Monroe Sensa-trac's on my 88gt and couldn't be happier! They handle WAY better then the 20+yro stockers (as any modern strut should) while not being over-kill for street use (not overly stiff). I feel these are a good compromise; not too stiff and not too soft. The price is right also...
I've had both. Noticed no difference in handling, but the Sensa-Tracs ride at least twice as well. IMO they're designed better...KYB's only handle well because they're so freakin' stiff from my experience.
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09:45 PM
steve308 Member
Posts: 4028 From: Stafford VA Registered: Jan 2008
This from a former uncar representative from a major car store parts chain --- The KYB is designed to compensate not only for the strut that is worn but also for the springs that have lost their original strength therefore the will be a bit more stiff. Monroes or any other replacement will be "softer". Either is an improvement over a dead strut.
My experience with Monroe in general is that they are direct OE replacement struts and offer no advantages. I run KYB AGX struts on two of my cars (neither Fieros) with very stiff springs and the ride is nowhere near terrible or "too stiff". In my experience KYBs will almost always outlast the Monroes.
This from a former uncar representative from a major car store parts chain --- The KYB is designed to compensate not only for the strut that is worn but also for the springs that have lost their original strength therefore the will be a bit more stiff. Monroes or any other replacement will be "softer". Either is an improvement over a dead strut.
This is what I have ran into. I ran both the Monroe and KYB on Eibach lowering springs and could tell a big differance in the way they rode. The Monroes where softer and gave the car more bounce with the lowering springs while the KYBs where stiffer and a better ride.
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01:46 AM
PFF
System Bot
hypo327 Member
Posts: 290 From: Lynden, WA, Whatcom Registered: Oct 2009
I'm running Eibach lowering springs with KYB's in my '87 GT. The ride is much stiffer, but that's the price for getting more sports car handling. I love the ride, because I feel the stability in the corners...and on the highway. If you watch race cars, they ride really super hard to gain handling stability. If you want a soft ride with sports car handling, it aint going to happen. If you want to pay the price, buy the ultimate Coni fully adjustable shocks, to soften for street use, then harden for auto-cross. Myself, I like the harder, more stable ride. It feels like a sports car. I like my KYB's, especially for the price!
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02:08 AM
Oreif Member
Posts: 16460 From: Schaumburg, IL Registered: Jan 2000
Monroe's or Gabriel's = stock replacement KYB's = handling improvement
Do you want stock handling/ride or better handling?
What I was looking at is,....Monroe is haveing a rebate on their shocks and struts,with a set of 4.This is for my other car a Grand Prix (since my Fiero allready has new shocks and struts).The rebate check for the cost of one unit.Cost isnt that big of an issue,but I do see that,the higher priced Monroes have the coils too,that saves me $$$,by not haveing to pay the auto shop to swap them over.The car has 132,000 miles on it, so eiter, would be a vast improvement....Thanks everyone. Rebate info here,about halfway down.Offer expires 10/31/2010.Check out all the other rebates too. http://www.rockauto.com/lang/en/promo.html
[This message has been edited by James Bond 007 (edited 09-07-2010).]
I also got that rebate when I purchased mine. Price for me was NOT the determining factor! The Monore's are no where near "stock" performance. I replaced stock shocks/struts w/ 59k miles on them; they were by no means DOA, just 80's technology... The Monroe's are a bit firmer and I DO get jared around a lil over the big potholes. Im glad I went w/ them over the KYB's...
Either brand WILL be a vast improvement over the stock stuff... Go w/ the KYB's is you want to give up "more" comfort and plan to drive aggresive more often then not. For me, I am not able to take my Fiero to the limits that often. One thing I will say, I speed up on the on/off ramps now
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12:01 PM
82-T/A [At Work] Member
Posts: 24965 From: Florida USA Registered: Aug 2002
I had the Y99 suspension on my 87 Fiero ("Heavy Duty" suspension which I guess is in between WS6 and absolute crap base springs / shocks). The springs were probably decent at one time, but too soft. When I installed a new set of KYB shocks and struts all around, the handling was good, but just driving around town, I felt every damn bump. It was jarring.
I realize this is a sports car, but while that was fine when I was 19, at 32... it's no longer really all that cool.
I've decided the best compromise for good handling and ride comfort is to go with a set of new WS6 springs (all around) and Monroe Shocks & Struts.
For what it's worth, I HIGHLY recommend you swap out your springs in the rear. The springs automatically come out ANYWAY when you remove the rear struts, so you might as well replace them now... it will save you a lot of money in the long run.
For what it's worth, I HIGHLY recommend you swap out your springs in the rear. The springs automatically come out ANYWAY when you remove the rear struts, so you might as well replace them now... it will save you a lot of money in the long run.
Why? just curious.
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02:47 PM
LZeppelin513 Member
Posts: 761 From: Lake Stevens, Washington Registered: Aug 2003
I had KYBs in my 87 and thought the ride was way too soft. When i added intrax lowering springs it was too bouncy due to being under-damped.
I am installing konis on my new 88 in hopes of a firmer ride.
To ME, the KYBs reminded me of a boat not a sports car feel. Based on my experience with KYB, I would never go with something that is described as less stiff like the Monroes.
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02:52 PM
82-T/A [At Work] Member
Posts: 24965 From: Florida USA Registered: Aug 2002
Well, the primary reason is, if you plan on upgrading your suspension, or at least bringing it back to stock, you'll want to replace the springs. The springs lose their tension over time. Coiling and recoiling over and over eventually fatigues the metal, and while they're still springs, they won't have the tension they had when they were first made.
Even stock WS6 springs probably wouldn't be much better than stock Y99 springs after this many years.
In addition to that however, I believe that stiffer springs are always a good way to go. They don't make the ride jarring, they just make it firmer.
If the car still has it's original struts in the rear, it's a good idea to just go ahead and swap them out now when you intend to replace the struts. If you had any intention of ever replacing them to begin with, now is the best time. It will save you the labor.
This isn't my daily driver, so I just work slow and steady on it, so I do everything myself except machine work.
I had the Y99 suspension on my 87 Fiero ("Heavy Duty" suspension which I guess is in between WS6 and absolute crap base springs / shocks). The springs were probably decent at one time, but too soft. When I installed a new set of KYB shocks and struts all around, the handling was good, but just driving around town, I felt every damn bump. It was jarring.
I realize this is a sports car, but while that was fine when I was 19, at 32... it's no longer really all that cool.
I've decided the best compromise for good handling and ride comfort is to go with a set of new WS6 springs (all around) and Monroe Shocks & Struts.
For what it's worth, I HIGHLY recommend you swap out your springs in the rear. The springs automatically come out ANYWAY when you remove the rear struts, so you might as well replace them now... it will save you a lot of money in the long run.
For me I agree with '~ fine at 19, at 32 not all that cool ~' comment about suppension ( I'm 42 ), I'm not an agressive driver in my Fiero, (at least 95% of time this is....).
So my question is have you done this yet? If so I take it you like it? If not please let me know how you like when you do; because I've already been thinking of doing exactly what your recommendation was.
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02:57 PM
82-T/A [At Work] Member
Posts: 24965 From: Florida USA Registered: Aug 2002
For me I agree with '~ fine at 19, at 32 not all that cool ~' comment about suppension ( I'm 42 ), I'm not an agressive driver in my Fiero, (at least 95% of time this is....).
So my question is have you done this yet? If so I take it you like it? If not please let me know how you like when you do; because I've already been thinking of doing exactly what your recommendation was.
I'm in the process of doing it on my 87 Fiero right now, but I had this same configuration on my 1985 Fiero GT 4-Speed several years ago.
On my 87, I'm basically going with poly bushings on EVERYTHING, simply because it's easier than trying to press in and press out new sheilds and rubber bushings. I expect to get slightly more road vibration from this.
My car was a Y99 like I mentioned, but the type of ride I'm going after... at least in ride quality, would best be described as a Volkswagen Jetta 1.8T with the sport package. The spring deflection is minimal, and it doesn't "bounce." At the same time, the shocks have some initial give to them but are progressive.
The WS6 springs (OER) that the Fiero Store sells are perfect for this.
Then all around, I'm going to go with Monroe.
This is essentially what I had on my 85 GT (minus the poly bushings) and I loved it. It was way more comfortable, and to be quite honest, it handled way better than my 87 SE did with the Y99 springs and KYBs.
I say I'm going with all Monroe, but for some reason I can't find the Monroe shocks for the front that I had remembered buying? So in the mean time, I'm just putting back my older KYBs since they're probably worn enough that they're just like Monroes. I'll replace them in due time, I just didn't want to spend any money on something that wasn't critical (you can change front shocks out without even having to jack the car up or remove the tire... just cut the wheel sharply, park it, and get a 13mm socket wrench.
I've got Monroe Sense-Adjust Struts for the rear though that will be going in as soon as I'm finished with the front.
Just to re-confirm though, I had this in my 85 Fiero GT 4-Speed... and that's what sold me on it. The springs were nice and tight, not lofty, and not bouncy. I had KYBs on the front for a short while and it was a little jarring. The Monroes (the ones they sold at the time) on the front worked great.
The ride felt a lot like my Porsche 944 did.
I'm pretty much done on the passenger side, just have to finish the brakes and steering components.
