Front strut job, KYB

[mjody]

I did the KYB front and rear, should have done Monroe quick struts on the front. Upper bearings shot and very noisy. My bad for being cheap.

[yeoldeoddy]

I did the KYB front and rear, should have done Monroe quick struts on the front. Upper bearings shot and very noisy. My bad for being cheap.

The Quickstruts do not come with bearings either. They were a separate item on my invoice because mine were
shot too. A shop can replace just the bearing and re-use your KYBs.

[Ron777]

Just curious -- do you find the KYB front struts too firm for the Odyssey? I have had KYB GR2s on my Camry and Corolla with less than positive results, but the Odyssey is a much heavier vehicle.

[armik123]

I put in Quickstruts about 1 month ago (got them from Rockauto) and they did come with bearings actually

[RV Hecker]

Maybe I missed something, but what bearings are there on a McPherson strut? Or where are the bearings on the strut?

RV

[Ron777]

Must be the upper strut mounts. That is the only place where there would be bearings.

Still looking for feedback from owners who have swapped the front struts for KYBs on the Odyssey-- too firm or just right? Bouncy, busy ride?

[bruce2]

Ron777, I had mine replaced with KYBs about 100k miles ago and they are still standing high and in good control. At first they are stiffer then the OEM but I like it better that way. I had KYBs in the past on another van, a 4 Runner, and a Mitsu Diamante. I really feel that the KYBs are better in quality then the OEMs; I know I might get jump on with this statement but it really depends on your liking. KYBs are definitely better for the rear.

Though I don't think I need to replace mine at this time but thinking I have to go back in hauling my last child for school for at least 2 more years after my second child headed out to college next year, I might as well replace them likely go with the Monroe Quick Struts taking advantage of the springs along with bushings and ball joints and whatever when I am at it.

Hope this helps,

[yeoldeoddy]

I put in Quickstruts about 1 month ago (got them from Rockauto) and they did come with bearings actually

You're right the bearings come with the Quickstruts, I just looked at my Sears invoice and it did not include strut mounts (which is where the bearings are).
You can buy strut mounts separatly though.

[RV Hecker]

Maybe they are confusing bearings with bushings. The upper strut mount connects the top of the shock absorber to the body of the vehicle.

RV

[0dyfamily]

It truly is a bearing, but not in the sense of a ball bearing or roller bearing. As far as I can tell it's a flat surface-to-flat surface plastic bearing that allows the strut to rotate when steering the van so that the spring doesn't twist and cause "memory steering" (i.e., steer, straighten out, and then end up with the vehicle pulling to one side).

OF

[RV Hecker]

Since I did not take my struts apart, I did not see the bearing in the upper mount. The Haynes manual shows a picture of this bearing. My mistake.

RV

[0dyfamily]

Bearing update: Hecker, I'd asked questions on another site a long while back, and the guy working on his suspension actually had a bearing on a strut (not KYB, IIRC) that consisted of plastic rings with flat, smooth mating surfaces. His quandry was whether to leave them dry, or apply some sort of grease.

Well, I was expecting the same with the KYB struts and KYB mounts I just got from Rock Auto. Surprise....like your Haynes manual says, these bearings are genuine roller bearing types, not flat surface-to-flat surface nylon or plastic types.

I stand corrected.

OF

[sontakke]

Some of you must have changed your fronts to Monroe Quickstruts a while ago. If so, what is your long term assessment of them? At 190Kmiles, and 14 years I am still on the original front struts. They definitely are NOT shot but given that there are currently good deal/rebate on Monroe and changing them should be pretty straightforward, I am seriously considering doing them.

Would I be happy with spending few hundred dollars on them? Will I be still happy after 3-4 years assuming the van lasts that long? This will be an "elective procedure" aka NOT COVERED by "this has to be done" category. To me, the current ones are not gone. I drive 2012 Acura TL everyday but the time is coming for swapping it to the 1999 Odyssey. I drive the minivan on the weekends and I do not find the ride of the minivan that bad at all. I have been "told" that we can not put any more money in the van but if it were to become my daily drive, I am thinking that investing couple of hundred would be worth it BUT IF ONLY THE MONROE WOULD BE LOT BETTER than what I have there for next few years.

People have suggested keeping the springs and get the Koni or equivalent but then I have to get the bearings and the other stuff and plus labor for that work goes up very high. So realistically Monroe QuickStruts are the only game in the town for me.

Comments? Advice? Need to decide before the end of the month for the rebate.