Front Struts vs. Rear Struts

[GP1138]

Sort of misleading title, but I was trying to keep it simple.

 

I just put Monroe Quick-Struts on the rear of my GTP. I needed something quick since it's my DD and I had a failing strut that was causing all sorts of noise and squirrliness. I'm fairly happy with them.

 

I now need to do my front struts. I have some time but I wanted KYB's on this car to begin with. I only chose the Quick-Struts because I had to have a whole solution since I don't have a spring compressor or time to fuck with that. Is it stupid to put KYB's on the front when I have non-performance struts on the rear? Or would it matter?

[Cutlass350]

KYB are basically same as Monroe-o-matics. They might be a little firmer, but not by much.

 

KYB shocks are not performance shocks, never have been, never will be.

 

I'm not saying that KYB struts are junk. Just that they are not performance struts - they don't come even close.

FWIW: A true performance strut has different compression and rebound rates, and also profiles. It's important to have the strut and spring matched. A stiff real performance strut on a stock spring would not be a good setup.

 

Koni had a nice set of slides. For some reason, they took them down (likely other manufacture's complaining).

 

FWIW: If you get KYB struts, at least you know they will likely be firmer than stock, but not too much so. With Monroe, it's hard to say.

 

So, get KYB struts. They are fine, regardless of what you have on the back. And, yes, they will be firmer than your ~10 year-old 100K mile struts. Just about any new strut would be.

 

 

 

BTW, KYB struts/shocks are great ricer struts so that they can brag that the have something other than Monroe struts.

Edited August 22, 2012 by Cutlass350

[Cutlass350]

Wayback rules!

 

For a Fox Mustang (87-93), but it's the general concept and info that's important.

 

http://web.archive.org/web/20040828011028/http://www.koni-na.com/presentations/mustang/

 

[GP1138]

I did NOT get the Monroe-Econo-Matics, I sprung (HA!) for the Quick-Struts, just so I'd have a little better than junk.

 

If KYB isn't that much better I'll just stick with the standard QS for the front as well. At least they'll all be well matched.

[Cutlass350]

I did NOT get the Monroe-Econo-Matics, I sprung (HA!) for the Quick-Struts, just so I'd have a little better than junk.

 

If KYB isn't that much better I'll just stick with the standard QS for the front as well. At least they'll all be well matched.

 

Good idea!

 

In the past, I debated if I should get KYBs for my '92 Achieva, '94 Achieva, or '2000 Olds Intrigue. In the end, I got the good Monroe struts/shocks instead.