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Need help with struts choice.

J

jermdm1975

New member
Hey guys. I have an 06 Grand Prix GXP. I am in need of new front and rear struts. If I go with the factory Bilstein struts, I'm looking at about a 1000 bucks for all of them. Not really wanting to spend that much on factory struts with the car that has 150,000 miles on it. Is there an equivalent to the factory bilsteins (Monroe, KYB, Acdelco, etc)or am I stuck with that only choice? I see all different brands but most are for 16 and 17 inch wheels without FE4 suspension which the car has 18's. Just wondering what you guys are using that wont break the bank. Don't need springs or anything else, just the struts. Part numbers will help but isn't necessary. Thanks.
 


I have a 2008 GXP, and am not really looking forward to putting new struts on my car, I shouldn't have to worry about it for a while because it only has 90k miles on it. I think if you go with anything other than the Bilstein, the ride will suffer. I'm not sure how much. I would also consider doing the BC racing coilovers that zzp sell for the GXP because the whole setup will run something like 1000 dollars.
 
I have Monroe quick struts on the impala and I like them. I've never used the bilsteins so I can't compare to those but they are as good as my wife's 06 base gp.
 
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[TD="class: listing-border-top-line listing-inner-content"]ACDELCO 503699 Professional; Premium Gas Charged Info
Rear; Models with 17" or 18" Wheels



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MONROE 72471 {Click Info Button for Alternate/OEM Part Numbers} OESpectrum Info
Rear; w/ 18" Wheels; w/ 17" Wheels



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ACDELCO 503640 {#19241345} Professional; Premium Gas Charged Info
Front



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Thanks for the replies everyone. Been a great help. After doing some more searching, I have found a couple of brands that I haven't heard of. 1 is called Sachs. They're advertising front struts for special suspension which would be FE4 suspension. Can find on rockauto or autozones site. Don't offer rear struts though. Also found another from TRW and they're advertising front struts for special suspension(FE4). Found these doing a google search for the Sachs struts. They don't offer rear struts either that I have found yet. Anybody know anything about these brands? Thanks again.
 
If your car came with Bilsteins from the factory, I can assure you that any other strut will not match the ride or handling...Bilsteins are that good! I was in the same dilemma a few years ago with my 01 GP about replacing the struts/Springs having had OEM AC delcos and after them, the KYB's. Personally the KYB's are crap and way too soft for these cars but I was not going to spend $1,000 for Bilsteins on a GP. Every other domestic car I own has Bilstein shocks or struts but the Bilsteins generally are $300-500 for the car set! I cannot understand the price for the W-body cars?

So what to do? I despise mass market Shocks/Struts but did go with the Monroe Police/Taxi struts from the Impala @138,000 miles on the car and these struts transform these cars from floaters to a firm, solid ride, not harsh....the ride is actually pretty good surprisingly. Better than the OEM struts but not as good as the Bilsteins on my other cars. W body cars are NOT sports cars in any way shape or form but can be made into a sportier sedan. With that said, Monroe, Gabriel etc are generally junk but the Police/Taxi versions do come with a lifetime warranty and sure enough at 50,000 miles on these police/Taxi struts, I did develop a front strut leak, replaced under warranty from rockauto (both struts). The rears have 65,000 miles on them today and I will replace them probably in the next 10,000 miles since they are getting soft...back to the crap mass market struts. 01 GP has 205,000 miles today, original 3.1 engine and 4T65E tranny...no issues! Shooting for 250,000 miles.

The police/Taxi struts are your best option for a very good affordable strut that will dramatically improve the handling and still have a good ride....
 
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