Monroe Shocks

[brillo_76]

Well in 2017 I put manroe quick struts on a 1998 sr5 with 220k miles on it. At 290k those quick struts are junk my front end bounties all over the place and the I had 2 sets of rear shocks in same time frame. This is a DD and I never buy manroe anything again. As this is only driven on the road.

This is probably why folks go with the better suspension for their rigs.
As they want longevity as well.

I should have gone with the better suspension options out there.

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[Twisted Sid]

I am amazed at how some young kids make a decision because of a single post, or two maybe.

Kids basically means people under 30. Don't get defensive, most of you don't reach adulthood until about 35-45. Yeah, it's tough to hear. The older you get the more you realize it's true. If you take care of your body, you will be a real adult from about 40 to 100 years old.

Anyway, I digress.

If you drive on the street and a little bit on dirt roads, then don't worry at all. Basically any new strut will work, but just get the cheapest name brand that is known to be reliable. Don't buy cheap imitation crap.

If you push your vehicle more, or for some reason are carrying heavy weight or towing, then reconsider a better option. 75% of people buying more expensive shocks don't need them. But consider your off-roading and total weight, towing capacity, and purchase accordingly.

Most people just need the Monroe Quick strut front rear, don't spend too much. Good to go for likely a very, very long time.

Sorry, Monroes are crap and will not last long even on a street driven vehicle. They may have been good enough back in the day but, current ones are just not any good especially when compared to Tokicos or KYBs for the price.

 

[head_always_up]

I should have gone with the better suspension options out there.

Sorry, Monroes are crap and will not last long even on a street driven vehicle. They may have been good enough back in the day but, current ones are just not any good especially when compared to Tokicos or KYBs for the price.

I think mileage will vary. Evidence here is anecdotal, as some people will complain of short life and go out of their way to post it on forums like this one. Others go a really long time with cheaper shocks and you don't hear from them here so you don't know how successful they were. Nobody is doing massive studies on this and has a lot of data to tell the true story.

I put Bilsteins on my Ram 2500 4x4 with the 5.9 Cummins because that is the truck we take on road trips, camping with the truck camper, and bump around on public lands a lot.

In the past I had great success with Monroe products on an older truck, and that memory is what caused me to revisit them.

So I put Monroes on my 4Runner because it's more of our family town car and it doesn't see nearly as much dirt, rough roads, or winding highways. Most of the time. We'll see how they do over time, as they only have about 12k on them now. Honestly, if I have to replace the front or rear (or both) in 50-75k I won't be that stressed. But they may get 150k or more, we'll see.

Also, I did say "get the cheapest name brand that is known to be reliable," so if Monroe's are no longer know to be as consistent, well okay.

One thing I was pointing out is it's just funny how people make such quick decisions because of 1-2 posts on a forum. And how people overthink it. Maybe Monroes are not so good these days, but overall my point is more that there must be another "cheaper" option that will work fine for most people without upgrading to the expensive ones and overthinking/overdoing it. I watched my buddy's son spend about $800 on his Tacoma and the guy basically drives around town, and that is money he may need for things like his brake system, tires, or other wear items and maintenance.

 

[brillo_76]

In suspension, you get what you pay for. I have been running Toyotas since the early 90s. Nothing lasts like the oem or oem mfg suspension. It's been there done that on this subject. I don't blame anyone for buying good quality suspension components.

The reason for the suspension of parts and exhausts being so expensive as they will if a dealer changes them. They will lifetime warranty it.

They pay for this by the costs of the parts.

Everyone is entitled to their opinions and run whatever suspension they wish.

I just agree with the other member. Do waste your money on manroe shocks or quickstruts. They will not last long....






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[phattyduck]

Also, I did say "get the cheapest name brand that is known to be reliable," so if Monroe's are no longer know to be as consistent, well okay.

KYB's (gas-a-justs) are $6 more each for the rears and $25 more each for the fronts on RockAuto right now... Not sure why you would ever get the Monroes.

-Charlie

 

[head_always_up]

25 years ago people weren't spending so much time on the Internet writing about this shit. Back then I bought some Monroe's and had no issues. I never really thought about it again and never complained.

I don't like to spend too much time dinking around shopping and doing online research because sometimes the Internet eats our time and our lives. So without much thought Bilsteins for my 5.9 Cummins last Spring and Monroe's for my 4Runner earlier this Spring.

Obviously, like me and many others Brillo76 wasn't doing his online forum research or getting blessed by all y'alls knowledge back in 2017, because he bought Monroe's and now regrets it, and now has seen the light - but maybe he drives pretty hard on his '98. Just maybe that will be me in 6-7 years, but who knows. Point is, people buy shit. They don't know, or they don't care, or they don't like starting at computers too long to make the decision better. And life goes on.

But now I also want to replace shocks on my Tacoma and finally starting poking around here to see what people say. I still think that for some types of drivers the Monroes will be fine. But I trust what people are saying around here if they think it's worth spending a little more to get a lot better shock. That's what I did for my Cummins.

If the KYBs are only a little more money, are you saying you got a lot better shock for the little bit of extra cost? For $325 I could put a set of Bilstein 4600s on the Tacoma, which is only $125 more than the total for outfitting the 4Runner with Monroes. Seems absolutely worth it if yall really think the modern day Monroes are not worth the time. But let me guess, now someone is going to come around and say Bilstein's are crap.

Not sure why you would ever get the Monroes.
-Charlie

Because some of us don't live and breath shocks and want to make a decision without spending a lot of time comparing products, prices, and playing around on the Internet. And some of us still buy stuff without the Internet forums telling us what is bad and good.

My wife is going to be driving our 4Runner to town and back, with some minor activity on dirt roads. She drives very tame.... very tame. I won't regret the Monroes on the 4Runner, even if I replace them in 5 years again.. but I am going to put something else on the Tacoma.

 

[brillo_76]

Agree to disagree and move on. It comes to mind.

For the record, I went off the recommendation of my buddy who owes a mom and pop garage, and they will work for some.

I should have gone with my instincts.

Why are we having paragraphs? You can love manroe shocks for all the forum cares.

You don't have to justify anything to us. Just like I would recommend folks get better suspension than manroe

Please don't assume things like I didn't check or research something.
This is very presumptuous. Especially when you don't have all the information.









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[phattyduck]

25 years ago people weren't spending so much time on the Internet writing about this shit. Back then I bought some Monroe's and had no issues. I never really thought about it again and never complained.

If the KYBs are only a little more money, are you saying you got a lot better shock for the little bit of extra cost? For $325 I could put a set of Bilstein 4600s on the Tacoma, which is only $125 more than the total for outfitting the 4Runner with Monroes. Seems absolutely worth it if yall really think the modern day Monroes are not worth the time. But let me guess, now someone is going to come around and say Bilstein's are crap.

There's the point - 25 YEARS AGO. Monroe has changed a lot since then. Same with Gates, Moog, and a number of other products for the automotive world. Price pressures, manufacturing location changes, etc. have changed the product quality landscape.

We all bought Toyotas at least in part because of the reliability and quality - why sacrifice that now?

And 15-ish years ago I put Bilsteins on my (then my dad's) 4Runner when the OEM shocks were getting tired around 200k miles. They worked great and I have since put on 5100's and a mild lift on it now that its mine. 4600's (daily driver) and 5100's (mild offroading) are recommended on here all the time. But if someone is on a budget, then next step 'down' in price is KYB or Tokico. Below that the price/performance ratio just doesn't make sense - they cost MORE per mile and perform worse at the same time.

-Charlie

 

[DK327]

Back in 2016 when I 1st got my truck, I had replaced the struts with Monroe and used Moog for rear coils from Amazon. 40K miles later, it still looks and handles the same, no leaks, sag etc... I'd buy the same combo again without hesitation.

 

[brillo_76]

Back in 2016 when I 1st got my truck, I had replaced the struts with Monroe and used Moog for rear coils from Amazon. 40K miles later, it still looks and handles the same, no leaks, sag etc... I'd buy the same combo again without hesitation.

I am glad they worked for you. Let's see if they make 80 to 100k and be the same as they are for you now..

Maybe they will be good. I just know from my experiences, Oem last 15 to 20 years.

There are lots of threads on here with suspension components and the results...

My rear manroe shocks didn't make 50k. I actually have a different set on it now. Because of it.

I should have gone oem mfg. As I am sure they last longer than the Manroes.

Minor mistakes. I will just learn from it.



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[3bears]

my first 4 runner.... put on oem talls wiht kyb....switched to ss kit 1.2 and pck ( totaled)

2nd 4runner.....still had the old springs and kybs from #1....suspension was shot so swapped them in...b4 selling...#2 was a POS

3rd and current runner....out of factory with talls, rear shocks were shot so replaced with talls and kybs...have the parts to do front just havent had space or time. But what ever is on the front are white...and stiff as hell and was prob a kit as front does sit a bit lower than back, so prob not set up with talls now...
prob is I cant find a shop around here to install parts I bought already...and I just dont have the time or space.....and last year most of my tools were stolen


I like the kyb ride, I dont do much serious off road anymore otherwise I really liked the sonoran steel kit

oh, and in all i have put in airbags, makes a big difference with hauling a trailer of heavy loads

 

[head_always_up]

Please don't assume things like I didn't check or research something.

Fair enough. Only meant to imply that perhaps you had not come across a bunch of negative Monroe info on this thread at the time, or that might have overridden the recommendation you received. Never meany to indicate you hadn't done research.

 

[brillo_76]

Fair enough. Only meant to imply that perhaps you had not come across a bunch of negative Monroe info on this thread at the time, or that might have overridden the recommendation you received. Never meany to indicate you hadn't done research.

It's all good. I am more mad at myself for I knew better...

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[head_always_up]

There's the point - 25 YEARS AGO. Monroe has changed a lot since then. Same with Gates, Moog, and a number of other products for the automotive world. Price pressures, manufacturing location changes, etc. have changed the product quality landscape.

Oh no, now I'm hearing this? If I read this thread too much I won't trust anything anymore. I've been using Gates parts forever (where applicable) and Denso where applicable, in many cases. Some other brands here and there of course. Napa, Raybestos, etc. I'm better off not worrying about it, because over time every part will be criticized if you keep reading the Internet, including the Bilsteins I put on my heavy duty truck.

I hope you're not right phattyduck because in the last couple years I've definitely put some Gates parts into my Cummins.

 

[brillo_76]

Oh no, now I'm hearing this? If I read this thread too much I won't trust anything anymore. I've been using Gates parts forever (where applicable) and Denso where applicable, in many cases. Some other brands here and there of course. Napa, Raybestos, etc. I'm better off not worrying about it, because over time every part will be criticized if you keep reading the Internet, including the Bilsteins I put on my heavy duty truck.



I hope you're not right phattyduck because in the last couple years I've definitely put some Gates parts into my Cummins.

Sadly, there is some truth to these aftermarket parts. 25 years ago, I learned that Toyota loves its OEM parts.
I had a 1983 5 speed 4x4, and it's slave cylinder on the bell housing started leaking. No problem, goto the auto parts change the slave cylinder all good right... nope. A few days or a week, it's leaking, and it's probably a fluke... replaced it in for another 25.00 ... a few weeks later, leaking again.. what the heck... went and got an oem slave from Toyota and never leaked again.

On the same truck. The engine had a low-end knock. So I found a good 22r for replacement. Used all after-market parts to reseal the engine. The new timing chain gears the works.. what happens? Well, the engine was lazier than normal and in a few months. I was overheating, and my antifreeze was in my crankcase.

It just so happened that the aftermarket oil pressure tensioner failed to let the timing chain grind the case through and let the antifreeze pour into the crankcase.

After that, I never used aftermarket parts except oem mfg parts on the drivetrain.

Hard lesson to learn. It's one of the reasons they are so dependable is the quality of the parts. It's just how it is on Toyota and Hondas.

Parts are not cheap, but mostly, you only have to change them once ...

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[DK327]

I am glad they worked for you. Let's see if they make 80 to 100k and be the same as they are for you now..

Maybe they will be good. I just know from my experiences, Oem last 15 to 20 years.

There are lots of threads on here with suspension components and the results...

My rear manroe shocks didn't make 50k. I actually have a different set on it now. Because of it.

I should have gone oem mfg. As I am sure they last longer than the Manroes.

Minor mistakes. I will just learn from it.



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Well, you're definitely right about aftermarket not lasting as long as the OEM, and I would never expect it to. The rest of the suspension parts I had replaced back then were pretty much all OEM aside from the energy suspension bushings.

Honestly, since I've only put 40K miles on this truck in 7 years, if I had to replace the struts and rear coils again right now, I wouldn't complain, heck, when I bought this truck initially, I thought I would only drive it for a few years and get something else eventually but it's solid, I know how to maintain it and we have a great community here on the forums so I've decided to just keep it.

Even if I do get something else later, I'll just sell the Galant I keep in the garage as a spare. The girlfriend is talking about wanting a newer vehicle; currently drives a 2011 Rav4 that just hit 100K on the odometer and that one's also been extremely reliable. If we do end up getting another vehicle for her, I'll just take the Rav4 and garage this 4Runner. No way I'm getting rid of this baby!

 

[gretagreenbean]

I have Monroe’s on now since I had to prioritize other repairs over better suspension. There’s significant body roll while braking and in corners. My wife won’t drive it on the freeway. It is a very smooth ride however… I WILL be throwing in some ICON VS when the time comes.

 

[head_always_up]

Parts are not cheap, but mostly, you only have to change them once ...

With a lot of my recent parts going in at the 180k to 210k range, the originals lasted awhile. So many original parts still kickin. Surely at 300k I'll have some comments about some of the choices I made, but virtually all of the important stuff was OEM. But on the 4Runner, I did go with the Monroes!

 

[brillo_76]

With a lot of my recent parts going in at the 180k to 210k range, the originals lasted awhile. So many original parts still kickin. Surely at 300k I'll have some comments about some of the choices I made, but virtually all of the important stuff was OEM. But on the 4Runner, I did go with the Monroes!

My one is at 292k. The manroe suspension went on at 215k. It's bounces all over the place. Maybe you have better luck then I did. If I do it again. I go oem mfg struts and oem mfg rear shocks.

Granted, my brothers old man emus handle half decent. I just don't want to lift things..

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[shadow247]

My one is at 292k. The manroe suspension went on at 215k. It's bounces all over the place. Maybe you have better luck then I did. If I do it again. I go oem mfg struts and oem mfg rear shocks.

Granted, my brothers old man emus handle half decent. I just don't want to lift things..

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I have OME 880/906 on my 4Runner. It's not any taller than my friends 2001 2wd.. I even have taller tires than him.

I'm 6'3" for reference. The tires are 265/70/17 Cooper STT Pro. My hood sits lower than every other stock 3rd gen I pull up next to.