1998 montero shocks selection Gas-a-shock vs Monomax
- Thread starter newworld2004
- Start date
plh
Explorer
Bilsteins are fine shocks, but will set you back ~$400 for the set of 4.
All-Terrain
No Road Required
I think loading is important. In other words, if you drive your truck empty a lot, and it is relatively stock, you may find the Monomax's to be stiff. If you drive it loaded with cargo, people, roof rack with stuff on it, etc, then you will not find them to be too stiff because they will control that load. It's kinda like driving an empty pickup truck. But I also drive German cars that have stiff suspension so a Montero is almost never going to be too stiff for me.
DONT_TREAD
Observer
My shocks are shot and I'm seriously considering the bilsteins. They're that good?
LibertyFLS
Observer
I've had Gas-a-Just on 2 gen 2 / 2.5 Monteros and love them on and off road. First was with 245/75-16 on my current ride with 31's
IncorpoRatedX
Explorer
KYB = Kill Your Back
They ride stiff when new, like shocks for a car, they fade out fast when being worked on a rutted road or carrying speed on forest roads.
Bilstein = great ride, fantastic response, longer travel, lifetime warranty!
You can buy 2 sets of KYB's for what you pay to get a set of Bilsteins, but... you'll buy 2 sets of KYB's before the bilsteins show any sign of wear and if they do... lifetime warranty.
to me it's comparing economy replacements to performance replacements. If you're building a capable vehicle for off road and expedition use; Bilstein, if you're just daily driving and rarely or never going off road, the kyb will work just fine. This holds true for trucks and cars, the DSM's of the old days (90-99) had KYB and the EVO's came with Bilsteins. The evo was an out of the box 'race car' so it was equipped with the good stuff, brembo brakes, recaro seats, momo steering wheel, enkei wheels and... Bilsteins. The DSM's were turbo economy sports cars, so they got middle of the road daily driver decent stuff. Both will yield good results, it all depends on how you're planning to use them.
They ride stiff when new, like shocks for a car, they fade out fast when being worked on a rutted road or carrying speed on forest roads.
Bilstein = great ride, fantastic response, longer travel, lifetime warranty!
You can buy 2 sets of KYB's for what you pay to get a set of Bilsteins, but... you'll buy 2 sets of KYB's before the bilsteins show any sign of wear and if they do... lifetime warranty.
to me it's comparing economy replacements to performance replacements. If you're building a capable vehicle for off road and expedition use; Bilstein, if you're just daily driving and rarely or never going off road, the kyb will work just fine. This holds true for trucks and cars, the DSM's of the old days (90-99) had KYB and the EVO's came with Bilsteins. The evo was an out of the box 'race car' so it was equipped with the good stuff, brembo brakes, recaro seats, momo steering wheel, enkei wheels and... Bilsteins. The DSM's were turbo economy sports cars, so they got middle of the road daily driver decent stuff. Both will yield good results, it all depends on how you're planning to use them.
newworld2004
Adventurer
I really appriciated every one's feed back, as I am not doing not much off roading and mostly city/highway driving it seems KYB Gas-a-shock make more sense for me specillay with $126 for set of four and rebate $40. can't beat that.
JohnnyBfromPeoria
I'm Getting Around To It
I appreciate the finer things in life, I just can't currently afford them. If you can pick up a set of four KYB gas-a-just shocks for under $100 after all is said and done, do it. I know the Adventure Driven Design (ADD) guys know their stuff and the Bilsteins are worth what they cost, but let's not neglect this warranty as well: http://www.rockauto.com/genImages/63/KYB-Warranties-Combined-posted-01-01-2016.pdf
KYB shocks also carry a lifetime warranty, for as long as you own that vehicle. Let's not mislead anybody. I won't mislead you either, the KYB's (G.A.J.'s) suffer when the truck is loaded (heavy), but anything less, oh man, great stuff. But then, I've not driven on the Bilsteins yet...
John B.
KYB shocks also carry a lifetime warranty, for as long as you own that vehicle. Let's not mislead anybody. I won't mislead you either, the KYB's (G.A.J.'s) suffer when the truck is loaded (heavy), but anything less, oh man, great stuff. But then, I've not driven on the Bilsteins yet...
John B.
Painted Mountain
New member
Do any of these work with the stock electronically adjustable suspension? I must say in the terrain where I live I am mighty pleased with this stock design. I'm not saying its better because I have zero experience with any after market suspension on the Monty but just that I love the adjust on the fly!!
Offroadmuch
Explorer
What year Montero are you driving?
Painted Mountain
New member
duh. 1999 montero winter package
freewayross
Adventurer
I've put Monomax in the back and gas-a-just in the front. Will be switching out the front with billestein though. An I agree with better handling with Monomax. In the beginning i felt the monomax's were too tight but after few thousand miles either i got used to it or it softened a bit. I run 33"
IncorpoRatedX
Explorer
I was totally unaware! ive thrown out so many warranty worthy KYB's over the years then, dang.