u2019s Jake here from the auto suspension parts team\u2014you know, the guys who know their way around struts, coil springs, and everything in between. I get so many DMs and emails a week that go something like: \u201cJake, can I actually use used auto suspension parts? They\u2019re way cheaper than new, and I don\u2019t wanna blow my budget on a full suspension swap.\u201d If that\u2019s your question, you\u2019re in the right place. I\u2019ve been in this game for 12 years, seen every sketchy used part out there and every solid one that works like a charm. Let\u2019s break this down straight, no fancy jargon or stuff I made up to sound smart. Auto Suspension Parts<\/a><\/p>\n

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First off, let\u2019s get one thing out of the way: suspension parts aren\u2019t like floor mats or old cup holders you pull out of a junkyard. These are the parts that keep your tires planted to the road, your car handling a turn without veering, and your shocks absorbing potholes so you don\u2019t feel every single bump. Used parts aren\u2019t inherently bad\u2014lots of people act like they\u2019re walking time bombs, but that\u2019s not true. The problem is, most guys asking about used parts don\u2019t know what to look for, and the junkyard seller down the street isn\u2019t gonna warn you if a strut was crunched in a crash or sat outside rusting for 5 years. Let\u2019s start with the basics: what even makes a used suspension part good, and when it\u2019s a hard pass.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s start with the parts that are usually safe to use, if you check \u2019em right. Coil springs, for example. Wait, I know what you\u2019re thinking\u2014\u201cSprings hold weight, right? How do I know if they\u2019re weak?\u201d Well, coil springs don\u2019t \u201cwear out\u201d the same way brake pads do, mostly. They sag over time, yeah, but that\u2019s usually from being set under the car\u2019s weight for 10+ years, not from actual damage. A good coil spring from a 5-year-old car with no crash history is fine. Just don\u2019t grab a spring from a car that was in a side impact\u2014those get twisted, trust me, you\u2019ll be able to tell by just looking if it\u2019s bent weird. Another part that works: sway bar end links or sway bars. Those are simple, right? They\u2019re metal bars with rubber bushings. Just check for rust that\u2019s eating through, or if the ball joints are loose. You can wiggle them by hand\u2014if there\u2019s no play, they\u2019re good. If they rattle like a tin can, pass.<\/p>\n

Now, the parts that are basically never a good call to buy used. Struts and shock absorbers. I don\u2019t care how cheap that junkyard guy says they are\u2014these are the heart of your suspension. Shocks and struts don\u2019t just stop working all at once; they degrade slowly. Like, a shock on a car with 150k miles? It\u2019s probably lost 30-40% of its damping power, and you have no way of knowing that from looking at it. It could be fine for a little while, but then you hit a big pothole and your car bounces so bad you can\u2019t steer. And don\u2019t get me started on used struts that were on a car that had a front end crash\u2014they might be bent so bad they pull your alignment way off, costing you hundreds just to fix that.<\/p>\n

Wait, but let\u2019s not just black and white everything. What about control arms? Those are the metal parts that connect your wheels to the frame, right? Control arms can be a gray area. If you can find a control arm from a car that was totaled for something unrelated\u2014like a blown engine, not a crash\u2014 that\u2019s actually okay. But again, check for damage. Run your hand along the whole arm, look for cracks where the bushings attach, make sure the ball joint isn\u2019t loose. If there\u2019s even a tiny crack, toss it. Cracks in control arms don\u2019t get better over time, they get worse.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the big mistake I see people make all the time: buying used parts without knowing the vehicle\u2019s history. Let\u2019s say you need a front strut for a 2018 Honda Civic. If you pull one from a 2018 Civic that was totaled in a minor fender bender, that\u2019s one thing. But if you pull one from a 2008 Civic, even if it looks the same? It\u2019s not. The design changed a little, it\u2019s built for a slightly different weight, and it\u2019ll throw off your whole ride. Most junkyards don\u2019t catalog parts by exact VIN or trim level, so you could end up with a part that doesn\u2019t fit right, or works worse than it should. That\u2019s why a lot of guys end up hating used suspension parts\u2014they grabbed the wrong one, not because used parts are bad.<\/p>\n

Now, let\u2019s talk about the risks, because I\u2019m not gonna sugarcoat this. The number one risk with used suspension parts is safety. If a control arm fails while you\u2019re driving down the highway, your wheel can come loose. That\u2019s not a \u201cminor inconvenience,\u201d that\u2019s deadly. Shocks that are worn out make your car harder to control in rain or snow, way more likely to hydroplane. Another risk: hidden damage. A part might look perfect, but it was exposed to salt in a state like Michigan or Minnesota for 10 years, so it\u2019s rusted from the inside out. You can\u2019t see that rust until it\u2019s too late. And then there\u2019s fitment\u2014like I said earlier, parts that look the same but are slightly different, so your alignment is off, your tires wear out way faster, and you\u2019re paying for new tires way sooner than you should.<\/p>\n

But wait, I run a suspension parts company, so why am I even talking about used parts? Because I\u2019m not here to make you buy new parts just for the profit. I\u2019m here to help you make a smart call. New parts aren\u2019t always the best option, and used parts aren\u2019t always a scam. Let\u2019s talk about when used actually makes sense. If you\u2019re working on an old classic car, for example. A 1967 Camaro that needs new coil springs? You\u2019re not gonna find a new exact reproduction for cheap, and a used spring from another old Camaro that\u2019s in good shape is totally fine. It\u2019s a classic, you\u2019re not driving it 50 miles a day, so even a slightly sagged spring won\u2019t cause issues. Or if you\u2019re doing a temporary fix for a beater car that you\u2019re planning to sell in a year. Used sway bar end links for $20 instead of $50 new? That\u2019s a no-brainer, as long as you check them first.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s my step-by-step guide to checking used suspension parts, if you do decide to go that route. First, know the exact part number for your car. Don\u2019t go by \u201cit\u2019s a front strut for a 2015 Toyota Corolla\u201d \u2014 get the part number stamped on your old part, or look it up by VIN. That way you know the used part matches, no guesswork. Second, inspect the part closely for obvious damage. For springs: no bends, no cracks, no rust that looks deep. For control arms: run your finger along every weld, check for cracks, wiggle the bushings to see if they\u2019re loose. For sway bars: no dents, no rust that\u2019s flaking off. Third, if you can test it, do. For example, if you\u2019re looking at a used sway bar, hold it up and twist it a little \u2014 if it\u2019s way easier to twist than a new one, it\u2019s probably weakened and will fail. Fourth, only buy from a seller you trust. A junkyard that\u2019s been around for 20 years and knows their stuff will give you a little warranty, or at least let you bring the part back if it doesn\u2019t fit. A random guy on Craigslist selling parts from his garage? Probably not worth the risk.<\/p>\n

Now, compare that to buying new parts, just so you have the full picture. New parts cost more, obviously, but they come with a warranty. You know they haven\u2019t been exposed to salt or damage, they\u2019re exact fit, and they\u2019ll work like they should. For daily drivers that you rely on to get you to work, school, and everywhere else, new suspension parts are almost always the better call. The peace of mind is worth the extra couple hundred bucks, and you won\u2019t have to worry about a part failing out of nowhere on the side of the road.<\/p>\n

Wait, let\u2019s address the elephant in the room: prices. I get it, new suspension parts are expensive. A full set of struts for a daily driver can run you $800 or more, and that\u2019s not including labor. Used parts might be $300, which is way cheaper. But if that $300 strut fails in 6 months, you\u2019re out another $300 plus labor to replace it again. That adds up way faster than just buying a good set of new parts to begin with. Unless you\u2019re on a super tight budget and can afford to take the risk, new is usually the way to go for daily drivers.<\/p>\n

But what if you\u2019re on a tight budget, and you know what you\u2019re doing? Let\u2019s say you\u2019re a backyard mechanic who works on cars as a side gig, and you need parts for a friend\u2019s old truck. If you check the used parts carefully, get the exact part number, buy from a trusted yard, it can save you a ton of money. I\u2019ve seen guys save thousands restoring old cars with good used parts, as long as they do their due diligence.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s wrap this up, yeah? Can you use used auto suspension parts? The short answer is: sometimes, but only if you know what you\u2019re looking for, and only if you\u2019re willing to take the risk. Parts like coil springs, sway bars, and end links are usually safe if they check out, but struts, shocks, and control arms are way riskier. If you\u2019re driving a daily driver you rely on, new parts are almost always the smarter, safer choice. If you\u2019ve got a classic car, a beater you\u2019re selling, or you\u2019re a seasoned mechanic who knows their stuff, good used parts can work perfectly.<\/p>\n

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Now, if you\u2019re tired of guessing whether your suspension parts are good or not, or you\u2019re looking for new suspension parts that actually fit right, no hidden damage, and prices that don\u2019t make you cry, hit us up. We specialize in all kinds of suspension parts, for every make and model, and we\u2019re happy to help you figure out exactly what you need, whether you\u2019re going new or weighing your used options. Don\u2019t take chances with parts that keep you safe on the road\u2014reach out and we\u2019ll get you sorted.<\/p>\n

Auto Brake Parts<\/a> References:<\/p>\n

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  1. Automotive Suspension Systems: Fundamentals, Service, and Repair, 4th Edition<\/li>\n
  2. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Vehicle Safety Guidelines for Suspension Components<\/li>\n
  3. Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) International, Technical Paper: Durability of Used Suspension Parts in Light-Duty Vehicles<\/li>\n
  4. junkyardparts safety assessment database, 2023<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    \n

    JR Global Workshop Co., Ltd.<\/a>
    We’re well-known as one of the leading auto suspension parts manufacturers and suppliers in China. Please feel free to buy bulk high-grade auto suspension parts for sale here from our factory. All customized products are with high quality and competitive price.
    Address: Fuyuan Industrial Zone, Baoan District, Shenzhen City, Guangdong province, China.
    E-mail: jrspeed@spdmw.com.cn
    WebSite:     https:\/\/www.jr-speed.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Hey everyone, it\u2019s Jake here from the auto suspension parts team\u2014you know, the guys who know … Can I use used auto suspension parts?<\/span>Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":48,"featured_media":549,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[512],"class_list":["post-549","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-industry","tag-auto-suspension-parts-47b7-a0d6c9"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.damoa8949.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/549","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.damoa8949.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.damoa8949.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.damoa8949.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/48"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.damoa8949.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=549"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.damoa8949.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/549\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.damoa8949.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/549"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.damoa8949.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=549"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.damoa8949.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=549"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.damoa8949.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=549"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}