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Struts: Sensa-Trac or Monroe-Matic

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Struts: Sensa-Trac or Monroe-Matic
« on: July 26, 2011, 02:06:34 PM »
I'm getting the BDS 2" lift kit for my '95 Sidekick. My Kick has 141,000 miles on it and it has the original struts. I figured I might as well replace the struts while I'm at it. Since the BDS kit comes with strut extensions, I'm not going to buy the longer-travel shocks. And, since this is my personal rig, I'm on a budget. I visited RockAuto to see my options, and have read many threads here with regards to replacement struts. Hers' the question:

Is it worth the extra $20 for the Sensa-Tracs vs. the Monroe-Matics?

Also, when I order these  through RockAuto.com, do they come as a pair or one each? (In the "shopping cart" it says QTY: 1). Is that 1 pair or one strut?

- Andy
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Offline wildgoody

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Re: Struts: Sensa-Trac or Monroe-Matic
« Reply #1 on: July 26, 2011, 04:10:19 PM »
Keep your OE struts, at 140K miles they are better than the junk that is for sale
Real Trucks Are Built, Not Bought,
And Chrome Don't Get Ya Home.  

An armed man is a citizen. An unarmed man is a subject.

Re: Struts: Sensa-Trac or Monroe-Matic
« Reply #2 on: July 27, 2011, 09:17:57 AM »
Keep your OE struts, at 140K miles they are better than the junk that is for sale

Well I figured the OE struts would be old and on their way out, so might as well replace them. Just wanted to know what to replace them with.

- Andy
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Offline wildgoody

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Re: Struts: Sensa-Trac or Monroe-Matic
« Reply #3 on: July 27, 2011, 11:47:50 AM »
New OE or get a set of Bilsteins like the ZW challenge guys are running,
don't get the autoparts junk, we had trouble with struts in Moab this year
that were only 3 weeks old, and lost a day of wheeling because of it

They were the Monroe ones  :P
Real Trucks Are Built, Not Bought,
And Chrome Don't Get Ya Home.  

An armed man is a citizen. An unarmed man is a subject.

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Offline talonxracer

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Re: Struts: Sensa-Trac or Monroe-Matic
« Reply #4 on: July 27, 2011, 12:35:48 PM »
Go to your local NAPA and order in a set of NAPA sensa-tracs, they are simply rebranded Monroe sensa-tracs for very cheap, I paid 49$ a strut!
Tim "the toolman" Taylor is my HERO !!!

The only GOOD Commie is the commie taking a dirt nap....

Re: Struts: Sensa-Trac or Monroe-Matic
« Reply #5 on: July 27, 2011, 02:19:42 PM »
Go to your local NAPA and order in a set of NAPA sensa-tracs, they are simply rebranded Monroe sensa-tracs for very cheap, I paid 49$ a strut!

That's pretty darn cheap; looks like my NAPA store charges $86.49 each! :'(

- Andy
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Offline talonxracer

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Re: Struts: Sensa-Trac or Monroe-Matic
« Reply #6 on: July 27, 2011, 05:33:17 PM »
That is their retail price, the stores can offer a much better price than what is advertised, drop by and see what they can do for you. Every part I have bought from there has had a serious drop in price compared to advertised prices.
Tim "the toolman" Taylor is my HERO !!!

The only GOOD Commie is the commie taking a dirt nap....

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Offline DonD

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Re: Struts: Sensa-Trac or Monroe-Matic
« Reply #7 on: July 27, 2011, 06:04:33 PM »
Go to your local NAPA and order in a set of NAPA sensa-tracs, they are simply rebranded Monroe sensa-tracs for very cheap, I paid 49$ a strut!

That's pretty darn cheap; looks like my NAPA store charges $86.49 each! :'(

- Andy
My NAPA gives a AAA discount plus they have their own "club card".
Central AZ
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Re: Struts: Sensa-Trac or Monroe-Matic
« Reply #8 on: July 27, 2011, 07:50:21 PM »
I went with the KYB GR2s. They are firm, but not too stiff.  I like them on my 4 door sidekick. They were inexpensive too, like $48 a piece online.

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Offline Jluck

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Re: Struts: Sensa-Trac or Monroe-Matic
« Reply #9 on: July 27, 2011, 09:52:42 PM »
I got Gabriel's from autozone (75 each), took it to the alignment shop and they showed me they were junk. seriously they were no good, no rebound,sticks in any position you put them in. I had hoped they would "loosen UP"...dumb....

next will be bilsteins or sas.
life is 10% what happens to you and 90% what you do about it!

Re: Struts: Sensa-Trac or Monroe-Matic
« Reply #10 on: July 28, 2011, 09:07:23 AM »
I got Gabriel's from autozone (75 each), took it to the alignment shop and they showed me they were junk. seriously they were no good, no rebound,sticks in any position you put them in. I had hoped they would "loosen UP"...dumb....

next will be bilsteins or sas.

That sucks.

I'm just not looking to spend that much money Bilsteins, even though I know they've very good. Plus, if I'm using their strut spacer, I won't need a longer travel strut (I know it won't have as much travel). Hmmm ...

- Andy
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Offline wildgoody

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Re: Struts: Sensa-Trac or Monroe-Matic
« Reply #11 on: July 28, 2011, 09:14:22 AM »
Keep the OEM struts for now, and set aside a slush fund for some Bilsteins
Less cash now and the quality of the vehicle is preserved  ;)

Wild
Real Trucks Are Built, Not Bought,
And Chrome Don't Get Ya Home.  

An armed man is a citizen. An unarmed man is a subject.

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Offline Drone637

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Re: Struts: Sensa-Trac or Monroe-Matic
« Reply #12 on: July 28, 2011, 11:51:44 PM »
I was the only person not running a separate shock in the USA 500.  All thought I didn't make it very far, the Bilstein struts never had any issues keeping up on the sections I did open it up on.  :D
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