Shock absorbers

[dBrown]

Today had new tyres installed on my Nissan truck. Tyre dealer is always 15% cheaper like for like than any other dealer in the area, so no rip off.

When they started the alignment they noticed i had a leaking front shock absorber. The quoted me after discount 5400 Baht including labor for 2 profenders and 6250 for Monroe.

So I told them I wanted to check with Nissan first, thinking that it would be more expensive anyway.

So on the way home I stopped at a Nissan dealer and asked the price.

Great was my surprise when they quoted me 3000 Baht including labor for 2 original schock absobers.

Anyone can explain to me if I'm missing something, since where I come from aftermarket is always cheaper than original parts.

[bkkjames]

Depends on the brand they quoted you for.. Aftermarket can be more for sure

Sent from my LG-P970 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[dBrown]

I know that aftermarket can be more expensive when you go for race modifications or so, but my truck is a standard calibre so I'm sure they quoted me standard shocks, but we're talking about double the price for an unknown brand.

I assume that original parts have proven their quality ?

[BSJ]

I know that aftermarket can be more expensive when you go for race modifications or so, but my truck is a standard calibre so I'm sure they quoted me standard shocks, but we're talking about double the price for an unknown brand.

I assume that original parts have proven their quality ?

Monroe have been around since the car wheel was invented. They have a huge range.

Profender is one of the cheeky upstarts that has been around a decade or so. But I wouldn't blow them off casually. With modern design and machining technics a lot of new companies can mix it with the old timers.

[transam]

Nothing wrong with stock shocks. Designed and tested to do the job for the suspensions needs....

[dBrown]

I know that aftermarket can be more expensive when you go for race modifications or so, but my truck is a standard calibre so I'm sure they quoted me standard shocks, but we're talking about double the price for an unknown brand.

I assume that original parts have proven their quality ?

Monroe have been around since the car wheel was invented. They have a huge range.

Profender is one of the cheeky upstarts that has been around a decade or so. But I wouldn't blow them off casually. With modern design and machining technics a lot of new companies can mix it with the old timers.

Fine, doesn't answer my question why they are double the price from genuine, or have I been quoted a wrong price by the Nissan dealer ?

[transam]

I know that aftermarket can be more expensive when you go for race modifications or so, but my truck is a standard calibre so I'm sure they quoted me standard shocks, but we're talking about double the price for an unknown brand.

I assume that original parts have proven their quality ?

Monroe have been around since the car wheel was invented. They have a huge range.

Profender is one of the cheeky upstarts that has been around a decade or so. But I wouldn't blow them off casually. With modern design and machining technics a lot of new companies can mix it with the old timers.

Fine, doesn't answer my question why they are double the price from genuine, or have I been quoted a wrong price by the Nissan dealer ?

Make sure they have NOT quoted for one...

[dBrown]

I know that aftermarket can be more expensive when you go for race modifications or so, but my truck is a standard calibre so I'm sure they quoted me standard shocks, but we're talking about double the price for an unknown brand.

I assume that original parts have proven their quality ?

Monroe have been around since the car wheel was invented. They have a huge range.

Profender is one of the cheeky upstarts that has been around a decade or so. But I wouldn't blow them off casually. With modern design and machining technics a lot of new companies can mix it with the old timers.

Fine, doesn't answer my question why they are double the price from genuine, or have I been quoted a wrong price by the Nissan dealer ?

Make sure they have NOT quoted for one...

Actually on the quotation is written clearly written 2 x 1160 + VAT

Another surprise is that the tyre dealer quoted me 850 Baht service charge, where the Nissan dealer only quotes 517 Baht.

[WarpSpeed]

Many times OEM is built to minimum spec, they package vehicles to sell them competitively not always with the best available equipment but to get them out the door. Will it do the job? Of course, will it last as long and take as much beating, probably not.. Hard to pin this down..

[thairay]

maybee because they wanted to try it on???

[Ace of Pop]

1160 Multiplied by 2 seems more like it. +VAT.

[dBrown]

For the past 2 hours now I'm talking with 2 Nissan dealers in the area to know if they have stock and can install today. So far 14 17 calls have exchanged.

So, in The HUB of Asia, it takes longer to check stock than it takes to install them

[culicine]

I once changed the shocks on my honda. The shocks themselves are cheap, but a number of rubber components also needed changing, and they were more expensive. I wonder if that accounts for the difference. Is monroe imported into Thailand? They are good, but not sure if any better than oem. Some parts seem cheaper at the dealer, and vice versa for other parts.

[pieeyed]

I had to change the rear shocks on a 2006 Captiva some years back. 14,000 baht/shock. Nearly crapped my pants.

[transam]

For the past 2 hours now I'm talking with 2 Nissan dealers in the area to know if they have stock and can install today. So far 14 17 calls have exchanged.

So, in The HUB of Asia, it takes longer to check stock than it takes to install them

You better hope they have a BAR Code sticker on them, if not you ain't 'aving 'em......

[BSJ]

I replied to a reply and now it's gone! Weird!

Anyway, the point is: You can't expect 1100 baht shockers to be of the same standard as 3000 baht shockers, or 6000 baht shockers. If you want quality with pedigree go for Bilstein, Koni, Nitron or Sachs.

[WarpSpeed]

Yeah I paid 4500b a piece for my fully adjustable Koni's I put on the rear of my SEAT. Nice shocks and like I said adjustable for when I had heavier loads. I had no problem with that price knowing what I was getting.

[pgrahmm]

Generally speaking the OE shocks are minimal - just enough to get through warranty (most adjustments are covered 12/12)...they are usually a single action shock with a low temperature thinning oil.....may be gas charged but unsure....they want you to have a nice soft ride and soft shocks is one wa to do it - but - usually not good for the components that take the pounding as a result.....

Some shops have been known to squirt oil on a shock to make a POS presentation....not saying it happened in your case....

You usually get what you pay for - most aftermarkets are better than the OE applications....KYB is a good shock & available in LOS with different grades/ratings....(Yokohama/Cockpit stores for sure - haven't been in others)

That being said - some shops here think that they can rip and tear....shop around - a buddy of mine was quoted 1700B difference for the same shocks at two shops that were located within 3 K of each other.....

Monroe used to be a top notch shock - Gabriel passed them by in design and quality but both of those have been outpaced by the competition - a poster ^^^^^ also mentioned several good brands of shocks.....

It's really an area you don't want to skimp on - especially if you drive a lot of rough roads.....

[wowjudo]

are those from b-quik reliable ? they seem not that expenssive. KYB , Tokico and few OEM ones

http://www.b-quik.com/en/promotion.php (look for shock absorbers)

[bkkjames]

are those from b-quik reliable ? they seem not that expenssive. KYB , Tokico and few OEM ones

http://www.b-quik.com/en/promotion.php (look for shock absorbers)

I replaced some worn shocks on the front of my truck with KYB for about 3-4k installed.

3 months later I replaced those with Bilstein for 10k installed. Wish I did the Bilsteins first.

[wowjudo]

are those from b-quik reliable ? they seem not that expenssive. KYB , Tokico and few OEM ones

http://www.b-quik.com/en/promotion.php (look for shock absorbers)

I replaced some worn shocks on the front of my truck with KYB for about 3-4k installed.

3 months later I replaced those with Bilstein for 10k installed. Wish I did the Bilsteins first.

what was the reason ?

[bkkjames]

Better quality.. Kyb were OK but I also wanted to level my ride which the bilsteins are capable of.

Sent from my LG-P970 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[pgrahmm]

Better quality.. Kyb were OK but I also wanted to level my ride which the bilsteins are capable of.

Sent from my LG-P970 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Shocks are non load bearing/supporting and so not level anything.....do you mean on cornering situations.....flatter around turns.....

[transam]

Better quality.. Kyb were OK but I also wanted to level my ride which the bilsteins are capable of.

Sent from my LG-P970 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Shocks are non load bearing/supporting and so not level anything.....do you mean on cornering situations.....flatter around turns.....

My Volvo rear self levelers were. Amazing things, no air pump involved either.

[bkkjames]

Better quality.. Kyb were OK but I also wanted to level my ride which the bilsteins are capable of.

Sent from my LG-P970 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Shocks are non load bearing/supporting and so not level anything.....do you mean on cornering situations.....flatter around turns.....

OK I will tell the mechanic to lower the front of my truck back down because the height adjustable bilsteins I had him put on are only an illusion lol

Sent from my LG-P970 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[wowjudo]

Better quality.. Kyb were OK but I also wanted to level my ride which the bilsteins are capable of.

Sent from my LG-P970 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

do you think those KYB's would be better than the 11 year old OEM shocks of the nissan sunny ? else i'd rather order a new set of OEM ones

bilstein sounds interesting. i am actually in search for a better suspension setup for my honda accord. but i had only recommandation to not change the shocks etc on the accord because it would only worsen it.

[culicine]

Better quality.. Kyb were OK but I also wanted to level my ride which the bilsteins are capable of.

Sent from my LG-P970 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

do you think those KYB's would be better than the 11 year old OEM shocks of the nissan sunny ? else i'd rather order a new set of OEM ones

bilstein sounds interesting. i am actually in search for a better suspension setup for my honda accord. but i had only recommandation to not change the shocks etc on the accord because it would only worsen it.

No need to change shocks if they are not excessively bouncy or noisy. Hon my honda civic, the fronts got noisy after about 200K kms, when going over rough road. Apart from that they were ok. Most kinds of aftermarket suspension will make the ride firmer, especially on low profile tires.

[wowjudo]

ok thanks for the information. the nissan sunny has 136k km but the suspension is noisy already. my wife said that she wants to get rid of it since she has a new car but i like that sunny - its a good ride if its in good shape

[transam]

Shocks do an incredible amount of work and do have a life span.

[pgrahmm]

Better quality.. Kyb were OK but I also wanted to level my ride which the bilsteins are capable of.

Sent from my LG-P970 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Shocks are non load bearing/supporting and so not level anything.....do you mean on cornering situations.....flatter around turns.....

OK I will tell the mechanic to lower the front of my truck back down because the height adjustable bilsteins I had him put on are only an illusion lol

Sent from my LG-P970 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

See that SPRING around your shock brainiac? THAT'S what changes your ride height....from 0 - 2.5".....the shock itself is a hydraulic unit that bears no weight.....