This forum is to discuss shock/strut problems and how to best deal with what is becoming a rather expensive replacement item on cars approaching 60K-80K miles. Are products sold by chain stores just too cheesy to give decent performance? Is it worth upgrading shocks and struts if you are a more or less docile driver? Is OEM a rip-off for what you get?
Let's hear your ideas and experiences.
- #118 of 158
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Re: OEM VS AFTERMARKET SHOCKS & STRUTS [dexmon]
by Mr_Shiftright HOST
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May 22, 2009 (1:11 pm)
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Replying to: dexmon (May 22, 2009 10:30 am)
Well this is kind of an iffy situation. On the one hand, for a car of this type you'd probably want something better than KYB, like Boge or Bilstein, but a) I don't think these two manufacturers make a replacement shock for your car and b) besides, you have 256K on the car already, so a huge investment might not be the best idea.
I guess I'd go with KYB, but be prepared to sacrifice some ride comfort and durability I think. Or spring for the OEM if you plan to get another 100K out of the car and it's otherwise in really nice shape.
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- #119 of 158
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Re: OEM VS AFTERMARKET SHOCKS & STRUTS [dexmon]
by sean300
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May 22, 2009 (7:52 pm)
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Replying to: dexmon (May 22, 2009 10:30 am)
I own a 98 es300 with 197K on the od, I am not the original owner. At about 160k, I replaced all of the struts with kyb's. I have not had a problem since. I do not understand why everyone thinks that kyb's are cheap. I mean, they appear to be of good quality and they do have a lifetime guarantee. I have not experienced any ride degradation, in fact, the ride is quite good. As for durability, I do not know since I've only had replaced 30K miles ago, but how bad can they be, again, with a lifetime guarantee? I would like to have bilstein struts too, but they do not make them for my car, and are they that much better than the other manufacturers out there?, In addition, they are very expensive. If the bilsteins are so darn good then why don't they make applications for all vehicles? Stick with the kyb's, they are fine.
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- #120 of 158
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Re: OEM VS AFTERMARKET SHOCKS & STRUTS [dexmon]
by obyone
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May 22, 2009 (11:02 pm)
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Replying to: dexmon (May 22, 2009 10:30 am)
Kayaba Industries in Japan has made shocks under the KYB name for over 50 years. They manufacture OEM shocks for Lexus, Infiniti, Mazda, Nissan, Subaru, and Suzuki. That being said you might be replacing KYB shocks with a new set of KYB.
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- #121 of 158
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Re: OEM VS AFTERMARKET SHOCKS & STRUTS [obyone]
by Mr_Shiftright HOST
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May 23, 2009 (6:43 am)
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Replying to: obyone (May 22, 2009 11:02 pm)
A lifetime guarantee really doesn't support the idea that the product is of particularly good quality. Midas mufflers have a similar arrangement, which is really saying "bring in your prematurely worn out old muffler and we'll replace it with another one of equal quality".
I think KYB meets the demands of a substantial number of drivers but I think the product has design limitations---and you may indeed never exceed these limitations. Both a $99 and a $1000 digital camera take pretty good pictures, but......
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- #122 of 158
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Re: OEM VS AFTERMARKET SHOCKS & STRUTS [Mr_Shiftright]
by obyone
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May 24, 2009 (2:03 pm)
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Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (May 23, 2009 6:43 am)
Hmm. If you think products like Bilstein or Edelbrock are superior to KYB, we need to take a look at the company. Kayaba Industries which markets in the US under the name of KYB far exceeds that of either Bilstein or Edelbrock.
Kayaba Industry US
Also a look a the types of products that they manufacture.
Products
All I'm saying is that due to their limited marketing efforts, the technology that this company represents is well understated. As an oem manufacturer one can understand their limited marketing efforts to the masses.
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- #123 of 158
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Re: OEM VS AFTERMARKET SHOCKS & STRUTS [obyone]
by Mr_Shiftright HOST
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May 24, 2009 (3:47 pm)
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Replying to: obyone (May 24, 2009 2:03 pm)
Regardless they still build to price like any other corporation. Toyota makes a Yaris and they make a Lexus LS.
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- #124 of 158
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Re: OEM VS AFTERMARKET SHOCKS & STRUTS [Mr_Shiftright]
by obyone
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May 26, 2009 (12:34 pm)
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Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (May 24, 2009 3:47 pm)
Toyota makes a Yaris and they make a Lexus LS.
True and Toyota doesn't offer a lifetime warranty on either.
My point is that the person asking about KYB shocks has 256K on the car and doesn't want to spend $1K for replacement shocks when KYB could be had for $400. At this point any shock has to be an improvement over what is leaking now and with KYB he doesn't have to worry about shock failure for the life of the car. To me that's a deal with saving $600.
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- #125 of 158
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Re: OEM VS AFTERMARKET SHOCKS & STRUTS [obyone]
by Mr_Shiftright HOST
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May 26, 2009 (1:44 pm)
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Replying to: obyone (May 26, 2009 12:34 pm)
Well he still does have to worry about shock failure, but he doesn't have to worry about paying for the replacement shock. But I tend to agree with you, with 256K on the car, I'd cheap out and go with the KYBs also. I'd do the same on my own car as it is also older, high miles, and not a performance vehicle.
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- #126 of 158
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Re: OEM VS AFTERMARKET SHOCKS & STRUTS [Mr_Shiftright]
by dexmon
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May 26, 2009 (7:00 pm)
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Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (May 22, 2009 1:11 pm)
Thanks for the advice ,but not because my car has 256,000 miles do i want cheap parts on my car that will not last. What i would like to know is if KYB makes shocks for Lexus why then is thier shocks inferior?
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- #127 of 158
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Re: OEM VS AFTERMARKET SHOCKS & STRUTS [Mr_Shiftright]
by dexmon
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May 26, 2009 (7:02 pm)
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Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (May 26, 2009 1:44 pm)
Also I use my car as a LIMO in NYC so I am very concerned about getting the same ride
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