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Strut Recommendations for 2002 GTP

Burbman

Burbman

New member
Just bought this car and it rides smooth, but bounces like crazy over dips, etc., in the pavement. Feels like the springs are too soft on the way down, and the shocks are not providing any dampening on the way up, net result = very little body control on wavy roads.

Car has 98k miles, I figured complete struts are the way to go, both springs and shocks. I'm OK disassembling the struts if I need to buy parts separately. The problem is I haven't found anything good...I would like to tighten up the ride without lowering the car...Neither Bilstein nor Tokico make a fitment. I wouldn't buy Monroe if you paid me (well, maybe if you paid me...), anybody have any luck with KYBs?

Car is a daily driver so I don't want racing-firm, just a nice tight ride. I did some reading on the forum but what I have read is for 04+, any and all suggestions appreciated.
 


I dd my gtp. I have kyb gr2 and vogtland springs. Decent drop and not bad ride.

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I run the KYB Excel-G struts on stock (for now) springs and it rides just fine. Way better than the worn out strut thing that I was rocking for wayyyy too long.
 
Did you get the whole KYB spring/strut unit or just the struts?

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I just got the struts. Bought the new mount separately and reused the springs. Of course I haven't changed out the rears yet to get rid of the sag.

I did however install the quikstrut combo on the front of my 95 Bonne SE and they seem to ride just fine. Doesn't ride too firm but still handles large bumps/holes rather well for a larger, heavy car.
 


Rock Auto only carries the KYB struts, but I found the KYB complete assemblies at KYB Outlet. Looked at doing just the struts but it feels like the springs are really soft too. Actually had a spring break on the rear of the 01 GT sedan, daughter hit a pothole and heard a loud *bang* scared the pi$$ outta her! Plus by the time you buy the mounts, bushings, bearings etc, the strut costs as much as the assembly. Not really a fan of lowering the car, it's already pretty low.
 
Anything different on GT vs GTP? KyB saying the parts SR2002,3,4 fit the GT but not the GTP. Should be the same right?

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Don't see why the GTP would be any different, at least in the 97-03 years. Have you checked around on PartsGeek and Amazon for these? I've found quite a few things on Amazon to be cheaper than Rock Auto. I just checked my receipts and I got the front quickstruts from Ebay the cheapest.
 
What's wrong with Monroe? I installed Monroe quick struts last fall with no complaints. Far better than the worn out stock struts/springs.
 


Not a fan they always seem too soft. Nothing wrong with the quality they are good units, just not as firm as i like

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Ordered the KYB "Strut plus" units, which are the Excel-G struts built up with new springs as a complete package. Part #'s SR-2002 (F) SR-2003 (LR) and SR-2004 (RR). I ordered these off of Amazon and for some reason when I did the "see if it fits", it went to "no" when I changed the body type from GT to GTP. Meanwhile Rock Auto and a few other sites don't list a separate fitment for Gt vs GTP so I went ahead and ordered them.

Went with the complete assemblies instead of just the struts since this will be a driveway job, we are still looking for a house so no garage yet.

Pricewise, I had a set of OEM AC Delco's in my cart at Rock Auto, and with shipping was going to be $496. Nice thing about Rock is no sales tax in most states. I really wanted to try the KYBs though, and Rock only carries the struts alone, not the complete assemblies. I found the KYBs on Amazon, and my Prime membership got me free shipping....but I had to pay sales tax, so the bill was $497 LOL.

Caution: I found a site called "KYB Outlet" that kept popping up in all the Google searches and on Amazon, and they had by far the best prices, but the reviews were terrible. Page after page of "they charged my card and never shipped" or stuff was shipped, wrong, broken, etc and calls and emails never returned. Gotta watch who you give your money to.

I saw the strut packages on eBay for $269, but they were "Unity" brand....Rock Auto has that same brand in the economy section, and if you price a set of 4 they are cheaper on Rock than eBay.

So I called and scheduled access to the storage Pod on Sat morning, I need to grab my 1/2" metric set with ratchet and breaker bar, my impact gun and a few other goodies...if I remember, 15, 18, and 21MM is all I need on these.
 
I did KYBs around 100k miles and my car has 144k now. I replaced the struts including mounts as well. I reused my old springs. The car rides great. No regrets. Just one complaint... The dust boots that KYB sells are crap. All four of mine have ripped apart. My alignment shop says not too worry about the boots though.
 
The boots are only there to keep dirt from getting around the seal and scratching the piston which could cause leaks later on. Better tobl have than not though. Cant wait to install these on sat

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