List Price: $162.99
Sale Price: $102.39
Today's Bonus: 37% Off
Honda wanted $1100.00 to replace only the shocks on my 2000 Civic Si parts and labor. They also wanted $290.00 + $150.00 labor to replace my front O2 sensor. After leaving the dealership and vowing to never return, I went with Monroe Quick Struts after doing some research. KYB sells a similar product called Strut-Plus.
I had the Monroes installed by a local service center. For about 2/3's the cost of what Honda wanted to replace only shocks, I now have new springs, shocks and struts with a life time parts warranty. They even included an alignment.
The Good: Inexpensive, lifetime parts warranty (not labor), easy to install.
The Bad: Replacing my stock suspension components, even in their worn state, turned what was once an overachieving handler into a 1974 Chrysler New Yorker, perhaps the worst handling road barge I've personally experienced. I'm exaggerating but on a smaller scale, reasonably accurate. In other words, a wallowing boulevard cruiser. With stock components, the transient response was quick and confidence inspiring. When traveling over mild dips and rises on the highway, the stock components tracked the surface with precision.
With the Monroes, wallowing occurs over mild dips and rises in the highway. Transient response went from razor sharp to 'better give this some thought first'. Washboard roads threaten to vibrate the car onto a shoulder.
Much of this is probably attributed to the additional ride height of the Monroes. Although the original suspension components may have settled a little (1/4" 1/2") over their lifetime (84000 miles and ~12 years), the Monroes jacked up the car at least two inches. I thought this might be a temporary situation and that they would settle but after months of use, the car still looks like it has a lift kit installed. I now have the dubious distinction of owning a 2000 Civic Si SUV.
Bottom line: these may be a good choice depending on the car they will be used with. In my case, Honda took care to manufacture the suspension components of the 1999-2000 Civic Si with a bent towards handling performance. Replacing the springs, shocks and struts with non-specific suspension components turned out to be a bad idea.
Given the dramatic price difference between stock components and the Monroes and the fact that this is my work car, I can live with this. Regardless, I am annoyed every time I get in the car.
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I bought these for my 98 honda civic ex to replace some low ride short springs which had worn out shocks. I had them on in a couple of hours. Make sure you use the lock nuts provided for the bottom since there is no nut welded on like the old shock. They gave me 2 each nuts all are for the bottom of the strut. Went in ok without any major issue. You will need a jack under the swing arm to raise the shock so you can get your bolt lined up. I figure that out after a few minutes. Rides really nice again. Took less than a week to receive them on the free shipping saver.Best Deals for Monroe 171292 Quick-Strut Complete Strut Assembly
Installed easily. Great improvement in handling & braking of car.Great buy .Would recommend to buy.
Monroe -great product as usual
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