What are good options for replacement struts?

[Fahrenheit]

So my passenger rear strut mount is bad (clunking in the back and I'm 90% sure its the mount anyways). Figure when I go in and do it i'll do struts and mounts on both sides along with new spring isolators. So this sub forum has a sticky where the guy recommends KYB Excel-G struts, amazon has rear fairly cheap. Plan to use them with the OEM springs unless I find any broken when I take apart the struts. Just looking for something as good as OEM and if it makes the car a little more sporty feeling in the corners then that;s just a little bonus. ACdelco mounts seem to be the way to go since they are affordable along with KYB spring isolators. Do plan to do the front in the spring along with new lower control arms since I got a little bit of a pop from the front end under hard accelerating/braking so what ever I put on the back will make it to the front shortly.

 

[Slick2500]

The Excel-Gs will work fine, you do not want to reuse your stock springs, if your shocks are shot they are likely shot as well. If you look on Rockauto you can find complete strut assemblies for a decent price.

 

[Fahrenheit]

The Excel-Gs will work fine, you do not want to reuse your stock springs, if your shocks are shot they are likely shot as well. If you look on Rockauto you can find complete strut assemblies for a decent price.

I don't see a KYB complete strut with the Excel-Gs just something they call a "Strut-Plus". Is it worth while to buy springs when the complete KYB is only like 110 bucks a side? What would be good springs to use? Want to keep the ride mostly OE feeling but a it firmer is okay just not any lower

 

[Slick2500]

IIRC the strut plus uses the Excel-G, but I could be wrong.

Yes they are
Features: The KYB Strut-Plus per specific application includes:

• The World's Best OE performance-restoring KYB Excel-G Strut
• A new and improved coil spring; custom tuned for corner-specific ride height and vehicle design
• OE quality bearing plates & insulators optimize steering smoothness, quiet operation, and help maintain proper front end alignment
• A new polyurethane boot and travel-limiting bumper protect KYB's highly polished chrome strut shaft from road dirt and debris

 

[Fahrenheit]

IIRC the strut plus uses the Excel-G, but I could be wrong.

Yes they are
Features: The KYB Strut-Plus per specific application includes:

• The World's Best OE performance-restoring KYB Excel-G Strut
• A new and improved coil spring; custom tuned for corner-specific ride height and vehicle design
• OE quality bearing plates & insulators optimize steering smoothness, quiet operation, and help maintain proper front end alignment
• A new polyurethane boot and travel-limiting bumper protect KYB's highly polished chrome strut shaft from road dirt and debris

Awesome, i'll just grab the complete strut then. Now I don't gotta get into spring compressors.

 

[stealthee]

The Excel-Gs will work fine, you do not want to reuse your stock springs, if your shocks are shot they are likely shot as well. If you look on Rockauto you can find complete strut assemblies for a decent price.

Springs are durable and reusable. Just because struts are shot doesn't mean springs are bad. I, as well as millions of other people around the world, have replaced struts, reusing stock springs without issue.

Think about it this way, you don't replace the struts until they are bad anyway right?

As for the OP's original question I put Monroe quick struts on my car when I replaced struts earlier this year. They ride fine and with the rebate I got for buying 4 it was a great deal all around for a bolt in option.

There is nothing wrong with KYB either, but I have no experience with them on a W-body. If all you are looking for is a OEM like strut I'd just price shop and find the best deal, without sacrificing quality/life of the strut.

 

[NotEnoughGPs]

On all the cars I have ever owned, I never replaced the springs when I replaced the struts. As long as any spring is not broken, you just reuse them when replacing the strut or mounts. Just be careful and follow all the advice when dismantling the stock strut/spring assembly. You need to use spring compressors on the springs in order to remove the top nut on the assembly. The best advice is to simply have a local shop handle the removal of the springs.