Ladies and Gentlemen,

I'm in the middle of rebuilding my front suspension with
- Moog upper control arms
- new lower control arm bushings
- new lower ball joints

I suspect that the shocks are somewhat tired as well and as I will have a four wheel alignment done anyway it would be best to change all four shocks while we are there.

My car has the normal suspension with std springs and std tyresize. I would need to ask if there is a preference with shock brands?

For example Rockauto lists following gas shocks

• Boge
• Sachs Supertouring
• KYB Excel-G
• Monroe Sensa-Trac

Any advise of which of these to get or are all of these about the same?

 

I vote for KYB Excel-G - those are what came on it when it was new! (KYB is the OEM supplier to Toyota for this car, and Excel-G is basically identical to the originals)

avoid Monroe junk

no, not the same at all, huge differences in shocks, just like there are huge differences in tire quality!

 

Thank you, Sir!

My parts guy is checking the availability but based on our previous cases with other cars I would say that the KYBs are easiest to find over here.

 

In my experience with GM cars, Monroe are crap. Leave bad factory ones on over new Monroes. They will be bad in no time. I have only blown a few shocks in my life, ALL Monroe.

Gabriel Ultras aren't bad at all, or didn't used to be. Gabriel Special E are very good, but rare if not gone now.

FYI, bad shocks wear out tie rods (mainly inner) at a very fast rate.