Just ordered new lower moog ball joints, Monroe struts for the front and Monroe coil over shocks for the rear. I was thinking rancho struts but went with monroe. I hope I am happy with the monroes. Time will tell. Next weekend is going to be interesting with the 05!!!

 

Monroe's are good. I have them. I believe they feel more like factory but will last a lot longer.

 

I also have a set of Munroes waiting for installation. Although Monroe and Rancho are made in separate facilities, my understanding is that they're part of the same company. I've used both on previous vehicles with good results, but the Rancho always seemed to have a poor finish, but this could have changed since my last experience with them - they ended up spotted with rust in a very short time and very noticeably rusty within about a year. Where they were visible, I generally gave them a quick spray of a paint like rustoleum.

 

Everyone seems to be doing suspension work. Only thing I can't afford is struts right now. They aren't too bad right now.

 

Can I ask what you guys are paying for Monroe struts? Installed?

 

I would suspect that your invoice would show a figure over $500 - I'm using $100 per strut (shock) and $100 per hour labor costs as the basis for my guess.

 

I'm being quoted just under $600 for the front. That is for struts, not just shocks. I'm trying to find out if they can replace the shock and keep the rest of the strut in place . . .

 

No, they have to remove the entire strut/spring as an assembly. It is an assembly that is bolted together and then bolted to the truck. The labor is the killer. If you can take the spring/strut assembly out yourself and take them to a shop to have the new struts installed it will save you some labor cost. $600 seems kind of high unless that includes the struts. They base the quotes on estimated time it will take based on some national average time it takes to do a job like replacing struts, so most places you go will quote the same amount of time to do the job, but different prices depending on their labor rate. So, shop around for a place with lower labor rates.

 

That quote (parts and labour) was from a Speedy shop. I'll give my independent mechanic a try.

 

i just did this myself this past weekend.i picked monroe too because of price & i wanted to do the level kit up front too. those shocks will perk up the rear end a bit, & with the trail master 1.5" level kit it looks about right to me. heres a side view to see what clearance/height ive got now. those are 265 70 17's on there. they rubbed a little before, but ive got more room now...wonder if a 285 would fit,lol