Monroe Easy Strut w/spacer or Bilstein 5100

[c good]

Local parts store is going out of business. They have the Monroe Easy Struts for a great deal.

Years ago I bought some of the 1 inch spacers from a Trailvoy member. The type that go on top of the strut.

I'm familiar with the down side of the spacers. Thus I never installed them

I've been waiting to get the Bilstein 5100's.

The price of the Monroe quick struts is about $40.00 for the PAIR! Screaming deal.

Funds have been a little tight the last few months so I was thinking of going for the Monroes.

My goal is to give the front just a little more clearance. My off roading is mild.

I like the idea of Bilstein 5100's giving me 2-2.5 inches of lift. But they are pricey.

Thanks for any input with way.

 

[flyboy2610]

For $40 for the pair I'd snatch those up like right NOW!

 

[Mooseman]

Years ago I bought some of the 1 inch spacers from a Trailvoy member. The type that go on top of the strut.

From memory, these were referred to as "death lifts" as they would easily fail. It's the ones that go on top of the spring inside the strut that is the better option. Unfortunately, they are no longer being made.

 

[Mooseman]

For the Ready or Quick Struts, I can't really remember anyone saying they liked the ride with them. They try to be struts for everybody and are mostly soft. They'd be OK for anyone looking for a quick fix.

 

[TollKeeper]

The quick struts are only good if you have a short wheel base. If you have a long wheel base, the spring rate is incorrect. Already been down this road on my XUV

 

[c good]

I have the short wheel base.

 

[Chickenhawk]

I was looking for a bit more forward rake, and I am big on handling. (I have had my Trailblazer on the road race track a few times just for fun.) Here are some guidelines from an old time road racer. To help reduce the built-in understeer, one stiffens the rear. To reduce built-in oversteer, one stiffens the front. (This is why older 911s on the road course will raise their inside front wheel off the pavement when cornering hard, while a VW Golf that is properly set up will lift its inside rear wheel off the pavement in a hard corner. Like a dog peeing. LOL.)

Here is my setup. I use the Monroe Quick Struts #171341 in the front and loved them. Not super-stiff, but better than stock. Plus, I didn't want too much stiffness in the front. In the rear, I use Bilsteins, plus a stiffer aftermarket sway bar. I also replaced the factory coils in the rear with brand new OEM springs. Made a huge difference. I hate the saggy rear end look so I wanted to keep the front at stock height, but I wanted the rear stiffer for looks and to reduce understeer.

Monroe quick struts in the front and Bilsteins in the rear were an ideal combination for what i was trying to achieve. I also do little off-roading (except Winnipeg residential streets in the winter) and I wanted good handling to reduce the factory grocery-getter understeer.

I also worked with GM police vehicles in Oshawa on some ideas because they once sold a lot of Trailblazers as undercover and stolen auto unit plainclothes vehicles because they were so ubiquitous, so fast and very tough.

 

[c good]

For $40 for the pair I'd snatch those up like right NOW!

I couldn't pass them up. I actually paid $16.00 each. With tax it was $34.74 out the door. I couldn't pass them up. I think I'll install them and see how I like them. In the meantime I'll have an extra set of spring and mounts off of my old ones that I can install the Bilstein 5100's in and be ready to plug them in if I don't like the Monroe's. Crazy prices. Advance Auto is closing all of it's stores in California. I don't blame them. California sucks as far as running a business is concerned.