Shocks and struts...

[retcav1sg]

2001 GT convertible with 133,000 miles and I think I still have the original shocks and struts. As this is my first mustang I have nothing to compare the ride to. It seems to ride OK but god knows it's probably about time to replace the originals. It's a weekend/rec driver that isn't raced. I've searched and the threads I've found are relatively outdated. What are the recs for what I might use as replacements. I would love to have the bilstiens but am not sure how long I will have the car. Is something as simple as the Monroe sensatracs an option? Not concerned with price just don't want to drop a load on a car that I might not have a year from now.

Any recommendations will be greatly appreciated
Mac

 

[Sharad]

The bilstiens that MM carries are nice. I like the Strange 10-way adjustable shocks/struts for an inexpensive street setup.

 

[JoeDaddy]

I like the Strange 10-way adjustable shocks/struts for an inexpensive street setup.

I disagree. I got some and they were very noisey. I sent those back at my cost and the second set were noisey too. Put my worn out stockers back on, and im nice and quiet now, although a bit bouncy sometimes.. I would not recomend them because of the amount of noise they make.

 

[Maxpowers]

Nothing wrong with getting motorcraft replacement, especially if you aren't planning on keeping the car long.

The tokico blues are a decent upgrade for not a bunch of cash.

 

[DJ Fury]

^^ Tokico Blues are a very slight upgrade from stock. They will give you that stiffness that you've lost with 133k hardware but are by no means race quality, great for a DD or weekend cruiser. Can't beat the price for the full set, 370 bucks from AM.

 

[Sharad]

I disagree. I got some and they were very noisey. I sent those back at my cost and the second set were noisey too. Put my worn out stockers back on, and im nice and quiet now, although a bit bouncy sometimes.. I would not recomend them because of the amount of noise they make.

No noise on my practically brand new car when I had them... were yours coilover?

 

[PULMEOVR]

^^ Tokico Blues are a very slight upgrade from stock. They will give you that stiffness that you've lost with 133k hardware but are by no means race quality, great for a DD or weekend cruiser. Can't beat the price for the full set, 370 bucks from AM.

Slight is right. I couldn't tell a difference between working stock shocks & struts and the Tokico Blues. They work fine, but from a SOTP feel, nothing changed one bit. If it weren't for my shocks/struts wearing out from my lowered suspension, I would have never changed the shocks & struts.

 

[JoeDaddy]

No noise on my practically brand new car when I had them... were yours coilover?

Nope, just like the stock stuff. Had my father-in-law take a look at it with me (as he has been wrenching for 30+ years) because I figured I did something wrong putting the stuff back on. We tried different ways of putting them on with the rubbers and what not for about 3 hours one night.

The dude I talked to at summit said I bought the wrong ones because I put C springs on. He said the ones I bought were bottoming out and I should have gotten the ones for a fox. He let me exchange them as long as I paid to ship them back. Put the ones for a fox on my car, and they did the same thing.

Ended up taking them off and selling on evil bay. Lost a little over $100, and am still a little bitter about it.

As far as the shock absorbing aspect of them, they were nice. I just couldn't stand the noise.

I will continue to warn others when ever a thread like this comes up so they aren't as dissapointed as I was. After I got them and searched about them it seems like about half the guys that used them love them, and the other half hate em.

Here is what they sounded like..
mustang gt :: MVI_3499.mp4 video by spiveysvo - Photobucket

 

[TripleBlk]

Well, thanks ! I was just getting to pull the trigger on a set of Strange rear shocks.

It's "strange" that a huge outfit like Summit doesn't carry a bigger selection of Mustang shocks.

I changed my stock shocks/struts at 50K due to the heavy construction I was encountering on my commute. I also went the extra mile and replaced the "Quad shocks". All KYB units.

I just have a problem handing over big bucks to outfits like Koni and Bilstein. The money , perhaps , is going to support huge pensions/vacations, etc, I suspect.. In other words, they aren't price competitive, and not for reasons of extra care in engineering and quality.