u/Single_Reception3123

I took my Toyota Corolla 2019 in for service and also asked the service consultant to evaluate the vehicle because I’m considering its appraisal/trade-in value. They recommended replacing the struts because they said they are leaking, and also recommended replacing the sway bar links.

The estimate is:

• Struts: $2,250
• Sway bar links: $700
• Total: about $2,950

They provided these pictures showing the struts.

For those of you who are mechanics or have experience with Toyota suspension work:

1. Is $2,250 realistic for replacing struts on a Corolla, or does that seem unusually high?
2. Is $700 for sway bar links reasonable?
3. Based on the pictures, do the struts actually look like they need immediate replacement?
4. Would you recommend getting a second opinion from an independent mechanic?
5. If money is tight and I don’t have $3,000 to spend right now, what would you prioritize and what could safely wait?

I’m mainly trying to avoid unnecessary work, but I also don’t want to ignore something that could be a safety issue.

Thanks in advance!