Recommendations on struts and shocks

boatdetective · Feb 7, 2020

Hey folks-

130,000 on the Rav and the front end is getting a bit wobbly. Can you chime in on good quality replacement bits? With manufacturers going overseas, I don't know if the names Bilstein or Monroe really stand for anything anymore. There's a name out there "Detroit Axle" that screams "China" to me. I'll probably do the job myself, so whatever I save in labor, I'm willing to spend in good quality parts.

Oh- while I'm in there- are there any other wear and tear bits that should be replaced?

Thanks

DL175 · Feb 7, 2020

Bilsten, KYB and Toyota are the best brand. I would not touch the Detroit Axle with a ten foot pole. You can get KYB Strut Plus which is the entire assembly (strut/ spring/ strut mount/ bumper, strut bellow) without using a spring compressor.

If you are not going with the strut assemly like the KYB Strut Plus you should buy the strut bellow. Monroe 908831 or Febest THSB-ACA30F but not the KYB which is a universal boot.

Ike Carlson · Feb 9, 2020

We used kyb. Love them so far.

SoNic67 · Feb 9, 2020

I have used Monroe on my other cars (Kia, Ford) and hated them, even new. Replaced them with KYB shocks and those were perfect, I even used their Strut Plus models on my Mercury Sable.
IMO Sachs are the same quality as KYB (they are OE on Kia and Hyundai).
Now, I will hazard to say that Bilstein are the OE for Toyota branded shocks. But they are not monotubes, they are twin-tube (B4).

Unfortunately, none of the replacement shocks avaliable for this car are monotubes. It's strange, on my previous cars I had the option to choose between twin-tube and monotube. All the three manufacturers from above make great monotubes.

c00lman · Feb 11, 2020

We are about to change our passenger Strut also as it's leaking oil

We will be trying Gabriel Ultra ReadyMount for both front left and right.

I was thinking of replacing just the strut assembly but the dealership quoted $230 for one

I usually try to buy Toyota stuff if the price is almost near but that's too expensive for a 14 year old car. plus the boots, and the other parts that needs to be replaced.

Hopefully the Gabriel Ultra ReadyMount will be good to us LOL.. reviews are conflicting.

will update after we got it installed LOL

DL175 · Feb 11, 2020

c00lman said:
We are about to change our passenger Strut also as it's leaking oil We will be trying Gabriel Ultra ReadyMount for both front left and right.

I was thinking of replacing just the strut assembly but the dealership quoted $230 for one I usually try to buy Toyota stuff if the price is almost near but that's too expensive for a 14 year old car. plus the boots, and the other parts that needs to be replaced.

Hopefully the Gabriel Ultra ReadyMount will be good to us LOL.. reviews are conflicting.

will update after we got it installed LOL

The Toyota struts are expensive no doubt about that. The Toyota rear shocks are not. You can get KYB struts for just $78 and the Monroe 908831 boot /insulator for $14 at Partsavatar. The Grabriel is mediocre and worst than Monroes. If you want to diy the KYB strut plus is the complete assembly. They are not cheap in Canada but lower in price at Rockauto but so expensive to ship due to size and weight.

c00lman · Feb 12, 2020

Thanks DL175 You are correct, we were looking at the KYB strut plus at rockauto but expensive to ship

didn't see the KYB Struts on partsavatar when we are searching as it was not showing coz out of stock LOL we needed a right side (passenger side).

Ravdude9187 · Jul 22, 2025

About a year ago I got both my full front assemblies replaced (rock auto parts) and just like 3 months ago the strut mount (passenger side) completely busted and was showing the bearings any everything. Maybe they place didnt install them right or if the rock auto parts were bad. Either way just last Friday I spent 1100 for both to be replaced. Luckily the place took payments lol

Recommendations on struts and shocks

boatdetective

DL175

Ike Carlson

SoNic67

c00lman

DL175

c00lman

Ravdude9187

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