Well, I have have sensatrac shocks on the hhr for LESS than a year and they are already leaking oil. Is it normal for them to be wet near the top of the cylinder? Anybody notice this on theirs? Or on the KYB'S? I am considering just ordering the OEM from gmpartshouse.com. Ok, rant over.

 

Sorry, no answers here, just getting ready to change mine , so I hope to get some good info!!

 

Way, way back, Monroe put out a relatively decent product....a cheap replacement (almost) for the OEM products. Over the past, oh maybe 15 years, they just put out a cheap product that does not compare to OEM...(based on test results that I have seen).

KYB, which I have had some experience with, has a pretty reliable product that is reasonably engineered. IMO.

Of course, when I decided to change my suspension components, I elected OEM SS parts, which are direct bolt-on replacement. Anything else was way to expensive for an HHR and required additional effort in the install. But if I was staying with the stock handling and "feel" I would pick between OEM and KYB.

 

Koni's are the best.

 

Snoopy when you replaced your non ss suspension. Parts with ss parts did the hhr handle better? Did it drive much rougher

 

If you get 100K out of shocks & struts you should count yourself lucky! This is not really anything new, we just expect more from cars these days. Remember when 5yr/50K miles was an incredible warranty, and all cars with 100K lived in the junkyard?

Anyway, we used to plan on new shocks, idler arm, ball joints and tires every 15,000 miles. Unfortunately, the manufacturers have not kept their Quality up across the board. We now have 70,000 mile tires, McPherson Strut suspensions (no ball joint wear,no idler arm, no tie rod end wear) and reliable engines & transmissions.

Just saying, remember the "good old days"? I think that my dad would have had a fit if anyone tried to sell him tires that would last twice as long as the car would (70K).

 

Oh wow, those were the days weren't they? You were really something if you got 100,000 miles out of a car even into the 70's, my Grandpa had grille badges from Dodge for 100,000/150,000/200,000/250,000/300,000 miles on the same car since new. They even sent him letters every time he reached a "Mileage Milestone", got his picture in the local paper when that Coronet made it to 250,000 in 1975, it was a big deal.

Cars are better today by a margin that would blow people like my Grandpa away, maybe we have it too good, hence a culture of griping when something goes "poof" at only 100,000 miles.

 

Yep, 2009 HHR 72,000 203 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 162,000 1995 Chevy Astro,226,000 1976 Chevy C20 longbed stepside 62,000

 

Cars are better today by a margin that would blow people like my Grandpa away, maybe we have it too good, hence a culture of griping when something goes "poof" at only 100,000 miles.[/QUOTE]

Had these shocks lasted 100,000 miles I would have no compaint. The originals lasted 55,000 miles and of that I have no complaint. My complaint is that the Monroe replacements that are less than a year old and have 12000 miles on them are leaking.

 

You are correct, leaking after only 12,000 miles isn't normal, if you kept your receipts...get in touch with Monroe and see what they'll do for you. I prefer the KYB units just because they have a good track record with a reputation for quality.

As an aside, before you think of going back to OEM parts, remember that Monroe is a supplier to GM and you will possibly be spending you money with them again, albeit indirectly.