in desperate need for new shocks and struts, cant stand feeling every bump on the road. what brands do you guys recommend? is gabriel good?


is this a good one? http://www.jcwhitney.com/GABRIEL-HEA...3409_10101.jcw

or these? http://www.jcwhitney.com/KYB-GR-2-SH...3409_10101.jcw

and for the struts are these good? http://www.jcwhitney.com/GABRIEL-GAS...w#BVQAWidgetID

would I also need mounting kits and whatnot?


thanksssssssssss

 

Anything is probably better than your OE set-up, if that's what it is. The following link will provide you with choices and prices that you may have been unaware of:

http://www.shox.com/

JamesC

 

I think I am going to go with the KYB GR-2 struts and shocks. any objections? I have been told that I will also probably need the strut mounting assemblies for both sides. is this true? and will I need anything else for the new shocks or struts?

for the rear shocks, front struts, and with the two strut mounting kits, it comes out to $240. not too baddd, my mechanic will do it for $150.

 

The strut mounts are 20+ years old, so replacing them is probably a good idea--you may be shocked at the prices (about $80 per, IIRC). I'm not sure what your mechanic means about s"trut mounting kits." The job is something you can do with a few basic hand tools, though air tools come in handy, especially with the top strut bolt. At any rate, you can certainly do the rears if nothing else.

By the way, you'll need an alignment after the new struts are swapped in. Does your mechanics price include that?

JamesC

 

I had GR2s when I first had my car. They are pretty tame. If you want any kind of handling, you might think elsewhere.
Worse, I paired them with Gas-Adjusts in the rear. The rears were only good with stock springs. They made up for soft springs, but seemed too much for upgraded springs.
I remember thinking Gas-Adjusts would be fine, front and rear, with otherwise stock stuff.... except they had no such struts!

 

I can't tell you what not to get really, just you get what you pay for. I CAN tell you, get some Bilsteins! I have had them on my car now and they couldn't be better. It vastly improved the handling and it's not harsh. It seems fast suspension shock, like a high speed bump, is absorbed quickly so you don't feel it. Like dropping a wet towel. But slower changes like cornering or acceleration forces are resisted harder and the car stays flat. IMO you can't get better than Bilstein and they should last for decades.

 

if you want something that is cheap and decent go up one level with KYB, to the AGX. they are adjustable (which is always nice) and not too much more expensive. i bought a set that included all 4 corners for my stang off of ebay for like $280. just shop around. i had gr-2's on the front before i put the AGX's on there and it is a world of difference.

 

i think im going to go wiht bilsteins in the back but not sure for the front...

 

actually what about Monroe Matic shocks and struts? are they better than kyb?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MONRO...mZ150285669278

 

i personally havent had those exact Monroe shocks, but i havent ever heard anything good about monroe, and i had Monroe in a fox body and hated them.