i'm thinking about asking for some struts and shocks for christmas....

however.... i want to know the difference between sensatracs and kyb shocks and struts....

i work for napa and can get a decent deal on the sensatracs, but i want something that's going to be good for the street driving...

any thoughts?

 

The Monroes are basically stock replacements. Probably the best of the popular stock replacements (as opposed to Gabriels for example), but still just a stock replacement.

The KYBs are somewhat of a performance-oriented part. They will work better with stiffer springs than the Monroes will. If you have any kind of upgraded springs, the KYBs are probably the better choice.

 

i was thinking about just getting stock replacement iroc springs.... these cars are low enough for me as it is.... but i do want relatively good handling as well.

also adding 36/24 sway bars in place of the original stuff on the coupe. i think it's 30/18 stock on the coupe....

www.robertg.org/images

the coupe is the red car.

 

As far as construction and durability, the KYB is a far suppier shock/strut. The KYB main shaft is highy polished 3 seperate times at the factory, leading to longer seal life as less prone to leaking. The sensatrac main shaft is not, and they are prone to leaks. The KYB shock tube is of the seamless design, and is again less prone to leaks as well as being stronger and longer lasting. The sensatrac shock tube is not.

I'm not a sales rep for KYB or anything, I am just a mechanic who buys and installs NAPA sensatracs on an almost daily basis. And I have to replace them under warranty over and over and over again becasue they are always going bad. They fail, a lot. The KYB's I install never give me a problem. Never.

 

how many miles are on your car......stock replacement springs are tall. your looking at 3" of wheel gap in most cases.

 

coupe has roughly 166k on it, still has original v6 springs up front.

i don't want to lower this car at all. it sits low enough for me as it is... i'm thinking that the stock iroc spring would be a good height....

i'm thinking kyb's..... might have to see if i can order them thru work and get a discount on them.

 

I got the KYBs when I put in the Eibach springs. I really like the way the shocks feel. I would go w/ them!!!

 

I have KYB's with stock Iroc springs (130k miles on springs) and I think they're great. They are on the lower end as far as aftermarket shocks/struts, but they are a far cry better than stock replacement! Also, they are CHEAP!

REALLY CHEAP!!!

 

I like how my KYB struts/shocks handle on the street, but i hate them at the track. I wont buy the KYB's again for a high hp application that will see the track, but i will buy them again for a daily driver, since they are cheap and ride good.

 

i've noticed the cheap part

looks like i'm going with the kyb's when i decide to get struts and shocks.

what do you guys recommend for a replacement spring? i prefer not to lower the car if at all possible.

 

Moog CC635

 

thank you very much sir.

 

I wouldn't recommend the Monroe shocks. I got mine before they came with a warranty and they're shot already. They don't have very many miles on them. I've got some Tokico shocks that are going on real soon.