Factory shocks and struts on my 91 Mustang are starting to show there age, so in a couple weeks I am going to get some of my tools dirty and replace them. I don't need anything fancy, OEM ride and handling is fine. Rockauto has Monroe Sensamatic's struts in the front, shocks in the rear for $150 with a $50 rebate, any reasons I should be spending more?
Monroe Sensamatic shocks/struts?
- Thread starter Danglerb
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-B-
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91 that is a long time to go with out replacement ..... with new you will get quite a different ride.
I would do some research on some of the Stang forums and see what others are using and their comments.
Ii use Billistines on my truck it was a toss up between them and the Edlebrocks until i talked to my local hot rod shop guys they said there was no difference in rid but that the Eddlebrocks seemed to wear in and get softer sooner.
Shocker
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I would look at the Tokico if I were you. There were factory on many Mustangs.
NugeConstruction
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A few blurbs on Bilstein:
http://www.bilstein.com/tech.php
"Bilstein's technically superior, patented monotube gas charged design allows the excessive heat from the oil to transfer to the outer surface of the shock body and dissipate more efficiently. The dividing piston also permits the oil to expand as heat builds, preventing aeration (foaming) and viscosity loss. This allows the shock to maintain full damping characteristics as temperatures rise.
"The tube of a Bilstein Gas Pressure Shock Absorber is fabricated using a special extrusion method. This process achieves an extremely tight peak-to-valley tolerance and maintains consistent wall thickness. Bilstein's seamless monotube design provides superior tube strength while maximizing heat dissipation and shock life.
"Most conventional shocks are made with shock bodies cut from a piece of steel tubing, stamped internal parts and compromised tolerances.
"In contrast, Bilstein's shock bodies are precision formed through a unique seamless extrusion process."
And if you like patents, Bilstein has those also, in spades...
http://www.bilstein.com/tech.php
"Bilstein's technically superior, patented monotube gas charged design allows the excessive heat from the oil to transfer to the outer surface of the shock body and dissipate more efficiently. The dividing piston also permits the oil to expand as heat builds, preventing aeration (foaming) and viscosity loss. This allows the shock to maintain full damping characteristics as temperatures rise.
"The tube of a Bilstein Gas Pressure Shock Absorber is fabricated using a special extrusion method. This process achieves an extremely tight peak-to-valley tolerance and maintains consistent wall thickness. Bilstein's seamless monotube design provides superior tube strength while maximizing heat dissipation and shock life.
"Most conventional shocks are made with shock bodies cut from a piece of steel tubing, stamped internal parts and compromised tolerances.
"In contrast, Bilstein's shock bodies are precision formed through a unique seamless extrusion process."
And if you like patents, Bilstein has those also, in spades...
Bilstein is the best short of lets get silly priced shocks, and I use them on my Porsches. Factory shocks and struts on wifes car since nobody else makes them but Motorcraft for the weird Lincoln air/variable damping suspension. For my Mustang, a good OEM quality suits me fine, and thats a language the enthusiast forums don't speak. Mostly the responses are from end users repeating what they read in some ad or a salesman told them.
I'm looking for the mechanics point of view, what you would tell your buddy to get etc.
Bilsteins for my Mustang are about $700 with me putting them in.
Monroe Sensamatics close to $120 after rebate.
KYB someplace in the middle.
Strange someplace in the middle, like $350, many seem to like them though.
I'm looking for the mechanics point of view, what you would tell your buddy to get etc.
Bilsteins for my Mustang are about $700 with me putting them in.
Monroe Sensamatics close to $120 after rebate.
KYB someplace in the middle.
Strange someplace in the middle, like $350, many seem to like them though.
nate379
Banned
I'd run Bilstein or KYB.
Monroe isn't too bad either though.
Monroe isn't too bad either though.
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Garage_Mahal
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Monroe is bottom of the barrel stuff. Any of the brands mentioned above will be better. Is yours a V8? Get the KYB quad shocks too. They really help to settle down the rear.
Try eshock.com on the bilsteins... i have been resarching exact replacements for my 94 Z71, witch are billsteins from factory... eshock.com is the best i've found by 20 bucks per shock. BTW.... this the first time the truck has needed shocks -- the factory shocks are still on it 
It still don't bounce, but I can tell they have lost pressure. time for another set, and another 15 years and 150k down the road....
It still don't bounce, but I can tell they have lost pressure. time for another set, and another 15 years and 150k down the road....mooman
Well-known member
just put a second set of Bilstein's on my Silverado. Would not run anything elese.
Bought them from eshocks.com. Bilstein was running a but 3 4th one free promo. All 4 shocks for $200. They are usually around $75 ea.
Bought them from eshocks.com. Bilstein was running a but 3 4th one free promo. All 4 shocks for $200. They are usually around $75 ea.
krooser
Well-known member
It's a '91 Mustang... Monroes are fine. They are OEM on most cars from the Big 3.... and many transplants, too. (I delivered MANY loads of Monroes to Honda and Toyota assembley plants)
GT89mustang
Well-known member
Id run blisteins if you can afford them
Tokico next
Monroe after that.
Koni also makes a good shock.
Id stay away from kyb, heard too many bad things about them, but thats just me.
Honestly if your just looking to replace and not upgrade, monroe will be just fine.
Tokico next
Monroe after that.
Koni also makes a good shock.
Id stay away from kyb, heard too many bad things about them, but thats just me.
Honestly if your just looking to replace and not upgrade, monroe will be just fine.
Chris Adams
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All the brands named are better than OEM (Yes, OEM is made by among others, Monroe, but to different specs).
Buying shocks only based on brand is worse than buying a tool box based only on brand.
Or tires.
Monroe makes good aftermarket shocks, better than stock ride, better than stock handling.
Bilstein makes very good shocks, but be aware that they are sold to people who want stiffer ride, better handling. They offer lower end shocks but those are no better than the price equivalent in other brands.
KYB makes some good shocks too.
The thing to do is consider your driving style, and ride desires, then do some online research.
If you push the sucker in the corners, don't mind a hard ride, get the Bilsteins.
If you want a better all around ride and better handling, go with the Monroe's or the KYB's.
Get the best price you can, quality and warranty is by the brand more than the dealer.
Buying shocks only based on brand is worse than buying a tool box based only on brand.
Or tires.
Monroe makes good aftermarket shocks, better than stock ride, better than stock handling.
Bilstein makes very good shocks, but be aware that they are sold to people who want stiffer ride, better handling. They offer lower end shocks but those are no better than the price equivalent in other brands.
KYB makes some good shocks too.
The thing to do is consider your driving style, and ride desires, then do some online research.
If you push the sucker in the corners, don't mind a hard ride, get the Bilsteins.
If you want a better all around ride and better handling, go with the Monroe's or the KYB's.
Get the best price you can, quality and warranty is by the brand more than the dealer.
If you have a factory Bilstein shock it unfortunately does not have any warranty except the new car warranty, but for $65 Bilstein will rebuild it like new. Same for a Bilstein you buy used. $25 for them to test a shock with a dyno printout, all services are plus about $15 I think in shipping.
I live in SoCal and Bilstein is down next to San Diego, so I am thinking of taking some of my used shocks down to a rebuild.
Mustang I have pretty much decided on Monroe Sensatraks. Thanks for all the good feedback.
I live in SoCal and Bilstein is down next to San Diego, so I am thinking of taking some of my used shocks down to a rebuild.
Mustang I have pretty much decided on Monroe Sensatraks. Thanks for all the good feedback.
Garage_Mahal
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91 Mustangs rock! especially if you have a mullet!
Seriously. I've never found an OE shock that was worth a darn when the turns get hairy. Most of 'em **** at ride quality too.
krooser
Well-known member
91 Mustangs rock! especially if you have a mullet!
Seriously. I've never found an OE shock that was worth a darn when the turns get hairy. Most of 'em **** at ride quality too.
It's a '91 Mustang NOT an F1 car... I've never had a problem with Monroes and I've installed many sets over the years.
Garage_Mahal
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Must not have as sensitive an **** as me.
Merkava_4
Banned
I've got the factory original Monroe-Matic struts in the front with air shocks in the back. They seem to be doing their job quite nicely ... no complaints here. 
-B-
Well-known member
Did some quick looking around and boy oh boy 91 mustang Gt has an expensive suspension system my 86.5 Supra with four struts was cheap in comparison. ( I changed the struts 3 times in 11 years)
Shocker
Well-known member
Personally, I would seriously consider looking at the Tokico HP series. They can be had as a set for about $200. Money well spent IMHO.
The Sensamatic? Do you mean SensaTrac? They are an OEM type replacement. Which is perfectly fine if you drive it like a 90 year old man in his Crown Vic. Maybe you should sell the Mustang and get something slower.
The Sensamatic? Do you mean SensaTrac? They are an OEM type replacement. Which is perfectly fine if you drive it like a 90 year old man in his Crown Vic. Maybe you should sell the Mustang and get something slower.
Merkava_4
Banned
I'm always driving 40mph in a 50mph zone. Everybody gets to the red light before I do and the moment I get there, it turns green.
Shocker
Well-known member
You da man! Try not to run into a farmers market.
The Sensamatic? Do you mean SensaTrac? They are an OEM type replacement. Which is perfectly fine if you drive it like a 90 year old man in his Crown Vic. Maybe you should sell the Mustang and get something slower.
Trac is correct, Mustang is my sensible hauler, for mischief I have two Porsche 928's, one US thats nice, and a Euro gravitating toward a track car.
MAD
Well-known member
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Make no mistake I love horsing around in my Mustang, but it can't turn and it can't stop, and no fancy shock is going to change that, so why pay for it? I like counterpoint in my cars, and part of that is keeping a cheap Mustang cheap.
MAD
Well-known member
My experience has always been that traditional shocks generally come with all of the mounting hardware(rubber mounts, nuts, bolts, washers) And if it does not come with a mounting bolt or something it is cheap and easy to find.
Struts have generally only included nuts for the top stud and the threaded housing cap on replaceable cartridge types. No boots, snubbers, bolts, or top mount/bearing.
My guess is the stripped down picture is what you will get.
MAD
Well-known member
Another cheap option is Gabriel Struts/shocks frome Autozone. The staff there may not know much, but their warranty policy is very good. I took back some worn out strut cartridges recently and they replaced them with a smile. In fact they had every warranted item I ever bought registered in their computer going back over ten years. Replace that Greatneck ratcheting screwdriver I bought in '98 ? -no problem.
I had some 3 1/2 year old Monroe shocks with a "Lifetime warranty" from Advance Auto that were blown and they would not replace them. I had the receipt, and tried two stores with no luck.
My local independent imported auto parts store was the best. They gave me credit for a blown KYB even though I told them I bought it somewhere else and did not have a receipt. The new KYB was not as stiff as the other old strut I had that was still good though. It seems like they must have changed the GR2s.
I had some 3 1/2 year old Monroe shocks with a "Lifetime warranty" from Advance Auto that were blown and they would not replace them. I had the receipt, and tried two stores with no luck.
My local independent imported auto parts store was the best. They gave me credit for a blown KYB even though I told them I bought it somewhere else and did not have a receipt. The new KYB was not as stiff as the other old strut I had that was still good though. It seems like they must have changed the GR2s.
Garage_Mahal
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Yer wrong there. Fancy adjustable shocks improved both my turning and my stopping in the Mustnag.
They improved braking by slowing the rate of front-end dive so a quick dab of brake before turn-in would not upset the front suspension so much.
They improved handling by giving some additional instantaneous stiffness to the rear roll rate to balance out the inherent nose heaviness, leading to a more neutral handling car. They also improve the ability of my rear suspension to comply with bumps so the scary sidestepping behavior was nicely tamed.
Fancy shocks even improved my ability to accelerate out of a corner by controlling wheel hop. Tokico Illumminas, BTW. Not terribly pricey, but a darn sight better than stock.
My other car is a Euro spec Porsche 928, with a poly suspension, Bilsteins and track tires. I'm not even going to notice "improved" on the Mustang.
Garage_Mahal
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Snob!
Shocker
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Hehe, ya. You need to get in a 911 or a prepped 914-6. You can see the Hand of God.
I love it, two posts: one I am a snob, the other a noob.
I really like my Mustang exactly like it is. Powerful, cheap, reliable, generally a great car to horse around town in.
My two Porsche's are completely different, powerful, one a bit more, one a bit less, semi reliable, refined, EXPENSIVE, rare classic, purpose built high speed cars. In stock condition they are respectable performers on larger tracks, and in street legal "track" form they are competitive with modern high performance cars in similar prep. My "track" 85 Euro 928 as it sits should hit speeds over 150 mph on the Fontana, Calif road course, and that is about my personal limit.
I don't have the skill or the motor to do it, but Mark Andersen makes owners of many 911 and turbo cars, unhappy they are classed together. This is Mark's 928 and a GT3RSR having some fun.
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I really like my Mustang exactly like it is. Powerful, cheap, reliable, generally a great car to horse around town in.
My two Porsche's are completely different, powerful, one a bit more, one a bit less, semi reliable, refined, EXPENSIVE, rare classic, purpose built high speed cars. In stock condition they are respectable performers on larger tracks, and in street legal "track" form they are competitive with modern high performance cars in similar prep. My "track" 85 Euro 928 as it sits should hit speeds over 150 mph on the Fontana, Calif road course, and that is about my personal limit.
I don't have the skill or the motor to do it, but Mark Andersen makes owners of many 911 and turbo cars, unhappy they are classed together. This is Mark's 928 and a GT3RSR having some fun.
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caper
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I don't think whatever kind of shocks you choose is going to make much difference.I used to work at a Ford dealer and always compared the Mustang ride quality to that of a dump truck.