Lexus: Shock Absorber Reviews

This article applies to the Lexus IS (2005-2013).

Shocks could change the look of the Lexus IS, and could also affect its comfort, performance, and safety. When shopping for new shocks, there are several options, some of which are a lot better than others. Not only will bad shocks make your ride quality suffer, they can also lead to expensive repairs as well. Without dampening the wheel, they'll cause the tie rod ends, ball joints, and alignment to wear out a lot faster.

KYB Excel-G

Price - $100-$150

Ride Quality - OEM

Lifespan - 50-80,000 miles

Warranty - Lifetime

Color - Black/Silver

If you liked the way your car rode from the factory, these are the shocks for you. A renamed version of these is what's used on the production line and what's sold through your dealer. These shocks will give you that same ride quality but at a fraction of the dealer's price. They come in two versions: the Excel-G and the Excel-GR2. The only difference you'll find between the two is that the G's come in black and the GR2's come in silver. Overall these shocks come highly recommended from a lot of the forum users. Recommended if you are looking for an OEM feel.

Gabriel Ultra

Price - $80

Ride Quality - Softer than OEM

Lifespan - 40-70,000 miles

Warranty - Lifetime

Color - White/Black

The Gabriel Ultras are another go-to shock choice. If you found the OEM ride quality to be a little too firm for your liking, these are the next best choice. These will ride a little softer to help hide all the small road bumps you felt before, yet still be firm enough to where the car won't feel loose in a corner. Being on the cheaper end of the spectrum for good shocks, these won't disappoint. You'll also get the added bonus of the lifetime warranties with these, which means you'll only ever have to buy one set of them. Recommended if you are looking for a softer feel.

Bilstein HD

Price - $75

Ride Quality - Firmer than OEM

Lifespan - 50-80,000 miles

Warranty - Lifetime

Color - Yellow/Black

If you prefer a firmer, sportier feel than what the OEM shocks provide, the Bilsteins would be a good choice. They may not be the nicest looking shocks with their yellow bodies, but they'll perform and last just as long as any other high-end shock on the market. You'll see Bilsteins on all different kinds of vehicles, whether it be an off-road monster or that 10 second car at the strip, for good reasons; they've been in the market for a while, and definitely built a good name for themselves. If a firmer ride is what you want, then these are the shocks for you. Recommended if you are looking for a firmer feel.

Koni Yellow Sport Adjustable

Price - $150-$200

Ride Quality - Adjustable

Lifespan - 50-100,000+ miles

Warranty - Lifetime

Color - Yellow

The Konis fall into a different category for ride quality than the rest of the shocks on this list, mainly because they're adjustable. You can firm them up for that weekend at the track, and then soften them for the rest of the week for your work commute. In addition to being adjustable, they're also rebuildable. If it's feeling like the shocks are worn, there's no need to replace them; you can tear them down yourself, rebuild them, and have them as good as new. These definitely fall into the category of "you get what you pay for," as they'll run for around double the price of the other shocks on this list. However, if your application warrants the cost, you won't be disappointed. Recommended if you are looking for adjustable shocks.

Related Discussions

• KYB Shocks - ClubLexus.com
• Shock Threads - ClubLexus.com