MY car is lowered 2" I put brand new monroes on at the time. They are about a year or so old less then 15k on them. I've been hearing a popping sound when the car goes up on slopes and then back down. So I took a look underneath and the shock had signs of leakage all over the place. The other side is the same just not as bad. Is this common?

 

I just exchanged a pair of Monroe Sensa-Trak shocks from my truck, they blew after less than 1 year of use. Had fluid leakage as you describe.

For my thirdgen, I've had Edelbrock shocks on the back since 2003 and they're great. The dynamic valving helps keep the rear planted on rough pavement but still hook during hard cornering.

 

I'm certainly no expert, but it could be. You have all this nice stuff in the car - I see Spohn, Edelbrock Elite, Hooker, and custom this and that - and then you install the cheapest shocks available? Especially with it lowered so much - not sure any Monroe shock was ever designed to really work at all, let alone work with a changed geometry. Might be a simple case of "you got what you paid for". I dunno - see what others say.

 

I had no idea , my old shocks were good but I broke both bolts taking them off and needed shocks ASAP as the car was immobile. So I went and got whatever the parts store had. They just happened to be monroe I had no clue they were the worst.

I'll have to look into those

 

the sensacraps and crap, and not good for a lowered application, that why they blew out so fast.

 

I have seen sensa tracs leak out of the box.

 

i tried sensacraps on mine too, one wheel hop and they're done. got tired of taking them back for new ones after a month.

 

And I was gonna start a thread asking about "Monroe Sensa-Trac". Thanks to this thread I won't have to waste my time..... So what is the solution for 70 -100 bucks?

 

KYB

 

Strange.
I've used Sensa Tracs for tens of thousands of miles with zero trouble. No leaks. Lowered application too.

 

I have them on my truck and one of the front shocks blew out after a few months. So far the replacement one has been fine. I have them on my Firebird and so far no problems..Hope it stays that way.

 

You need good shocks to handle the spring rates of a lowered car in most cases. Stiff springs torture shocks.

KYB's are prob the best bet for cheap, but there are a couple of other good options I think. Konis are great but $$$$$. Konis can outlast the cars they're mounted on.

 

Lol if I recall correctly the box states " Check every 12k miles" And as many have stated they arent designed for sustained use on lowered applications. Lowering the center of gravity changes the dynamics of how the shocks were design to absorb impacts.