Wifes 2008 mazda5 had spring, strut, or mount (possibly all of the above) fail this morning on her way to school. Nothing really happened, so theres a blessing.
Im loading the parts cannon. Will buy complete quick struts.
Other than names ive never heard of, kyb and Monroe makes complete assemblies. Kyb will work out to about 80 more for the pair over Monroe.
Which should i get? Trying to NOT be a tightwad where it counts, but leaning towards Monroe.
To be honest, my recent experiences with kyb would make me go for Monroe.
I haven't run a Monroe in years. Or a kyb for that matter.
I refuse to ever use a Gabriel again.
What was your issue?
Both are "Ok" in my experience, but my experience with either is not too recent. I wouldn't hesitate to go for the Monroes for savings alone on an ordinary street car.
Just put KYB quick struts on SWMBO's Accord last night, no issues
I used FCS branded quick struts on the rear of both my LS400 Gambler car and my LS430 daily, both strut mounts seem to make a little noise but are ok otherwise.
Not quick struts but the KYB branded strut mounts and struts on the front of my LS430 have been flawless for the last ~ 30k
If it were me, I'd go with KYB. But that's just my opinion, and it's worth what you paid for it
I just put kyb on our chysyler t&c. not the quick struts though. I heard to Many bad stories of weak springs with the quick struts for both kyb and Monroe. no complaints so far but the factory struts were way past due. also did the top bearings as they were shot as well.
kyb was having a sale if you bought the shocks and struts together and that helped with the price.
Always Monroe or Gabriel over KYB. KYBs are for young people with rubber spines.
rustomatic said:Always Monroe or Gabriel over KYB. KYBs are for young people with rubber spines.
KYBs do have a reputation of being better for sporty driving, because they tend to be stiffer...
I haven't noticed any additional firmness on the KYB's on Accord or my LS430. But, your mileage may vary.
I did this a few months ago on my '08 Mazda5. Did the quick struts on the front and shocks on the back. KYB for both. Replaced because the originals were pretty much dead and the rears were squeaking badly. So, I can't tell a difference from "stock" other than them being better because new. Ride seems fine and since the 5 is really just a taller/heavier 3, I'm thinking a stiffer shock is really just a wash. Front end still seems to crash over things like train tracks, but I'm sure that's the 17" rims and almost no sidewall and not the suspension.
-Rob
Dusterbd13-michael said:I haven't run a Monroe in years. Or a kyb for that matter.
I refuse to ever use a Gabriel again.
What was your issue?
Stiff initially and then quickly becoming underdamped on a few sporty cars over the years. Granted, not the same application, but it was enough for me to seek other avenues.
I just put bilsteins on the rear of our Mazda 5 and like them.
I've got B4s on the back of my Mazda 3 and like 'em, and had B4s on the front of the previous Mazda 3 and liked them more than the KYBs on the front of the current one. Rockauto show the B4s for $11 a corner more than the KYBs ($85 ea vs $74 ea for separate struts). Obviously buying struts/springs/mounts separately will be more than quick struts. Not had Monroe on this platform, but hated them on the back of the WJ I had a around 5 years ago, generally underdamped.
I'd default to KYBs, though I'd have to plead some irrationality and some assumptions based on old info.
The irrationality is that the KYBs I put on the Dodge van were an improvement over the totally dead ones that were on there but seemed radically under-damped up front.
The rest is just the assumption that Monroe's are bottom of the barrel of name brand stuff, but for basic stock replacement on a DD, does it make sense to spend more than it takes to put it back to stock-level performance?
Thanks everybody. Based on the discussion I ordered the Monroe shocks as This is nothing more than a girl scout mom minivan. She doesn't even try to avoid potholes....
I put Monroe quick struts on my old man's focus, not great but better than a blown shock. There was a left and right side also, bought two of one side like a dummy.
I've always leaned toward KYB and can't say I've ever been disappointed. They are a gigantic OEM supplier for a lot of Asian cars. The aftermarket stuff seems close to or equal to OEM quality to me.
In reply to Cousin_Eddie (Forum Supporter) :
That's the funny thing. I know they make good stuff, but the only time I had an appropriate application and went KYB it was almost like they just said "Eh, we already make a shock with the right length and fittings for that 3/4 ton Dodge van, it's just calibrated for a vehicle half the weight. Close enough. Ship it."
It's probably an anomaly, but it felt like I had utterly flushed the price difference between the KYBs and whatever the Monroe/Gabriel/etc option was, and probably gotten an even worse drive out of the deal. In an application where I cared how it drove, I'd still probably gamble on KYBs over Monroes, but for "make it stop wobbling on the way to the shops" it's hard to rationalize the cost.
Dusterbd13-michael said:I haven't run a Monroe in years. Or a kyb for that matter.
I refuse to ever use a Gabriel again.
What was your issue?
I've only run the cheapest Gabriel, or Monroe... and never saw one bit of difference.
What was your bad experience?
unrelated: I saw van and shocks, and thought it might be relative to my stuff.
We want a 5 for my wife, but it's hard for me to call a import hatchback, a van, even if it has sliding doors, instead of being a 5 door compact hatch like I've had years back.
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