Quickstruts vs Seperate Components

[sperold]

When you buy Quickstruts, do you get more than the 2 main components (coils and struts).
The reason I ask, is you seem to save money by buying the coils and struts separately. So I am thinking you get some associated parts for mounting and such.

 

[SHOVNST]

You get everything, a completely new strut from top to bottom. The only drawback for a SHO is the springs are meant for regular Taurus and rather soft.


.

 

[SHOdded]

And the ride becomes reg Taurus height, looks odd on a SHO, but works ok. Saves on labor, safer with no need to compress springs.

 

[rubydist]

iirc, the quickstruts come with sensatrac struts. Those are not my favorite because they seem too soft on the small bumps and too firm on the hard bumps. So, if you can still get any alternatives to the sensatrac struts, I would suggest something else. The springs are a little too tall, so if you buy them separately it might be worth considering removing half a coil.

 

[sperold]

I have looked a little closer, and it looks like you have to buy a long list of components after you buy the bare spring and strut.

Unless I am wrong, the additional things you need are: strut bearing, strut mount, strut bellows, seat insulator, camber plate?, and pinch bolts. I may have missed some, and maybe some of these things are contained in another, like the strut bearing may be buried in the strut mount.

Has anyone done it the hard way (separate parts), and am I wrong about anything?

As it stands now, the packaged assembly looks like a good deal, even though compressing and installing the spring is something I can do.

The companies assembling the "quick strut" approach are Moog. KYB, Gabriel, and of course Monroe, and they are all about the same price. Is there a preference towards any of these brands?

 

[zoomlater]

I've priced out buying the separate components before verses buying the entire assembly. You can usually find the whole assembly less than the cost of the piece parts. If you are not in a rush, I've bought complete rear quickstruts 171781 from Amazon for less than $40. I've picked up the fronts 171780 for about double price of the rears. The trick is you have keep checking the prices, I usually see the price drop twice a year, and you get free shipping too.

In place of the stock Monroe springs, I swap them out for Moog or Eibachs springs

 

[luigisho]

I've done it both ways and the quickstrut at that time was both cheaper and easier. That being said, there are varying opinions about the performance of these units and I agree with rubydist above about sensatracs. However, I haven't found good aftermarket brands since Tokico and Koni supplies dried up a while ago. I don't have any experience with a good spring/strut combo still readily available. That is one of the more frustrating things about maintaining these cars.

 

[rubydist]

I have looked a little closer, and it looks like you have to buy a long list of components after you buy the bare spring and strut.

Unless I am wrong, the additional things you need are: strut bearing, strut mount, strut bellows, seat insulator, camber plate?, and pinch bolts. I may have missed some, and maybe some of these things are contained in another, like the strut bearing may be buried in the strut mount.

Has anyone done it the hard way (separate parts), and am I wrong about anything?

As it stands now, the packaged assembly looks like a good deal, even though compressing and installing the spring is something I can do.

The companies assembling the "quick strut" approach are Moog. KYB, Gabriel, and of course Monroe, and they are all about the same price. Is there a preference towards any of these brands?

You are correct on all of the other parts you need to equal what you get new with the quick struts, except for camber plate. The strut mount is required, as the clunking sounds you may hear are nearly always due to bad strut mounts. If you are disassembling the old parts, you can usually use the bellows and insulator. Sometimes the bearing is good, and sometimes its rough. Best to replace them too if there is any question.

If you can get Moog quick struts for about the same money as the others, I would pick those. I like how the KYB struts ride, but they don't seem to last very well and some others have complained about inconsistency. The Gabriels I have not used on a SHO.

 

[sperold]

I like the idea of the Moogs as well, as I recognize that as a premium brand for all suspension pieces.

I thought I had a winner with Gabriel as their standard strut is not recommended for SHO and Police, however their Ultra model does not have that disclaimer. But that could be my wishful thinking coming through.

I noticed that Monroe has a no guarantee offering as well as their limited lifetime model. The first mentioned unit is about 1/3 less, and I wondered what they could cheapen-up-on to make that difference. The strut has the same service package part # for both, so I am thinking they are the same (maybe), unless they leave out the trick valving, so that leaves the coil and all the piece parts. And you would wonder how much they can cheapen that stuff up and still put their name on it.

Does anyone have any thoughts on the possibility that the price difference is due to the lifetime guarantee as apposed to the "all sales are final" situation.
I am not considering it yet, unless someone can tell me they gave them a try, and they worked out OK.

 

[rubydist]

In this case, my guess would be that its just a difference in the warranty coverage, but that is just a guess. I would be surprised if they actually made the parts different, but I've been surprised plenty of times...

 

[OG-SHOguy]

it might be worth considering removing half a coil.

You can not cut coils on a Taurus or even a SHO without rubbing issues when turning as the springs are non-linear springs which mean each coil is a different diameter and if you cut one then it no longer will fit the seat so it slips off the side and causes the steering to hang up in random locations when turning...i have been there before and learned the hard way back in 89...costly mistake. you can cut them however if you weld a ring on the upper spring seat to keep spring in place...i did that on my 90 and installed a set of Mustang linear springs because they come in a very wide range of spring rates and heights.....good luck!

 

[RonPorter]

I did Monroe quick struts on the rear of my white 89, and hated them. Later changed to new Tokicos and B&Gs.

Oh, you don't get pinch bolts with any struts. Good luck on getting the old ones out, especially the smaller rear ones, without breaking. Lotsa heat is your friend!

 

[rubydist]

You can not cut coils on a Taurus or even a SHO without rubbing issues when turning as the springs are non-linear springs which mean each coil is a different diameter and if you cut one then it no longer will fit the seat so it slips off the side and causes the steering to hang up in random locations when turning...i have been there before and learned the hard way back in 89...costly mistake. you can cut them however if you weld a ring on the upper spring seat to keep spring in place...i did that on my 90 and installed a set of Mustang linear springs because they come in a very wide range of spring rates and heights.....good luck!

In my experience, you can cut a half a coil off the large end of the spring without the above-described problem. If you cut more, you have the very real likelihood of the spring moving around as described above.

 

[SHOVNST]

I cut front Moog springs w/sensatracs on my non-SHO ‘89 Taurus and drove many miles after. 15” wheels with 205/65 Michelin tires and the ride was honestly amazing. (That made up for the ****** automatic transmission!) However, as Fred mentioned, I only took off a half or at most one full coil. There was still sufficient contact with the seat. The ride height definitely dropped a little. Which is probably why the ride was that smooth and solid. I routinely checked things over closely and never had an issue.


.

 

[itwonder]

In my experience, you can cut a half a coil off the large end of the spring without the above-described problem. If you cut more, you have the very real likelihood of the spring moving around as described above.

I've cut the front springs and have not had any problems with the springs moving or rubbing. It has been so long that I can't recall whether it was 1/2 or 1 coil, but I think it was 1. You can see the very nice rake in the pictures. One qualification - this is with Moog Cargo Coil springs, which are quite heavy duty, and I'm not sure they are available anymore. YMMV with lesser springs.

 

[OG-SHOguy]

I can not attest to cutting on a GEN2 but on a GEN 1 you can not cut....they could have changed the upper mounts on a GEN2 and I am not aware of that, but if others have done it with no problems then i stand corrected.

 

[RonPorter]

I can not attest to cutting on a GEN2 but on a GEN 1 you can not cut....they could have changed the upper mounts on a GEN2 and I am not aware of that, but if others have done it with no problems then i stand corrected.

Mounts didn't change between the Gens, all are mix and match, even the long and short struts. My first Eibach - Koni setup on a Gen 2 was from a Gen 1.

 

[OG-SHOguy]

Mounts didn't change between the Gens, all are mix and match, even the long and short struts. My first Eibach - Koni setup on a Gen 2 was from a Gen 1.

cut away, based on that info it will either work or not...**** idk anymore...lol

 

[zoomlater]

I've priced out buying the separate components before verses buying the entire assembly. You can usually find the whole assembly less than the cost of the piece parts. If you are not in a rush, I've bought complete rear quickstruts 171781 from Amazon for less than $40. I've picked up the fronts 171780 for about double price of the rears. The trick is you have keep checking the prices, I usually see the price drop twice a year, and you get free shipping too.

In place of the stock Monroe springs, I swap them out for Moog or Eibachs springs

Prices are starting to drop, you have to keep checking to see which way prices are going

https://www.amazon.com/Monroe-17178...ie=UTF8&qid=1520806980&sr=1-1&keywords=171780

https://www.amazon.com/Monroe-17178...ie=UTF8&qid=1520807074&sr=1-2&keywords=171781

 

[zoomlater]

prices are down to the $45 range, but only one left.