What are you guys using for struts?
04-26-2010, 09:14 AM
#1
What are you guys using for struts?
Its time to replace my wheel bearings, so I'm going to do struts at the same time.
I usually use Bilsteins, but it doesn't look like they offer them for this car.
What are you guys using, and where are you buying them?
I'd like a little added performance, but not looking to spend a jillion bucks on my daily driver. Don't plan on adding wheels or lowering at this time unless the price difference is marginal.
I usually use Bilsteins, but it doesn't look like they offer them for this car.
What are you guys using, and where are you buying them?
I'd like a little added performance, but not looking to spend a jillion bucks on my daily driver. Don't plan on adding wheels or lowering at this time unless the price difference is marginal.
04-26-2010, 11:03 AM
#3
you dont really have a choice by KYB GR2s.
Koni stop producing them, if you do get a hold of Konis you need to modify the struts housing so that it accepts it.
AGX for the rears must also be modified from a 300zx.
I have a custom set with AGX all around,
Your other options is Monroe (which I heard is pretty decent ) and GR2s
Koni stop producing them, if you do get a hold of Konis you need to modify the struts housing so that it accepts it.
AGX for the rears must also be modified from a 300zx.
I have a custom set with AGX all around,
Your other options is Monroe (which I heard is pretty decent ) and GR2s
04-26-2010, 11:35 AM
#5
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Houston,TX
Posts: 74
I'll be looking at doing this similar task down the road in this coming year so I'm interested in this too. I heard the Monroe is more of a soft "mushy" ride and not "sporty". I'm looking for something in the middle. Something that handles good but you won't feel all the bumps in the road.
04-26-2010, 11:46 AM
#6
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Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: state of confusion
Posts: 1,341
Not if they're Sensa-traks, and you'd rather have a little more performance.
Have you looked for Tokico Illuminas? There's definitely more control with them than with the OE, although they are a little harsh in certain situations (at-grade railroad crossings if the rails stick up a bit). I have these on the 5th Gen and also on the Mazda.
Norm
Have you looked for Tokico Illuminas? There's definitely more control with them than with the OE, although they are a little harsh in certain situations (at-grade railroad crossings if the rails stick up a bit). I have these on the 5th Gen and also on the Mazda.
Norm
Last edited by Norm Peterson; 04-26-2010 at 11:50 AM.
04-26-2010, 12:19 PM
#8
Not if they're Sensa-traks, and you'd rather have a little more performance.
Have you looked for Tokico Illuminas? There's definitely more control with them than with the OE, although they are a little harsh in certain situations (at-grade railroad crossings if the rails stick up a bit). I have these on the 5th Gen and also on the Mazda.
Norm
Have you looked for Tokico Illuminas? There's definitely more control with them than with the OE, although they are a little harsh in certain situations (at-grade railroad crossings if the rails stick up a bit). I have these on the 5th Gen and also on the Mazda.
Norm
04-26-2010, 07:36 PM
#12
Not if they're Sensa-traks, and you'd rather have a little more performance.
Have you looked for Tokico Illuminas? There's definitely more control with them than with the OE, although they are a little harsh in certain situations (at-grade railroad crossings if the rails stick up a bit). I have these on the 5th Gen and also on the Mazda.
Norm
Have you looked for Tokico Illuminas? There's definitely more control with them than with the OE, although they are a little harsh in certain situations (at-grade railroad crossings if the rails stick up a bit). I have these on the 5th Gen and also on the Mazda.
Norm
For the Rears , 300zx can work BUT you must fabcrate them to make them work.
If your only looking for bolt in replacement , KYB GR2 or Monroe.
Here some pics of the rear
Agx rear 8 way adjustables
Here is the front , alot of welding and fabbing here.
4 way adjustable
04-27-2010, 08:02 PM
#14
Monroe Sensa Trac. Better ride quality than stock and handles the twisties with a very sure grip- I don't feel the car squirming or skipping over road bumps. Very much worth the price.
04-27-2010, 09:11 PM
#15
I just installed Monroe's. I was turned off because of price at first. I ended up getting them from www.rockauto.com . It ended up costing me $290 shipped and that included all 4 struts bellows. Plus there is a $50 mail in rebate right now, so I actually spent $240 and if you get the bellows (and you should) it's actually a little less than KYB. It's a no-brainer.
04-30-2010, 03:11 PM
#18
I just installed Monroe's. I was turned off because of price at first. I ended up getting them from www.rockauto.com . It ended up costing me $290 shipped and that included all 4 struts bellows. Plus there is a $50 mail in rebate right now, so I actually spent $240 and if you get the bellows (and you should) it's actually a little less than KYB. It's a no-brainer.
04-30-2010, 07:23 PM
#19
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05-01-2010, 03:42 AM
#20
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Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: state of confusion
Posts: 1,341
However, since their internal valving varies with suspension position and is "softest" with the suspension at OE ride height, they work best with stock ride height cars. I'm betting that they rebound a little higher on lowered cars before they snub the vertical body motions.
Norm
05-01-2010, 06:49 PM
#21
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Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 52
how difficult are these to change? I bought some KYB's and plan on changing them next weekend. I read the manual and it looks pretty simple, just compressing the spring, taking out a few bolts replace. Is there anything to look out for?
05-02-2010, 06:08 AM
#22
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Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: state of confusion
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The direction that the bolts go probably matters.
You will not get an accurate bolt torque setting by torquing the bolt head instead of the nut due to the unknown amount of friction between the bolt shank and the holes in the strut ears and knuckle.
It's worth at least checking the alignment any time you replace any part of the suspension linkage (the strut is partly an extension of the knuckle and partly a substitute for the upper control arm in suspensions that use upper and lower arms). Small changes in camber cause changes in toe.
Norm
You will not get an accurate bolt torque setting by torquing the bolt head instead of the nut due to the unknown amount of friction between the bolt shank and the holes in the strut ears and knuckle.
It's worth at least checking the alignment any time you replace any part of the suspension linkage (the strut is partly an extension of the knuckle and partly a substitute for the upper control arm in suspensions that use upper and lower arms). Small changes in camber cause changes in toe.
Norm
05-02-2010, 09:53 AM
#23
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Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Rowland Heights, CA 91748
Posts: 464
the bolts do really matter for the bolts will not line up in any other way other than how is was originally.... you wont be able to put it back at all if the bolts are not aligned originally...
05-02-2010, 11:03 AM
#25
Couldn't agree more. Since KYB is stiffer with double chambers, they will outlast the Monroe's. No idea why people say that KYB is a stock replacement. Before I installed the Eibach's, i ran them on the stock springs and the ride was not the same as stock, stiffer. I think Monroe's should be a stock replacement since they are softer, like stock.
Last edited by RAZ76; 05-02-2010 at 11:06 AM.
05-02-2010, 04:09 PM
#26
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Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: state of confusion
Posts: 1,341
KYB typically offers two levels of shocks/struts for most cars. Apparently not all, though . . .
GR-2's are valved about the same as stock, perhaps a little stiffer to account for suspensions loosening up a bit by the time the average car owner finally gets around to replacing the originals. They are mass-market replacement shocks/struts after all. BTW, it's not the number of chambers as much as it is when various internal fluid orifices open and how big they are.
KYB Gas-A-Justs (never mind what the name suggests, they are NOT adjustable) are valved with a bit more performance or heavy duty use in mind than GR-2's, and are somewhat stiffer.
Monroe Sensa-traks are the mass-market comfort-oriented choice and would be expected to ride a little softer than GR-2's as long as your ride height isn't much different from OE. Different priority, different valving (and that position-sensitive part of the overall valving that other shocks/struts do not use).
Norm
GR-2's are valved about the same as stock, perhaps a little stiffer to account for suspensions loosening up a bit by the time the average car owner finally gets around to replacing the originals. They are mass-market replacement shocks/struts after all. BTW, it's not the number of chambers as much as it is when various internal fluid orifices open and how big they are.
KYB Gas-A-Justs (never mind what the name suggests, they are NOT adjustable) are valved with a bit more performance or heavy duty use in mind than GR-2's, and are somewhat stiffer.
Monroe Sensa-traks are the mass-market comfort-oriented choice and would be expected to ride a little softer than GR-2's as long as your ride height isn't much different from OE. Different priority, different valving (and that position-sensitive part of the overall valving that other shocks/struts do not use).
Norm
Last edited by Norm Peterson; 05-02-2010 at 04:12 PM.
05-02-2010, 04:17 PM
#27
KYB typically offers two levels of shocks/struts for most cars. Apparently not all, though . . .
GR-2's are valved about the same as stock, perhaps a little stiffer to account for suspensions loosening up a bit by the time the average car owner finally gets around to replacing the originals. They are mass-market replacement shocks/struts after all. BTW, it's not the number of chambers as much as it is when various internal fluid orifices open and how big they are.
KYB Gas-A-Justs (never mind what the name suggests, they are NOT adjustable) are valved with a bit more performance or heavy duty use in mind than GR-2's, and are somewhat stiffer.
Monroe Sensa-traks are the mass-market comfort-oriented choice and would be expected to ride a little softer than GR-2's as long as your ride height isn't much different from OE. Different priority, different valving (and that position-sensitive part of the overall valving that other shocks/struts do not use).
Norm
GR-2's are valved about the same as stock, perhaps a little stiffer to account for suspensions loosening up a bit by the time the average car owner finally gets around to replacing the originals. They are mass-market replacement shocks/struts after all. BTW, it's not the number of chambers as much as it is when various internal fluid orifices open and how big they are.
KYB Gas-A-Justs (never mind what the name suggests, they are NOT adjustable) are valved with a bit more performance or heavy duty use in mind than GR-2's, and are somewhat stiffer.
Monroe Sensa-traks are the mass-market comfort-oriented choice and would be expected to ride a little softer than GR-2's as long as your ride height isn't much different from OE. Different priority, different valving (and that position-sensitive part of the overall valving that other shocks/struts do not use).
Norm
05-02-2010, 04:44 PM
#28
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Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: state of confusion
Posts: 1,341
Originally Posted by KYB site
How To Choose
Choose the KYB Shock that's right for you!
Would you like to restore your vehicle’s original handling and control capabilities?
Or would you prefer to increase handling and control?
If you answered yes to the first question, you want KYB GR-2 Twin-Tube shocks and struts.
If you answered yes to the second, you'll want to upgrade to KYB Gas-a-Just monotube shock or a KYB MonoMax monotube shock.
If you want the ability to tune your shocks to match different driving preferences, you want KYB AGX manually adjustable shocks, struts, and cartridges.
Choose the KYB Shock that's right for you!
Would you like to restore your vehicle’s original handling and control capabilities?
Or would you prefer to increase handling and control?
If you answered yes to the first question, you want KYB GR-2 Twin-Tube shocks and struts.
If you answered yes to the second, you'll want to upgrade to KYB Gas-a-Just monotube shock or a KYB MonoMax monotube shock.
If you want the ability to tune your shocks to match different driving preferences, you want KYB AGX manually adjustable shocks, struts, and cartridges.
Originally Posted by same
KYB Gas-a-Just®
monotube shock absorbers
Purpose: Significantly increases vehicle stability, handling, and control over twin-tube designs.
Gas-a-Just is the replacement for an OE monotube shock
Ideal as an upgrade from an OE twin-tube
The more responsive monotube design automatically adjusts to driving conditions
Applications for cars, trucks, vans, and SUVs
monotube shock absorbers
Purpose: Significantly increases vehicle stability, handling, and control over twin-tube designs.
Gas-a-Just is the replacement for an OE monotube shock
Ideal as an upgrade from an OE twin-tube
The more responsive monotube design automatically adjusts to driving conditions
Applications for cars, trucks, vans, and SUVs
Originally Posted by same
KYB GR-2® / Excel-G®
twin-tube shocks, struts, and cartridges
Purpose: Restores a vehicle’s originally designed handling and control
Calibrated to compensate for worn suspensions
Components and valving are designed specifically for each application
The best choice to restore OE performance and normal driving conditions
Built with quality that matches or exceeds OE
Coverage for domestic and import cars, trucks, vans, minivans, and SUVs
twin-tube shocks, struts, and cartridges
Purpose: Restores a vehicle’s originally designed handling and control
Calibrated to compensate for worn suspensions
Components and valving are designed specifically for each application
The best choice to restore OE performance and normal driving conditions
Built with quality that matches or exceeds OE
Coverage for domestic and import cars, trucks, vans, minivans, and SUVs
I have run G-A-J's on one of my other cars and can tell you from direct experience that there is no provision for user adjustability whatsoever. (Swapped them out for Bilsteins, but that's another story.)
Norm
05-09-2010, 04:35 PM
#29
Plus a lifetime warranty. I also used the Monroes when I was dropped and they controlled the rebound better than the OEM's. But since I live in Cleveland, being dropped can sometimes be hell so thats why I went back to stock springs.
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