Does anyone have experience with Strut Masters?

[Mister]

Hi,

 

Before I get lost in the discussion let me put my questions up front so they won't get buried in background talk:

 

1. What are your opinions of Strutmaster Struts?

 

2. I could really use some sources for coil springs. Do you know of any vendors?

 

I've inherited an old '92 Legacy L FWD I'm trying to restore. Actually it's basically pretty sound and has most original parts at 200,000 miles. I'm starting with the most needed repair, which are the front struts. I've been browsing and comparing the usuals: Monroe, KYB, ACdelco. I've come across an intriguing option at strutmasters.com .

 

The Pros:

 

They're completely assembled. This is a great convenience since I don't have to wait for delivery of separate parts, get coils compressed, or spend time on assembly.

 

They're priced competitively. The price compares well to the least expensive assembly I could find, which are the Monroe Sensa-Trac struts, mounting kit, and boot kit. The best prices I've found are at rockauto.com , with delivery from 2 different locations. Coils would have to be purchased from a different vendor.

 

The Cons:

 

They come in a complete kit of 4 fully assembled struts. I'd really like to just buy the fronts right now. The rear suspension isn't at all bad and can wait until after I've dedicated my attention and discretionary income into a couple of other projects needing higher priority.

 

That leaves me with the final question. The only online vendor I've found for coil springs for this car is subaru-parts-dealer.com Are there any others?

[Legacy777]

I'd highly recommend the KYB GR2 struts.

 

Do not get Monroes. Had the monroes for a short time on the front of my Legacy. Got KYB's in the rear, and then finally upgraded to KYB's in the front. The difference in handling was night and day.

[Mister]

Thanks Josh, that's probably what I'll end up doing. From what I've read, the G-2s get consistently good commentary, and the feedback on the Monroe's is mixed.