Robert Stanton
Active Member
Installed new Monroe Reflex on my '05 today (6765 miles on it). Like everyone else who's ever done it says, I LIKE!
Many thanks to STan Stockdale and David Vinson for their projects. They were a tremendous help in preparing me for what to expect. However, I do have a few observations:
1. I'm not a very physical guy, so this took a little more elbow grease than I was expecting. But that said, it wasn't all that hard to do.
2. Having the right tools would have made this a bit easier. I had a buddy bring me a deep-socket 13mm socket to get the bottom nuts off the front shocks, and a 15mm racheting wrench to make getting the top nut off. I still could have used a 13mm racheting wrench for the top nuts of the rear shocks... with such little clearance up there it was a pain in the buttocks to get those suckers off.
3. Given my clearance issue mentioned above, replacing the rears was more difficult than replacing the front shocks. One of the projects here states otherwise.
4. Sears sucks. They wanted $70 each for the Reflexes, which they didn't even have in stock. I could have gotten Sensa-Tracs installed for $200+tax (they had them for $50 each with free installation), but I wanted to do the install myself, and I wanted Reflexes. So, I used the $100 gift card I had to buy some new tools, and ended up going to Advance Auto Parts to pick up all four shocks for $198 out the door.
5. After getting them installed and taking it for a spin, all I can say is that it now rides like I think it always should have. No more skipping around over bumps (which were especially nerve-wracking around curves!). The ride isn't really any stiffer, but it feels like the tires are staying on the road like they should. Vast improvement.
Again, thanks to the guys who posted projects, and MANY thanks to all of you for suggesting that everyone replace their shocks. I'm definitely jumping on that bandwagon.
Many thanks to STan Stockdale and David Vinson for their projects. They were a tremendous help in preparing me for what to expect. However, I do have a few observations:
1. I'm not a very physical guy, so this took a little more elbow grease than I was expecting. But that said, it wasn't all that hard to do.
2. Having the right tools would have made this a bit easier. I had a buddy bring me a deep-socket 13mm socket to get the bottom nuts off the front shocks, and a 15mm racheting wrench to make getting the top nut off. I still could have used a 13mm racheting wrench for the top nuts of the rear shocks... with such little clearance up there it was a pain in the buttocks to get those suckers off.
3. Given my clearance issue mentioned above, replacing the rears was more difficult than replacing the front shocks. One of the projects here states otherwise.
4. Sears sucks. They wanted $70 each for the Reflexes, which they didn't even have in stock. I could have gotten Sensa-Tracs installed for $200+tax (they had them for $50 each with free installation), but I wanted to do the install myself, and I wanted Reflexes. So, I used the $100 gift card I had to buy some new tools, and ended up going to Advance Auto Parts to pick up all four shocks for $198 out the door.
5. After getting them installed and taking it for a spin, all I can say is that it now rides like I think it always should have. No more skipping around over bumps (which were especially nerve-wracking around curves!). The ride isn't really any stiffer, but it feels like the tires are staying on the road like they should. Vast improvement.
Again, thanks to the guys who posted projects, and MANY thanks to all of you for suggesting that everyone replace their shocks. I'm definitely jumping on that bandwagon.
