Has anybody used Monroe Quick-Struts

[j-dub]

Guys my 2006 4Runner SR5 2wd has leaky front struts after 150k and it is time to replace them. The vehicle is a daily driver that is mostly driven by my girlfriend. It is not off-road driven and is not going to be lifted.

A simple gas strut replacement will suffice and I am attracted to the idea of the Quick-Strut for the ease if instillation. There are very few reviews out there and they are mostly on the 3rd gens. On another Toyota board I found a 4th gen review that was very positive.


Thanks in advance,
Jeremy

 

[shootersanks]

I can't comment on how they work for 4Runners, but I installed 4 of them on my wife's cavalier and they have been great replacements for almost 20,000 miles now. Very easy to install, especially since I hadn't done anything like that before.

 

[j-dub]

Update:
I installed the quick struts up front and the equivalent rear shocks today and I have to say I am fairly impressed. The ride is great and the installation was fairly straight forward.

One thing worth noting is that the front end is sitting higher than before, I would say it is now level. I don't know if my OE parts had worn and sagged that much or if these quick-struts have that engineered in. I like it.

Tips I learned:

On the front use a scissor jack to push the upper control arm down when removing or installing the lower mount. Turning the steering toward the opposite side than you are working on will give you extra room to get the strut in and out.

On the rear there is no good way to hold the shock from turning while attempting to loosen the top nut. I ended up using a pipe wrench, that worked great.

I did this all with simple hand tools, did the front brakes while I was there. It took about 3-4 hours including running to a few parts stores trying to find a strap wrench that turned out not to work.

I will update this thread with my impression of the ride after I get more miles on it.

Jeremy

 

[RossenP]

Which shocks did you put in the rear?

 

[Ask10]

Sorry, little late now, but I've not been impressed with Monroes for longevity. It's cheaply made and will get you through it's warranty period but not really long afterwards in my experience. Several Pep Boys guys have told me to buy something else when I asked them about it.

Mine has bilsteins and they are nearing 7 years old with 100k on them and I doubt a Monroe strut would have lasted half as long.

 

[j-dub]

Which shocks did you put in the rear?

I used MONROE Part # 37270 OESpectrum Light Truck, which I believe is the same product just painted black as MONROE Part # 911270 Reflex Light Truck.

 

[j-dub]

Sorry, little late now, but I've not been impressed with Monroes for longevity. It's cheaply made and will get you through it's warranty period but not really long afterwards in my experience. Several Pep Boys guys have told me to buy something else when I asked them about it.

Mine has bilsteins and they are nearing 7 years old with 100k on them and I doubt a Monroe strut would have lasted half as long.

I understand and I have the same concerns. Most of the reviews i had found were from the 3rd Gen crowd and they were positive, however they did not give an indication of how long they will last.

This vehicle will likely go another 100k well sooner than 7 years so we will see how they do.

 

[MikeInNH]

Sorry, little late now, but I've not been impressed with Monroes for longevity. It's cheaply made and will get you through it's warranty period but not really long afterwards in my experience. Several Pep Boys guys have told me to buy something else when I asked them about it.

I'm not a fan of Monroe shocks - especially for trucks. I've had a couple horrible experiences with them in the past.

But I wouldn't base my bias against Monroe by something a Parts store clerk told me. They have a vested interest to promote only the products they sell for your vehicle..or what they have in stock. And besides the fact MOST no NOTHING about cars. Pep-boys, Advance Auto, ADAP...I HATE those national chains. Their parts are usually well below par and they usually have young/new untrained personal. We have a couple local chains that are very very good. Knowledgeable staff. Most are in the 30's thru 50's. Been doing this for YEARS. And even with them I wouldn't trust their recommendation on a brand of product.

 

[j-dub]

Had an IM asking me how things were going with the Monroes and I have to say I am still quite happy with them. I have about 12k miles on them and the front has not sagged and the ride comfort/handling is still good. I don't notice any change from when I first installed them. For the money and for a daily driver I would do it again. If you are and off roader, have heavy springs and a lift obviously should be looking elsewhere.

I will note that after installing them the front ride height change was enough to justify an alignment. The steering wheel was straight and the vehicle did not pull but did cause a bit of inside tire wear.

 

[MikeInNH]

Had an IM asking me how things were going with the Monroes and I have to say I am still quite happy with them. I have about 12k miles on them and the front has not sagged and the ride comfort/handling is still good.

The problem with Monroe's/Rancho's is longevity. Great for the first 50k-70k miles...then they start stiffening up and the ride gets very very harsh.

 

[DisguisedRope]

The problem with Monroe's/Rancho's is longevity. Great for the first 50k-70k miles...then they start stiffening up and the ride gets very very harsh.

If monroes are good for 50k-70k, how long can I expect out the, I assume better, stock suspension. I just hit 71K with it and it seems fine, but I'm curious what I can expect out of it. I'm thinking about putting on the toytec 3/2 spacer lift and then a full suspension lift when the stock suspension needs to be replaced. However if i can only expect say 80k out of the stock springs/shocks I'll skip the spacers and wait for the full suspension.

 

[m85476585]

If monroes are good for 50k-70k, how long can I expect out the, I assume better, stock suspension. I just hit 71K with it and it seems fine, but I'm curious what I can expect out of it. I'm thinking about putting on the toytec 3/2 spacer lift and then a full suspension lift when the stock suspension needs to be replaced. However if i can only expect say 80k out of the stock springs/shocks I'll skip the spacers and wait for the full suspension.

My front shocks were on the way out when I bought the truck at 78,000 miles. There was not enough damping, and the front end would bounce more than normal. The previous owners lived on a dirt road, and it's a V8, which is heavier up front, so the shocks might have seen more than their share of abuse.

Check if they are leaking oil, and if it's a lot they may need to be replaced. A little oil leakage is apparently normal.

 

[TORCH]

I went the easy route once on replacing the struts on my old lady's SUV once with quick struts and ended up sending them back to rock auto and ordering stock replacements. The ride was horrible. I don't remember if it was monroe or gabriel quick struts but never again based on that one time. I'm Glad yours are not giving you any trouble though and I'm sure they will be fine.

EDIT: confirmed they were gabriel quick-struts and not monroe.

 

[Junior73]

2007 Toyota 4runner sr5 v6 4x4, 171k on the oe shocks and struts, and they are not doing too bad... but have some front end sag, so I went with the quick strut monroes, and monroes in the back.(Install this weekend) I have noticed that most new shocks will ride a little wrough till you add a little weight to the truck...

If the shocks/struts last 50k, I will have to replace them again in 4-5 years... by then I might be going in a different direction... for the $300 I paid including shipping I think I got a good deal...

 

[Junior73]

Quick struts were great, Springs were alot larger than stock, the old ones were really saggy... you def have to un bolt the lower control arm(ball joint), and remove the sway bar up front. Took me about 4 hours to do both back and front, with a few breaks for food and other amenities. I don't own an air impact so... Im guessing you could shave it down to two hours with a lift, and the proper tools....

Took it for a test drive, and man did it need shocks, and springs, drives like a new car...

 

[brianhuntRVA]

Quick struts were great, Springs were alot larger than stock, the old ones were really saggy... you def have to un bolt the lower control arm(ball joint), and remove the sway bar up front. Took me about 4 hours to do both back and front, with a few breaks for food and other amenities. I don't own an air impact so... Im guessing you could shave it down to two hours with a lift, and the proper tools....

Took it for a test drive, and man did it need shocks, and springs, drives like a new car...

Did you also notice a little bit of height increase like jdub did?

 

[j-dub]

Quick update:
At 216k miles now, installed the quick struts at 150k. They still ride great and the springs have not sagged. Still quite happy with them, would recommend them for daily driving type duty.

 

[j-dub]

Update,
Likely the last update on this as I am leaning towards getting a 5th Gen 4Runner soon.

The 4Runner is at 250K now, that means I have put 100k on these struts. Still no sag, no leaking, they ride great. Would recommend them to the daily driver type of buyer.