MONROE OR MOOG QUICK STRUTS?

The wife's 06 Liberty (4x4) is starting to not handle well. It has 108k and all the suspension components are factory. I want to replace the front struts and springs with quick struts. Rock auto has parts in stock. Moog is $25 per strut more than Monroe. Car is her daily driver and I take to CO in the winter to go skiing. Very little off road so I'm looking for factory ride height and handling. I'd be willing to spend more for separate shocks and coils but not much. Wanted quick struts for ease of remove/replace. Your thoughts

Since you asked for thoughts... are the springs shot? Usually its the struts (ie shocks) that need replacement. I took a look and the complete struts w. spring are quite a bit more expensive than the struts only. With a spring compressor, changing struts and re-using the springs isn't a big deal. Personally, I'd buy only the struts and keep the springs. I have no personal experience with the Liberty. That said, not sure I'd pay a premium for Moog brand struts.

If you do the struts only, no springs, its best to plan on replacing the strut mounts also... this may favor the quick struts a bit.

My (my daughters really) '98 Neon has been through 2 strut replacements with original springs. Handles great at 155k.

Just did the Monroe quicks on the wifes Pt.They were under 80 bucks each from Rock Auto.No problems.I would have even done them if I was still at the shop.By the time you buy bearing plates and if the rubbers are bad plus labor for a shop to take them apart its almost as cheap to get all new.Plus no matter what anyone says the springs are still old and have less spring.I did hers in about 1/2 hour a side and that was jacking it up etc.Fords were bad for breaking springs Mopars not so much.Rocky

Ya I know I could get a better shock if I just went that route but I agree you still have a spring that's 9 years old and a lot of miles. I plan on using KYB gas adjust in the rear with new springs so I want new springs on the front also. Why did you use Monroe instead of Moog on the PT?

My thoughts are Screw moog. For American by American my But. More like American screwing American. No reason for their stuff to cost double to triple. Id go with what you feel comfortable paying. I doubt the moog ones are that superior. I know alot of you guys use moog but us poor folk can't pay that at the drop of a hat.

Most shocks and struts are made by one company. [Tenneco Inc.]. Moog seems to source parts out from many vendors. I still think they have a decent product. Monroe has been in the game a long time and we use them quite often with good results. If it were me between the two I would buy the best deal. So if Monroe is cheaper I would use them and use the savings to pay for a good alignment.

No problem to go Monroe, they make good shocks.

Moog isn't known for making shocks.

R.

We used Monroes almost all the time at the shop.We used Gabriels a few times and had some problems.I had one Gabriel strut for a GM that was locked solid right out of the box.Went to Monroes and no problems.Only other shock I use for street is Rancho or NAPA used to make a good heavy duty for trucks.Rocky

Copy all thanks for the info. I will go with Monroe quick struts in the front and Monroe shocks/springs in the rear. May as well keep it all the same. Thanks again

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My thoughts are Screw moog. For American by American my But. More like American screwing American. No reason for their stuff to cost double to triple. Id go with what you feel comfortable paying. I doubt the moog ones are that superior. I know alot of you guys use moog but us poor folk can't pay that at the drop of a hat.

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I'm a little late with my but here goes......

I did exactly as mentioned above, went with what I was comfortable paying when it came time for struts on my '93 Caravan.

This was the result

BOTH sides sounded like that, and if the noise wasn't bad enough, it was actually causing my steering to hang up too. Did I mention I put them on the day before I embarked on a cross country trip? Do you have any idea how hard it is to drive literally 'straight' for 1300 miles?

I bought them from Rockauto, and they took 'em back with no issues.

I now have MOOG struts in my van.

I've always bought MOOG in the past, but, this time I decided to try and 'cheap out' since its 'just' a 20 year old Caravan, and it bit me in the wallet HARD.

Don't cheap out if you can help it. You'll save money in the end.