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...I've put some cheap strut assemblies into an old Camry and found that the spring rate was significantly different. The car rode a lot higher.
But they weren't KYB, which I'd anticipate doing a much better job at matching stock spring rate.
Assuming the KYB's are real and not counterfeit. Unscrupulous Chinese have been slapping fake labels on cheap Chinese parts and passing them off as name-brand quality parts. If these F's would put as much energy into manufacturing quality parts as they do into cheating unsuspecting customers, they may be able to make money without cheating!
Many folks have had issues with aftermarket, all-in-one, strut assemblies. I would be inclined to buy the shock insert and rebuild the assembly to avoid this pitfall.
So does the spring or the damping of the shocks (or both) play a roll in how 'soft' the ride will be? Compared to the old units, these hold corners much better, but every bump is felt much more through the seat and steering wheel. Just curious, as I doubt I'd waste any more effort/money on this.
w84me, did you only look at strut assemblies, or did you also consider standalone struts?
I've put some cheap strut assemblies into an old Camry and found that the spring rate was significantly different. The car rode a lot higher.
But they weren't KYB, which I'd anticipate doing a much better job at matching stock spring rate.
just assemblies, didn't want to mess coils. i spoke with KYB support, and they seemed keen on getting specs close to factory. however, the fronts were not designed for 2008 model year. i didn't notice difference in ride height, but system much stiffer and tight than before, but not uncomfortable.
just assemblies, didn't want to mess coils. i spoke with KYB support, and they seemed keen on getting specs close to factory. however, the fronts were not designed for 2008 model year. i didn't notice difference in ride height, but system much stiffer and tight than before, but not uncomfortable.
I bought a set of Sachs struts from Rock Auto awhile back and was curious how others have liked them (or not). They seem to make some quality parts, but I'm unsure about the ride.
I have a 2007 and the KYB struts for the later years did not work on my car. I had a camber issue on the right side that was resolved when I put the old original strut back on. I'm not totally sure that the left side is a proper replacement either. Replacing my front struts has been the biggest and excessively expensive experience. If you have a 2007, buy quick struts for that year and just deal with any difference in ride.
Just wanted to update this thread. Ride quality has really smoothed out over the last 9 months and 5K miles or so. (keep in mind, I seldom drive this car, so don't get a chance to critique it often) I guess that is the break-in period for a complete suspension rebuild on these cars. Took the car for a long trip this weekend and had a chance to really take stock of the ride quality over bumps, road conditions, and tested a few scenarios. I'd say the ride is very smooth. not as smooth as it was at 145K with blown shocks but it was also not handling worth a crap then either. now smoothness is very good and handling is also very good. don't regret using the KYB quick struts.
The last difference I have is we are no longer running Michelins, which are a smoother tire than what is on there now. Will probably go back to those next time.
Folks, you can avoid the "break in period' and the hope that these quick struts will eventually settle and feel like oem by just getting the strut rebuilt . Buy an aftermarket strut, oem struts spring insulator cushion and aftermarket strut mount. The key is to use the Original OEM springs which don't get worn out. They don't get used and abused like truck bed springs. The Oem springs WILL keep the original ride height and luxury ride. I've always question how these companies are making any money on these entire assembles selling them so cheap. I've never trusted the springs metal quality. They must be using scrap metal to make them for dirt cheap.
I've done Monroe Quick Struts twice on different cars and twice I have returned them thru the flexible return policy of Amazon after a few weeks. The ride height was always over 1 inch higher, there was some new noises, most likely due to the rubber spring insulator cushion being thinner than oem. I just didn't want to roll the dice and hope the struts would settle before the return window closed. I've read in reviews that folks that missed out on returning them ended up swapping out the springs for oem and other oem components but using the strut.
I went with Monroe Spectrum struts which are great, KYB strut mount and oem spring insulator cushions. Also I recommend getting new sway bar links if they are the original. A bad sway link will sound like a blown strut! I don't trust those spring compressors so I go to my local mechanic who usually charge me $30 each to rebuild them. In the end you are paying a little more but it's well worth it.
IMO the quick struts are good for "beater" cars. I had a 1994 Toyota Camry and put on Monroe Quick struts and a set by Suncore which were cheaper and weren't bad at all. The Camry had 14 inch tires so it always rode soft.
I see some folks are happy with these quick struts, that's great! I'm to picky of a person and can tell the difference when something is slightly off, where as my wife would drive with the ebrake on and not notice anything wrong
Wanted to follow up and see how the KYBs were performing. Is the ride quality as soft as OEM or still noticeably stiffer?
I noticed KYB's website now lists the full front strut assembly for the 07-08 years with a release date of quarter 4. I plan on getting them to replace the Monroe QuickStruts I currently have on my 07.
Wanted to follow up and see how the KYBs were performing. Is the ride quality as soft as OEM or still noticeably stiffer?
I noticed KYB's website now lists the full front strut assembly for the 07-08 years with a release date of quarter 4. I plan on getting them to replace the Monroe QuickStruts I currently have on my 07.
Very nice. Not harsh at all. Keep in mind, I rebuilt the ENTIRE SUSPENSION. Some people are chiming in at the end of this thread and didn't bother to read that. I think replacing the front control arms really stiffened up the car for a while. But I replaced EVERY PIECE OF RUBBER AND SILICONE under there. AND the struts. Every control arm, link, ball joint, tie rod. EVERYTHING.
It was quite stiff after I did that. After the break in period, it has smoothed out tremendously. The factory front control arm bushings were worn. You could see stretch marks in the bushings once you had the car up in the air. I don't regret the KYB's for a second. AND THAT IS WHO MADE THE FACTORY struts. KYB designs the replacements to factory specs - at least that is what tech support had implied as I spoke with them over the course of a few weeks. I believe I posted one of his response in this thread. discusses 2008-vs-2010
Happy to hear they have the 2008's out now. They said they would. They said the 2010's were a little stiffer than the 2008's. My primary driver is a BMW 545i with sport suspension. it is a very aggressive car with Bilstien B8's and that is what I'm used to. This is my wifes car, which I drive often, but non-the-less, I prefer the BMW ride handling over the Lexus. But her car is doing fine, and very, very smooth. So smooth, that I have proceeded to throw away the old factory strut assemblies. I was hanging on to them in case it didn't smooth out.
Last edited by SunglassesGuy; Oct 5, 2021 at 12:44 PM.
I contacted KYB to get an update and it turns out while the front assemblies have been designed (SR4643 and SR4642), the manufacturing has been delayed.
I’m wondering if I’ll have ride problems if I install the quick struts in the back and the Excel-G’s with factory springs in the front.
I used the KYB quick struts designed for 2010 and up - look backwards in this thread, its well documented. happy with the setup. had no problems getting it aligned. cant comment on excel-g, never used them. another option is to get the KYB strut only, and have someone switch over to your factory springs.
FYI for anyone else in the same boat, got an email from KYB that 2007/2008 front strut assemblies are delayed until the end of 2022. Rears have been available for a while now.
I'm to picky of a person and can tell the difference when something is slightly off, where as my wife would drive with the ebrake on and not notice anything wrong 
