I Need New Shocks. Any Good Deals Out There?

I just got back from the return leg of an 1600+ mile round trip to PA. All that wallowing has finally convinced me that OEM GM shocks don't last for 90K miles. And I'm doing it again in a few weeks...

NAPA has KYB's at low prices and I know they are at least as good as OE so they have to be better than what I'm dealing with now.

Anyone know of other online deals on replacements for a 1996 Sonoma?

I'll be watching this, the $50 Saab could use some new ones too.

For the Price it is hard to beat KYB's. They are OEM on Subaru's and probably a number of other Japanese cars.

I am pretty sure you can get Bilstien's for a Sonoma, but not at the same price point.

I've never used them but Rancho's??

Rock Auto. Duh.

The lowered xb has chewed up the tokyiko (TRD) units in the front from too many jumps, so I'm on the look as well

KYB's work well, deliver long life of service and are reasonably priced. I've got them on the Buick LeSabre. Still doing basic DD duty 13 years (120,000 miles) after install.

I am no expert by any means, but from what I've read on GRM, a lot of those small trucks came with factory-option Bilsteins and people reclaim them from junkyards all the time so they must last forever.

KYB have served me well in several cars. Good value for the money

I've always been really happy with KYBs. RockAuto has 'kits' that come with fresh mounts and bumpstops and the like, usually for only a little more than the shocks on their own.

Too bad the March rebate season for KYB/Koni/Rancho/etc has ended, I have a $40 rebate outstanding with KYB that I hope they honour.

Sensen from ebay blows goats. Have proof.

I like the staggs I put on the mazda about 15k ago.

The factory bilstein from a second gen blazer are my go to. I have yet to find a dead one in the junkyard. Unless due to damage.

Id go to the used bilstein before spending money.

FYI, I double checked and it's not NAPA that was carrying the KYB's; stoopid me...

However, RockAuto does carry them and at still reasonable pricing compared to what was found on the NAPA site. I'm right there with ya'll on the Bilsteins but money is an issue and I have absolutely NO desire to scour junkyards for used ones - not with the heat index well over a hunnert for the next week and more. Geez, it'll be bad enough to do a new install without shade.

I just put new Monroe Magnums on my Wagoneer and I'm pretty happy with them. Rock auto had them at a good price. Also pep-boys website has been having good discounts (20-30%) lately with the option to ship to store.

Was going to say used bilsteins but lots others beat me to the punch. Dont be a bob costas its easy to pull them and youll never replace them again. Oh and they are the best riding shock you can come across for the $50 the junkyard wants. Otherwise I just put gabriel ultras in moms mustang over the weekend, real cheap off rock auto and handle fantastic (gas charged) we also have them in two of our other vehicles in the fleet (z71 and grand cherokee) with lots of miles between the two and they are still holding up great

In reply to chiodos:

Thanks for the input...

For the record, I have more tolerance for shiny happy people than for the hundred-plus degree heat index expected in my area for the next ten (or more) days. Now, if you want to get off your butt and search through bone yards in search of elusive, used shocks and sell them to me for the same price as a new set of insert-name-here, knock yourself out.

And, yeah, Gabriels are under consideration.

Koni's 25% off sale is good through the end of August, if you feel like punishing your bank account a little.

Gabriel or Monroe should be fine for that, not the cheapest one they make though.

I've been happy with kyb's in the past..

for dd duty on a truck I have been very happy with Monroe Reflexes Ive run them on 3 trucks. Paid about 50 a shock for all 3 fitments.

For a toy Id say go bilstein.

Monroe Reflex is a perfectly good shock for anything that doesn't see track time or hideous overloading. Magnums ride like the proverbial lumberwagon if you don't need the weight control.

I feel like such a car failure. When I bought the suburban a couple of years ago I knew it needed new shocks so I replaced them with whatever Autozone had that was the heaviest duty available. Under $100 for all four and they are still fine but I can't for the life of me tell you what brand they are.