Would buying the KYBs be worth it?

So Im planning to do suspension on my MR2 next. Im not looking at setting it up for tracking the car or anything, I just want to refresh the suspension + some updates (ie: prothane bushings, eiback pro kit springs).

But when I got the car the guy had 4 new Monroe sealed struts with it.

Ive been thinking about getting some GR2 KYB struts, which would run me about 160 for all 4 shipped.

But is it worth it?

I mean, I know, I could spent 700+ on Koni or Bilstein, but Im on a budget and just wanting to refresh. But is it really worth it buying the GR2 non-adjustable when I have some new non-adjustable sitting on the shelf already? Would I see a substantial difference between the two?

I know I'll see a change from these original 130k mile, 30 year old struts

I put the KYBs in my Saab last year. They're fine for what they are, which is inexpensive stock replacements. If you've got a set of similar dampers on the shelf and you're on a budget, I think I'd run what you've got first and see what how you like them. If they don't work for you, then think about alternatives.

I used KYBs on my Datsun that I race. The  existing strut had started to leak and I was in a bind. The KYBs were available same day. I'd intended to replace them after the next event, 10 years later I finally replaced them with Koni race inserts. 

The only thing I'd ever noticed is that toward the end of their life they weren't up to the task if you turned in to a corner with a surface washboard at full throttle. I doubt you'll ever find that an issue in the street.

The KYBs won't be as good as Konis or Bilsteins but they are also not total crap.

Personally not very happy with kyb on my mr2. Did it for 2 years. Then bilsteins . Much happier, it's much better and totally worth it 

recently did koni yellow on my GSR integra sedan. Wish I did bilsteins instead 

Bilstein is my go to from my suv ti the mazda van we had 9 years 

I have no experience with the GR2 line, only the gas-a-just. 

Those KYBs exist in the most evil of price ranges.  There is the no name stuff at the bottom, the monroe and gabriel just above that, and for just a little more sits the KYB stuff labeled as a performance upgrade. Then the OEM manufacturers like sachs ,then way, WAY above that sits Bilstien and Koni. We think, performance upgrade for less than stock? What a bargain! And we buy them. Then (in the case of the gas-a-justs) we endure an under damped but harsh ride with so much gas pressure it raises the ride height of the car. And we put up with it because we believe performance = rough ride.

I wish we had the euro options like Gaz and Spax available here in the states to fill in the lower price point

But, this tirade was all about the gas-a-just line which you didn't even ask about so is superfluous.  I'm just feeling loquacious this evening 

GR2s will be underdamped with eibachs. It's tough to get around that underdamped thing without making that price jump Trent mentioned, because literally everything at the bottom of the price range will be that way. 

I ran GR2s and Eibachs on my Civic.

I'm not motorsports sophisticated enough to know what I'm missing, but for street use I was completely pleased with the end result. That said, I replaced 150k mile original parts so I had a lot of room to gain with that alone. 

Will the Monroe struts be similar in quality as the low-end GR2 KYB though?

I already have them and so it's tempting to use them vs buying the other.

I can go back in a couple years and replace with something nicer (bilsteins), but I need to get things fixed soon and just dont have the budget for 600+ just in struts

You've answered your question.

need to get things fixed soon and just dont have the budget for 600+ just in struts

Use the Monroes, and don't worry about it. They're already paid for.

You're on a budget. Run em til they blow.

GR-2s are OE-spec replacements, nothing special about them.  You'll get similar results using Monroe or Sachs, etc.

They are just trading on the KYB brand name and slick marketing.

If you have blown dampers they'll be better than that, but they won't do anything magical for the Eibachs.

Luckily the lowering springs are generally designed for use with OE-spec dampers so you should be okay.

Every time I've had KYB's on a vehicle they have sucked.  It's like paying to have worn out shocks/struts put on your car.  Save your money.

My MR2 came with 4 brand new Monroe shocks and a set of H&R springs (similar to the eibachs, 1 inch lower). I did not want to spend $600+ on Koni or go up to coilovers when the bottom end of the coilovers are several hundred more (and the shocks on the low end are not as good as the Koni sport shocks). Rather than assemble everything and then just take it apart in a few months, just bit the bullet and purchased the koni sport shocks which are on sale at 20% off this month. Will go much better with the lower springs. But since you already have the Monroe's might as well use them until you have the budget for something better.

I think this thread, amongst us, we have more active MR2 owners, than mr2forum+mr20c combined, these days. LOL

I went from worn out original struts to Monroes on my DD 04 Ralliart wagon. No regrets.

Not the same shock as you've asked about, but I've been impressed by the durability of the KYB AGXs that I bought from Flyin'Miata 17 years ago and matched to FM springs.

Of course they are now the farthest thing from "state of the art".  But they have been an excellent product in "harsh use" conditions.

I guess the point of this post is to plug Flyin'Miata . . . but you all knew that already.

Are Tokicos available for the MR2?

mr2s2000elise said:

recently did koni yellow on my GSR integra sedan. Wish I did bilsteins instead 

This is a classic debate, but I'm interested to hear why you think the Bilstein's are better.

mr2s2000elise said:

I think this thread, amongst us, we have more active MR2 owners, than mr2forum+mr20c combined, these days. LOL

Ha! You might be right. I was active on MR2OC years ago for a good bit. I just go back there to search for existing threads now and then. Sometimes part-outs, etc. Good times though.

Here's another vote to just slap the Monroe's on there if you don't want to shell out for the better names.  Save the $160 for parts fund. 

Floating Doc (Forum Supporter) said:

You've answered your question.

need to get things fixed soon and just dont have the budget for 600+ just in struts

Use the Monroes, and don't worry about it. They're already paid for.

Floating Doc nailed it.  Use the Monroes

Not intended to be an endorsement of KYBs since I have no experience with them (or endorsement of Rock Auto for that matter) but just helping to connect the dots...

Rock Auto has rebate on KYB's and GRMer 5% discount from RA

Matt B (Forum Supporter) said:

This is a classic debate, but I'm interested to hear why you think the Bilstein's are better.

Ha! You might be right. I was active on MR2OC years ago for a good bit. I just go back there to search for existing threads now and then. Sometimes part-outs, etc. Good times though.

 

I live on the street, all magazines bring their cars and motorcyles to test. 2900 feet above sea level, lots of turns and lots of uphill and downhill. Matt Farah is here few times a week. Currently, 9 cars here in the stable. 8 run bilsteins, 1 run koni. Last 10 years, I haven't owned any car that didn't have bilstein. Prior to that lots of Teins, KYB, and Konis, and few Tokicos.  So you may say I am "used to " Bilsteins last 10 years. 

Comparing my own vehicles on the roads and speeds I travel, I find my Bilsteins much better dampened, and I prefer the shock rebound to the one in the koni. Bilstein turn in feels much crisper.  I have played with the koni adjustments a lot, but I can't get the car anywhere close to how smooth the Bilsteins are.  All of my vehicles run 100-200 tread rating. 

We do HPDE, and run the Lotus challenge series with Bilsteins. I have take the GSR to one event, and it just wasn't as composed as the Bilstein cars (for lack of better word). I am going by my own feel, on my cars. I am not an engineer. 

I rode in a Bilstein equipped ITR last week. My GSR has full OEM ITR suspension (except the shocks), and his car rode significatly better, on the same roads.  If I keep the GSR few more months, I am going to dump the Koni and go back to the Bilsteins (which is what I should have done in the first place). 

Yup been on MR2oc for many years with Bill Strong and the gang. I think 20+ years (have to check the join date). I also go there and Mr2.com if I have to search something. Though with MR2 ownership for almost 2 decades, I am pretty familiar with the cars :) 

Definitely good times!

Gotcha.  I have the Konis on my AW11 and I put them on my previous GSR.  Chose them for their adjustability and support.  We run Bilsteins on our Lemon's E36 because it came with them, but it's not a great comparison for obvious reasons.  I've always been curious about them so maybe I'll try them next time I need to purchase.

I am happy with the GR2’s that I put last year on the ‘06 Civic, but point of reference were the 160k mile old oem units that I replaced.  That said, damping is fine for the stock springs, and their upper strut mounts completely got rid of the front end clunking that used to be there.  YMMV, however.

Ok, I'll just put the Monroes on.

I'll be ordering a bunch of other things though soon - like strut mounts, new bushings etc

In reply to mr2s2000elise :

Which Bilstein shocks do you recommend? Sorry I'm not familiar with the lines given most of the import world touts koni yellows as the holy grail.  Also maybe the itr comparison may have to do with chassis stiffness of the itr vs gsr?  

I have the kyb agx in my celica which was very underwhelming. Definitely better than blown stockers but I keep on the gr2 equivalent setting which is supposedly 15% more dampening force than stock.  

I also have koni yellows on my wife's tsx which I thought was world's world's better than the agxs in terms of refinement and ride quality. 

Maybe the koni str.t(orange) would be a good budget compromise for op?