Owner reviews for strut assembly

Bilstein HD struts with VR6 springs to raise the ride height.

I wound up getting Bilsteins off Tire Rack. The Bilstein indicates the stroke is a little shorter for lowered vehicles, but I have yet to notice them topping out on me anywhere. I'm quite happy with Bilsteins, zero complaints.

The Bilstein struts have served me well, but it's time for coilovers.

In the 80's and early 90's, BMW sport cars used a simple single pivot struts and trailing arms for the rear. Although this setup has its weakness, but it has the feedback that fundamentally missing from the newer dual pivot and multilink setup.

Buy Toyota Genuine. They are pricey but the quality can't be beaten.

For my WRX, I went with KYB. First, they are cheaper. Second, they are 20% stiffer than OEM. I know you might not want a stiff ride, but the OEM ones are really soft. The 20% stiffer ones pair very nicely with stock springs. Honestly, it will feel and handle much better.

KYB actually makes the OEM ones, so fitment is spot on.

Just want to bump this as Im super happy with my new stockish setup. H&R OE Sport springs and Koni Str.t struts. Stock ride height (H&R says it lowers it .75" front and rear) and a really comfortable ride. Koni states the Str.t's are valved for lowering springs (1.5-3") but I think they feel great.

I settled for Monroe Quick-Struts which come assemble as front struts. And also bought the Monroe Shocks. At first they felt nice with very nice handling. But I got sick of them being too bouncy. It's as if riding a boat breaking small waves.

I have a 2018 GTI with about 15K on Bilstein B8's with MSS street springs. Today while leaving work I heard a pop and rattle from the front end of the car. Pulled over, inspected and found the strut nut sheared at the threads between the strut and the strut mount.

Since you mention winter...I would stay away from the STR.T line. I bought them a few years ago for my Passat and after the first winter the things started to rust. The problem is the paint; it's garbage - I don't think they were primed, just sprayed orange. Maybe it's a cost-savings area but after the first winter the paint was flaking all over and after the second there was little paint left and heavy surface rust (big time pitting) everywhere.