Skiwee10 Posted February 21, 2011 Share Posted February 21, 2011 Looking for a brand that is not really expensive that can hold up to some off-roading as well. I've heard KYB's are not that great, but maybe someone can correct me here. Also, if someone can estimate how much this might be from a local mechanic shop that would be helpful too, as I'd like to have an idea before going in for an estimate so I'm not getting totally ripped off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skiwee10 Posted February 21, 2011 Author Share Posted February 21, 2011 Looking for a brand that is not really expensive that can hold up to some off-roading as well. I've heard KYB's are not that great, but maybe someone can correct me here. Also, if someone can estimate how much this might be from a local mechanic shop that would be helpful too, as I'd like to have an idea before going in for an estimate so I'm not getting totally ripped off. The best price and brands all the local shops seem to carry around here are KYB, and they're around $800 out the door total (installed) I can get Monroe for about $500, but figure the KYB's might be worth the extra $300? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
180sx Posted February 21, 2011 Share Posted February 21, 2011 $800?? Wow, what a rip off! KYB-GR2 struts are the best we got, and they perform well (better than the Ranchos from what I hear). Monroe is junk. I had those. Went off road twice, and they blew after only 6k miles (to be exact, the valve inside broke to pieces). You can get the KYB's struts and shocks for $200 on ebay from one of the vendors. $600 for labor does not sound right at all. I'd go back and see what he would charge if you brought the struts/shocks already. If he says he won;t do it because he has to order them, then go somewhere else. Jose Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howie Posted February 21, 2011 Share Posted February 21, 2011 I did mine last January. Here's what I paid: KYB front struts: 335030 (left), 335031 (right), $64 each at Amazon.com KYB boots (SB139), $11.78 each at Amazon.com Nissan OEM front strut mounting insulators 54320-2W10 $27.55 each at everythingnissan.com Nissan OEM front strut mounting insulators 54325-5V000 $22.05 each at everythingnissan.com Labor for install: $150, which includes the $40 alignment KYB KG4163 shocks $47.92 x2 from Amazon.com Labor for install: $120 The rears are easy, I could have done that myself but I also had the guy replace my coil springs on the front and back, which was included in those labor totals, so I figured why not because it was essentially a lift kit install. Total cost for me was $616.60. So yeah, your $800 estimate sounds really high. I didn't include the cost of the coils, even though I had those done at the same time. But if you want to know, they were $150 for the set of 4. OME 0922 in the back and OME 0923 in the front. Don't ever go to a mechanic that won't let you bring in your own parts. They make money by charging you way too much for the parts. As you can see, you can find them yourself elsewhere and any reputable mechanic will be happy to just provide the labor. They shouldn't charge more than $80/hr, and front suspension shouldn't take more than 2 hours, rears less than one one hour unless you're doing the coils too, like I did. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skiwee10 Posted February 21, 2011 Author Share Posted February 21, 2011 Thanks guys! I got the guy down to $750 for some Rancho's. Rancho said they did not make them for my vehicle (1999.5 SE) but the mechanic said he found them from a supplier when they used to make them (he was saying they made them at one time, just now now) He said the boots were red. Hopefully he's putting Rancho's on there! Can anyone confirm if the Rancho's were ever even made for my vehicle? I wanna make sure this guy is telling the truth. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howie Posted February 21, 2011 Share Posted February 21, 2011 I'm not sure that Ranchos are better, but I did like the look of the red boots. So I just bought red boots for $4 a piece and put them on my KYB's! Now I have fake-cho's on my car! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skiwee10 Posted February 21, 2011 Author Share Posted February 21, 2011 Ha! Thanks Howie, I thought KYB's came with red boots as well? Maybe not. I can't seem to confirm if Rancho's were ever made for a 1999.5 Nissan Pathfinder SE. Does anyone know? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howie Posted February 22, 2011 Share Posted February 22, 2011 The KYB Gas-a-just shocks that I have don't have boots. They're just all white. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
180sx Posted February 22, 2011 Share Posted February 22, 2011 Yes, Rancho makes struts for our vehicles. https://www.4x4parts.com/nissan/rancho-shocks-struts-rsx17000-shocks-struts-c-435_413_392_408.html Jose Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Precise1 Posted February 22, 2011 Share Posted February 22, 2011 I'm going to shuffle this over to the R50 section and suggest you read the FAQ section. I don't know R50s very well yet so I can't tell you myself. B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantom01Pathfinder Posted February 22, 2011 Share Posted February 22, 2011 I personally got KYB's put on about 2k miles ago. I love them. Its like riding on a cloud. But now its going to be a little different cuz im getting the rest of my lift put on tomorrow. I even did light offroading with all my stock suspension and never had a problem with them. Do get OEM strut bearings, mounts, and hardware. Thats how i did it. For me, parts were $350, and labor was $200. So id think your looking somewhere in the vacinity or $550 - $600. hope that helps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timmons Posted February 22, 2011 Share Posted February 22, 2011 I personally got KYB's put on about 2k miles ago. I love them. Its like riding on a cloud. But now its going to be a little different cuz im getting the rest of my lift put on tomorrow. I even did light offroading with all my stock suspension and never had a problem with them. Do get OEM strut bearings, mounts, and hardware. Thats how i did it. For me, parts were $350, and labor was $200. So id think your looking somewhere in the vacinity or $550 - $600. hope that helps After you put on that 2" inch lift, it won't ride like a cloud anymore but you will get other benifits from it like clearance for larger tires and then going big on the trails. It will ride like an off-road vehicle should. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timmons Posted February 22, 2011 Share Posted February 22, 2011 I had front Rancho struts when I first installed my lift and they died about 3 months later. I dont' recommend going with those struts at all. They are terribel. I installed the KYB-GR2 struts and they made a huge change in performance. I'm very satisfied with these struts and they do great off-roading. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skiwee10 Posted February 22, 2011 Author Share Posted February 22, 2011 Thanks guys! Looks like I am getting the Rancho's. They came highly recommended for off-road. I'll let you know how they hold up:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Precise1 Posted February 22, 2011 Share Posted February 22, 2011 Oh, I didn't realize this was a double post. BAD DOG!! Please don't double post, it confuses the answers and makes it a mess to look up in the future. B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tekazgtr1984 Posted February 22, 2011 Share Posted February 22, 2011 $800 for KYB GR-2 struts? I was able to get a pair for $175 shipped. These are hands down the best option for front struts on the R50. For rear shocks, I'd recommend Bilstein. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skiwee10 Posted February 22, 2011 Author Share Posted February 22, 2011 Sorry about the double post guys! I'm getting them put on Friday. The $750 is for struts and shocks, all Rancho. I hope they hold up to some off-roading well as I was told, because they'll be getting a test here soon! Heck I've taken it off road with the factory stuff on and never had a real problem, so these babies better handle bumps and stumps like they're not even there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
351cleveland Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 Where do you find the bilsteins that fit for our r50's? I have a 2003 qx4, and need to replace my suspension. I REALLY want to get the bilsteins for the back shocks, but dont want to purchase them from 4x4parts.com because i know they tend to be overpriced. If you know the part number for the rears, hook it up so i can bargain shop for them. I dont think they make the front struts, so probably go with the kyb gr-2's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piste Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 Sorry about the double post guys! I'm getting them put on Friday. The $750 is for struts and shocks, all Rancho. I hope they hold up to some off-roading well as I was told, because they'll be getting a test here soon! Heck I've taken it off road with the factory stuff on and never had a real problem, so these babies better handle bumps and stumps like they're not even there! Holy confusing thread batman. Hard to tell which posts are about struts and which about shocks...or both...Anywho... Rancho USED to make rear shocks for the R50 but not anymore....They were RSX 17000 and stopped making them in the last 12 months some time....so if your mechanic found some of them you are good to go. If not, they aren't for the R50. RSX 17000s are what I run and been happy with them. Trust nothing on 4x4parts.com for product application info unless you've confirmed it elsewhere. They show Rancho shocks on their site for the R50....5000s I believe...but they are not. Good luck with the Rancho struts...I've heard many folks say they aren't nearly as good as the KYBs...but I have no personal experience with the Rancho struts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick13 Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 Well, I've had the Rancho struts for 3.5 years and 40K miles. I've abused them beyond belief and they were wonderful. They were wonderful until 3 weeks ago when I blew one up doing something stupid - seal went bad and leaked all over the wheel well. I'm going with the KYB GR2's only because I want to see for myself the difference. I'll probably generate a brand new post because I might be the only person who had the Rancho's for so long and then switched to KYB's. I will freely admit though that I drove my friends R50 with the KYB GR2's and it seemed "smoother"...but maybe that's because he has and ARB sahara bar with a winch to help keep the front end feel settled and not so firm. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Methfinder Posted April 3, 2012 Share Posted April 3, 2012 So far, I'm the only one running ORI's. Peoples eyes popped out of their heads when I told them how much the cost. I hacked up my stock struts and used the spindle mount and the upper mount to custom fit the ORI's. The idea I used should work for other similiar types of shocks that have hemispherical mounting bearings top and bottom. This idea at least makes it possible to use other products out there that wern't specifically designed as pathfinder struts. Although, it requires extensive fab work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZ_Pathfinder Posted April 4, 2012 Share Posted April 4, 2012 So far, I'm the only one running ORI's. Peoples eyes popped out of their heads when I told them how much the cost. I hacked up my stock struts and used the spindle mount and the upper mount to custom fit the ORI's. The idea I used should work for other similiar types of shocks that have hemispherical mounting bearings top and bottom. This idea at least makes it possible to use other products out there that wern't specifically designed as pathfinder struts. Although, it requires extensive fab work. Pictures please!! Also you wouldn't happen to have a write up on this would you?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now