Choices seem to be OE, KYB, and Monroe; who has any experiences (positive or negative) with any of these? Due for replacement but need to decide which to order. Thanks!
Strut/damper recommendations?
VincentVespa
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Choices seem to be OE, KYB, and Monroe; who has any experiences (positive or negative) with any of these? Due for replacement but need to decide which to order. Thanks!
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Unless you want to deal with individual components and have the tools, strut assembly is normally recommended. OE is always great but high cost. In all our cars over years, KYB has been the go to brand for front struts and rear absorbers. Moog for rear coil springs, if replacement is needed.
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Bigger question is, do you actually need shocks and struts? They are no longer replaced just by time or mileage, and especially if you use aftermarket, you may be replacing good stuff with not so good stuff.
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Yeah, 130k and I'm pretty sure they're original, van is getting awfully 'bouncy' and doesn't settle very quickly after going over bumps, so I'm pretty sure they're shot and due for replacement. And I have spring compressors etc. and have rebuilt struts several times before, so planning on just ordering dampers, spring pads, bump stops, and hardware to get this done.
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Here is an old thread on this topic. Be sure to read the entire thread 'cause there are some good tips at the end too.
www.odyclub.com
If I were to tackle this job on your vehicle, I would get
2 new kyb struts
2 new Honda bearings
2 new swaybar end links (Honda or Moog). I like Moog better than Honda--you will know why when working on them.
Reuse the rest of your original honda parts including the coil spring if they are ok. Note that if you have to replace too many Honda parts, you are better off buying 2 new Honda struts fully assembled.
Be sure to tight down the self-locking nut on the strut all the way down (or you will get a clunking noise when the job is done). Buy from rockauto for non-Honda parts. There is a 5% rockauto coupon somewhere on this site in the sponsor page. If your steering wheel feel excessively shaky at 70MPH afterward, get an alignment.
My front-end still rides like dream 2 years later.
Front strut DIY observation
I was fixing a strut job that went bad elsewhere. Front struts were replaced before me with KYB struts and KYB mount and bearings. While doing a car inspection, I found that strut makes a creaking noise while turning and looking at visible marks, they were in the wrong spot. So couple of...
www.odyclub.com
If I were to tackle this job on your vehicle, I would get
2 new kyb struts
2 new Honda bearings
2 new swaybar end links (Honda or Moog). I like Moog better than Honda--you will know why when working on them.
Reuse the rest of your original honda parts including the coil spring if they are ok. Note that if you have to replace too many Honda parts, you are better off buying 2 new Honda struts fully assembled.
Be sure to tight down the self-locking nut on the strut all the way down (or you will get a clunking noise when the job is done). Buy from rockauto for non-Honda parts. There is a 5% rockauto coupon somewhere on this site in the sponsor page. If your steering wheel feel excessively shaky at 70MPH afterward, get an alignment.
My front-end still rides like dream 2 years later.
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Just be sure to use OEM parts or KYB, not anything else. Monroe I would avoid.
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9,924 Posts
I replaced the front struts on both of our Odysseys.
2002 EX, MOOG complete struts. They're initially stiff, and I suspect will settle in. I only did these about a couple months ago. Feels like a new OEM Odyssey plus a little more firmness.
2003 EX, KYB struts with MOOG springs and KYB mounts, strut bearings, etc. Knowing what I know now, just get the whole, complete strut with spring as one package. They are FIRM for the first year, but for the last 1-1/2 or 2 years or so, they have "settled in" and the ride is very good. The van handles very well with KYB gear up front.
I put KYB GR2 shocks in the rear on both vans. No complaints.
OF
2002 EX, MOOG complete struts. They're initially stiff, and I suspect will settle in. I only did these about a couple months ago. Feels like a new OEM Odyssey plus a little more firmness.
2003 EX, KYB struts with MOOG springs and KYB mounts, strut bearings, etc. Knowing what I know now, just get the whole, complete strut with spring as one package. They are FIRM for the first year, but for the last 1-1/2 or 2 years or so, they have "settled in" and the ride is very good. The van handles very well with KYB gear up front.
I put KYB GR2 shocks in the rear on both vans. No complaints.
OF
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Ok so, next question, good vendor to buy from? Having trouble finding the KYBs available online for some reason. Thanks again guys!
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6,166 Posts
Rockauto
I replaced the front struts and rear shocks on my own
Used the KYBs all around
Have over 60k miles on the KYBs now and have zero complaints, they were inexpensive compared to Honda and they work great.
I replaced mine right at about 100k miles
I also replaced the sway bar end links and sway bar bushings, whatever ones had the little heart next to them on Rockauto, they were fine (hard to remember the brand)
Used the KYBs all around
Have over 60k miles on the KYBs now and have zero complaints, they were inexpensive compared to Honda and they work great.
I replaced mine right at about 100k miles
I also replaced the sway bar end links and sway bar bushings, whatever ones had the little heart next to them on Rockauto, they were fine (hard to remember the brand)
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14,400 Posts
I put OEM struts, shocks, lower control arms, and outer tie rods. The first set lasted 200K. I doubt I'll ever do them again. Yes, the cost was a bit high but the cost of low quality lives on much longer than hurt of the initial cash layout.
I had no ride issues but was noticing some odd tire wear. After replacement of all those parts I was amazed at how much better it rides and no more tire wear. I'm happy with the expense.
I had no ride issues but was noticing some odd tire wear. After replacement of all those parts I was amazed at how much better it rides and no more tire wear. I'm happy with the expense.
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1,566 Posts
I had Honda struts installed in the front and Monroe OESpectrum shocks installed in the back of my '06 a few years ago. No complaints, Monroe shocks seems to work perfectly fine for me.
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It's KYB in many cases but the OE KYB line is different than the aftermarket KYB line.
If you’re looking to replace front/rear. “Spring” for OEM assemblies for the front and KYB for the rear. They’ll last and the van will drive just like new. There’s also another part (stabilizer) to replace on the front not included in the assembly. Here are the oem part #s:
Shock Absorber Assembly, R Front 51601-SHJ-L11
Shock Absorber Assembly, L Front 51602-SHJ-L11
Link Assembly, Front Stabilizer 51320-SHJ-A02
Shock Absorber Assembly, R Front 51601-SHJ-L11
Shock Absorber Assembly, L Front 51602-SHJ-L11
Link Assembly, Front Stabilizer 51320-SHJ-A02
Earlier this year I put KYBs all around. They feel very similar to the stock Honda shocks. I was hoping they would be firmer, they were not. I got them from Rock Auto. I bought the top bearing, a really cheap one, under $10, and they look and work fine. The sway bar end links were a real PITA to remove. I replaced one because I could not get it off.
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I only replaced one sway bar link on my wife’s Civic a month ago. What a royal pain in the a$$ trying to get the old one off. After the 1st one, I didn’t even try to replace the other side.
Thanks for posting these part numbers. I checked on the Majestic site for my 2010 EX-L and found the front shock assembly part numbers end in -L31, rather than -L11. $310 each - more than I would have guessed. The stabilizer link assembly is $18.
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