aftermarket struts

[Sc0oB]

Iv deatroyed 2 pairs of struts in the past 2 years because im a knob and didnt upgrade my struts when i lowered my car. i did a search for aftermarket struts and found lots of people talking about KYB and monroe sensetrac struts. my question is which is my better option i have intrax lowering springs and im a pretty aggresive driver. i also have a question about brakes i had my rotors machined, new pads put on and my drums cleaned out and ever since then i get a loud popping noise when i apply the brakes usually only when im parking or slowly moving or just get in my car after its sat awhile. could it be a caliper problem? but it almost sounds like its coming from the back..... any ideas? thanks.

[xxbackhillxx]

kyb struts ... get the brakes checked at a shop


/thread

[Sc0oB]

are the KYB much more expensive then the others?... and ya i got a appt sat to get my brakes checked thx for the speedy reply

[xxbackhillxx]

others?? there may be cheaper struts, but you get what you pay for.

[littleblackbug]

i've got Gabriel Ultra struts from AutoZone and they are great struts. I have had zero problems.

[jimraelee]

Ive got a set of gabriels and I think they really @#$%^. Im lowered about 1.5" and I bounce all over with the new struts they were ultras. Ive been told that when you lower the car it changes the area the struts operate in and will affect ride quality. Im really tired of bouncing down the road... I wish I could find some of the older KYB white housings.. that would be the ****... I should have bought the struts/shocks when I bought the lowered springs, probably would have worked better... for a 94 GA there arent many options...

[tenspeed]

ever since then i get a loud popping noise when i apply the brakes usually only when im parking or slowly moving or just get in my car after its sat awhile. but it almost sounds like its coming from the back..... any ideas? thanks.

You have a SE with drum brakes in the rear. If the shoes are too close to the drum, they stick when the drum contracts. You could pull the drums and back off the star wheel or wait till the shoes wear down.

[jimraelee]

what... shoes too close to the drums???? Ive always adjusted rear drums nice and tight... it gives you a better pedal and also takes slack out of the e-brake... Ummm drums dont contract.... last time I checked the drum rotates as the wheel rotates, but other than that it dosent move

[tenspeed]

Ummm drums dont contract.... last time I checked the drum rotates as the wheel rotates, but other than that it dosent move

Drums are made of metal. When metal gets hot, it expands. When metal cools down, it contracts.

If the shoes are adjusted too close to the drum when installed, they will rub. When they rub, they cause heat. If they sit a while, moisture is drawn and rust forms. When the car first moves, it will pop when the shoes break free of the rust. Sometime one rear wheel will skid when the brakes are first applied.

The shoes are self adjusting when the brakes are applied in reverse. I usually leave them on the loose side and back the car up to make the final adjustment. In the old days, there was a slot that you inserted an adjusting tool to snug up the shoes.

[jimraelee]

ok, you got me... your correct they do, I was thinking of contracting as the pistons do inside the calipers...

[lone_wolf025]

Just a thought...If adjusting your brakes doesn't fix the popping sound check your tie rods by wiggling the wheels left and right by hand. Lots o' play is bad.

Didn't think of the brakes though. Good catch.

[freshvoice]

I figured I would post a question on here and see if I get any feedback. I have a choice of $355 parts and install for monroe sensatrac struts (Front end only! 800 for all four). I can get KYB GR2s for 260 for all four or be a real buster and get the new AGX's for 590 (neither price includes shipping or install)

What I want to know is if I would be better off to replace all four struts and if so which struts would be best and why. I am Biased toward KYB myself, but would love for someone to chang emy mind for the sake of my pocketbook.

I have a total strut failure on my left front end, and the right isn't much better. The rears seem to be operating okay. I know I am probably going to need strut mounts too. Someone send me a lifeline. I don't need any opinions or anecdotes, just good solid feed back and comparisons by the number (i.e. damping rate, spring compatability, strut life)

PS If there is anyone in the Baltimore DC area who knows how to install struts who wants to help me do it that would be awesome.

PS

[AaronGTR]

The monroe's are basically a stock replacement. $355 for parts and install isn't bad, but then they want another $445 to do rears too? They are no harder to do than the fronts and parts should cost the same so I don't see why they want more. If the rears aren't blown though I wouldn't replace them. Especially if you are on stock springs. If you have aftermarket springs then I would replace all four. You won't necessarily need mounts either. Check them first to see if they have any signs of wear or slop. If not just clean and lube them and re-install.

Here's the tough part, which strut to get. If you have aftermarket springs I'd get the KYB AGX's if you can afford them, hands down! The KYB GR-2's are a good compromise that will last longer than stock when used with stiffer springs. They will work great with stock springs and should last longer and give more consistent damping than the stockers or monroes because of the nitrogen gas pressurization in them, but the actual damping force is not stiffer. If you're on a budget and on stock springs what you might want to do is just get the GR-2's for the front and have those installed to replace your blown stock struts. Hope that helps.

[ryanbgb22]

i didnt want to start a new thread so im gonna jump on in this one.

I have lowering springs that i want to get installed on kyb struts. I then plan on replacing the whole strut and spring as a unit myself. My question is do the kyb struts from pfyc include an upper strut mount so that i can get the springs put on the struts without taking the current mounts out of my car for the time being?

[xxbackhillxx]

No you must buy them separate. ~ $50 for each corner.

[ryanbgb22]

wow, thats an unexpected $200. How would it be if i just used the stockers then, i want to avoid that notorious poping and creaking.

[Rich]

well if they dont look like this:

http://www.grandamgt.com/forum/showthread.php?t=65373

you might be ok.

[AaronGTR]

Yeah, if the stockers are in good shape they would be fine. How many miles do they have on them though? If it's a lot you might want to replace them anyway... at least the front ones since they turn and wear over time. If you do replace them, I'd go with stock GM replacements over KYB's or other stock type replacements. I've heard of more problems with those than the factory ones.

[NorKoastal]

HAs anyone took the dive to get the AGX's yet???? Im most likely gonna pull the trigger in 6 months. I cant stand the bouncy feel of the GR2's

[Rich]

http://www.grandamgt.com/forum/showthread.php?t=63291&highlight=kyb+agx

that guy did. just buy them!

[ryanbgb22]

Yeah, if the stockers are in good shape they would be fine. How many miles do they have on them though? If it's a lot you might want to replace them anyway... at least the front ones since they turn and wear over time. If you do replace them, I'd go with stock GM replacements over KYB's or other stock type replacements. I've heard of more problems with those than the factory ones.

Where is the best place to get these gm replacements? I have like 77k on mine rite now.

[ryanbgb22]

also, is there anywhere to get the kyb's cheaper than pfyc or would that be my best bet?

[pyro]

Where is the best place to get these gm replacements? I have like 77k on mine rite now.

OEM or actual GM?

GM: www.gmpartsdirect.com
OEM: Local auto parts store

[AaronGTR]

Yep, gmpartsdirect has best prices for stock strut mounts and just about anything else. I order from them all the time.


I'll be getting the KYB AGX's sometime in the spring, swapping them in place of the GR-2's, and doing a comparison on them. I think I did see someplace once that had them cheaper but it was only like $5-10 diff. PFYC has great service and supports our community so I just order from them.

[ryanbgb22]

yea i wanted to go with the sponsor but if there was a bigger price differance i was going to go somewhere else so looks like pfyc it is. the agx's are tempting but i want to also get rims and cant afford both. Thanks for the help.