[Chillis]

My rear shocks have been toast for ages. 260k miles on the originals. While taking my vehicle into the Ford service department they said they are fine every time I asked about replacement. "No leaks. Look good. No need to change."

My van handles horribly. I know the shocks and struts are due for replacement due to age and super sloppy handling.

Had driveshaft work done two days ago and they said to replace shocks. After getting the van back the thing was vibrating like crazy.

The only shocks I could find locally were the Monroe Magnum series so I ordered them up and installed as fast as I could.

Ride is hugely improved and the vibration has dropped significantly. They cost about the same as stock shocks and I'd rather have gotten the Bilstein B6's but I needed something ASAP.

Just here to report that they feel great and handling feels really nice again although I still need to replace my struts so those are next.

Hope these last a bit. My mileage accumulation is significantly higher than most since I run this thing for work.

Can't wait to see how off-road performance is.

MONROE VAN-MAGNUM

Strong, durable shock absorbers for commercial vans and light trucks.

www.monroe.com

 

[SnoDrtRider]

Hate to burst your bubble but...
I had Bilstein's that I installed on my 2006 Chevy Express... After a few years I felt that they were done (I put 200,000 on it in 10 years so @ about 30,000 miles)
I didn't want to spend the money for Bilstein's so I got a set of Monroe Magnums locally... Never again!
Order a set of the Bilstein's so you have them when the Monroes start bouncing you down the road...

 

[Chillis]

Hate to burst your bubble but...
I had Bilstein's that I installed on my 2006 Chevy Express... After a few years I felt that they were done (I put 200,000 on it in 10 years so @ about 30,000 miles)
I didn't want to spend the money for Bilstein's so I got a set of Monroe Magnums locally... Never again!
Order a set of the Bilstein's so you have them when the Monroes start bouncing you down the road...

The cost for B6's versus the Monroe's are a wash. I needed shocks bad so I got what I could get quickly.

They are great so far.

I'm putting B6's on the front when they arrive. I'll put B6's on the back when the Monroe's fade.

I wouldn't call them crap. Your story really doesn't give any quantifiable information to support a claim of just being "crap".

 

[SnoDrtRider]

The cost for B6's versus the Monroe's are a wash. I needed shocks bad so I got what I could get quickly.

They are great so far.

I'm putting B6's on the front when they arrive. I'll put B6's on the back when the Monroe's fade.

I wouldn't call them crap. Your story really doesn't give any quantifiable information to support a claim of just being "crap".

I didn't say they were "Crap" but once you experience Bilsteins you will never want any other shock.

 

[avenge]

Monroe is crap in comparison to Bilstein and KYB they don't last long at all. Fine if you're in a pinch, from experience I would never purchase them again.

 

[surly Bill]

I have had good results with Bilstein. Although, I have never used Monroe.

 

[Chillis]

Now that I've got a couple thousand miles on the Monroe's, I would not buy these again. They feel ok but they felt nice and composed at first and they are feeling less controlled already.

Not sure if they can't handle the off-road action or what.

I'll be going for some vitamin B6 on the rear.

 

[Chillis]

@SnoDrtRider I agree with your assessment!

 

[SnoDrtRider]

@SnoDrtRider I agree with your assessment!

It doesn't take long does it?
The factory shocks on my 2022 with 5,000 miles on the clock are feeling wishy washy already.
The van rode nice an tight at first but now with only 5K I'm ready to replace/upgrade the shocks and this is only with road driving and very light loading. I just picked up a rear sway bar at my dealer yesterday so that should help a bit but I won't be happy until I get the Bilsteins on it.
I am leaning toward the Quigley lift and may just wait and have them add the Bilsteins when the do the lift.

 

[Chillis]

Update to the Monroe shocks:

Not a fan at all and would not recommend.

Although there is still rubber there the shock eyelets feel like they are bouncing in the rubber bushing of the left rear. The shocks have also lost damping as the rear is bouncing around.

That noise of the rubber bushing collapsing over bumps and thudding plus the squeaking drove me to get the B6's.

The Monroe's also are slightly narrow for the upper shock mounts which pulled that metal in so the proper fitting B6's would not fit. Needed to manipulate the metal a bit the get rid of the pulled in lip of the mounting hole metal.

The new Bilstein B6 shocks are higher riding(higher pressure, same OAL) and feel very firm and controlled. Hopefully that settles in a touch but not too much.