KYB rear shocks for 2000-2005 LeSabre. Don't Buy.

[Merkava_4]

After installing and uninstalling the KYB rear shocks about 6-8 times, I'm back to square one. No matter what I did with those KYB shocks, they would always rattle going down the road. I even took the car to a professional frame and wheel shop to have them check my work; they said everything was installed correctly. Finally I gave up and put the factory shocks and mounts back on the car. Rattle is gone. The factory shocks have 142,000 miles on them and they're shot, but they don't rattle. I wish I could buy Genuine GM replacement shocks but they're no longer available.

 

[Ameri]

After installing and uninstalling the KYB rear shocks about 6-8 times, I'm back to square one. No matter what I did with those KYB shocks, they would always rattle going down the road. I even took the car to a professional frame and wheel shop to have them check my work; they said everything was installed correctly. Finally I gave up and put the factory shocks and mounts back on the car. Rattle is gone. The factory shocks have 142,000 miles on them and they're shot, but they don't rattle. I wish I could buy Genuine GM replacement shocks but they're no longer available.

I am experiencing a similar situation to yours. I replaced both front and rear shocks. But something in the front end feels lose, I can’t quite call it rattle, but the suspension doesn’t feel like new, something is lose and the car feel kinda twitchy, yet very sensitive to road imperfections, and even rattle on certain potholes.
I replaced front control arms, tie-rods, and shocks. I used for the front, ACDelco “OEM” from Rockauto. But it definitely doesn’t feel like the stock ones.

 

[420skateman]

So what do i do i am having same problem i cant get rattle to go away...

 

[Alan 55]

After installing and uninstalling the KYB rear shocks about 6-8 times, I'm back to square one. No matter what I did with those KYB shocks, they would always rattle going down the road. I even took the car to a professional frame and wheel shop to have them check my work; they said everything was installed correctly. Finally I gave up and put the factory shocks and mounts back on the car. Rattle is gone. The factory shocks have 142,000 miles on them and they're shot, but they don't rattle. I wish I could buy Genuine GM replacement shocks but they're no longer available.

Have you tried the Monroe rear shocks? They have been great on my Park Avenue but can not speak for the Lesabre?

 

[Merkava_4]

Have you tried the Monroe rear shocks? They have been great on my Park Avenue but can not speak for the Lesabre?

I just now picked up a pair. On the outside, they look identical to the KYB. The box they came in are identical to the KYB box and the part number the cardboard box manufacturer uses are identical. The big difference are the mounts. The KYB mounts are a soft rubber while the Monroe mounts are more of a hard plastic. Which is better I don't know.

The washers that came with the mounts and the shocks have the same part number stamped into them for both KYB and Monroe. I'm hoping that's where the similarity ends however because KYB shocks ride extremely harsh. If you were to replace the factory shocks with a couple of solid steel bars in place of them, that would mimic how the KYB shocks ride.

The one thing that has me concerned is the top threaded rods are different between the factory shocks and the aftermarket shocks. The factory shocks have more threads in the rod and in a different place along the rod. I'm thinking maybe the aftermarket shocks aren't allowing me to tighten them down all the way because I could be running out of threads before the shocks get tight.

Another thing I noticed on the KYB shocks is that one shock will retract by hand while the other KYB shock is frozen in its extended length. I need to have both the KYB shocks in their retracted state so that I can get them into their box for shipping back to Amazon.

 

[Alan 55]

I just now picked up a pair. On the outside, they look identical to the KYB. The box they came in are identical to the KYB box and the part number the cardboard box manufacturer uses are identical. The big difference are the mounts. The KYB mounts are a soft rubber while the Monroe mounts are more of a hard plastic. Which is better I don't know.

The washers that came with the mounts and the shocks have the same part number stamped into them for both KYB and Monroe. I'm hoping that's where the similarity ends however because KYB shocks ride extremely harsh. If you were to replace the factory shocks with a couple of solid steel bars in place of them, that would mimic how the KYB shocks ride.

The one thing that has me concerned is the top threaded rods are different between the factory shocks and the aftermarket shocks. The factory shocks have more threads in the rod and in a different place along the rod. I'm thinking maybe the aftermarket shocks aren't allowing me to tighten them down all the way because I could be running out of threads before the shocks get tight.

Another thing I noticed on the KYB shocks is that one shock will retract by hand while the other KYB shock is frozen in its extended length. I need to have both the KYB shocks in their retracted state so that I can get them into their box for shipping back to Amazon.

Please let us know how this turns out.

 

[Merkava_4]

Update: The Monroe shocks are fine. They don't rattle. I think the main issure with the KYB shocks is that one of them was completely locked out to where it would not retract. It was locked out in the extended position. I suspect an internal valve problem with that shock.

The Monroe shocks don't pound my kidneys like the KYB shocks did. Nice.

One word of caution: Don't use the lock nuts that come with the Monroe mounts. They are lock nuts that bite in way too hard. You'll never get them tight before they start spinning the threaded studs. I had to cut through one of the studs to get the mount back off the car. I recommend using either the factory lock nuts or some free spinning nuts.

 

[Alan 55]

Update: The Monroe shocks are fine. They don't rattle. I think the main issure with the KYB shocks is that one of them was completely locked out to where it would not retract. It was locked out in the extended position. I suspect an internal valve problem with that shock.

The Monroe shocks don't pound my kidneys like the KYB shocks did. Nice.

One word of caution: Don't use the lock nuts that come with the Monroe mounts. They are lock nuts that bite in way too hard. You'll never get them tight before they start spinning the threaded studs. I had to cut through one of the studs to get the mount back off the car. I recommend using either the factory lock nuts or some free spinning nuts.

I am glad that your project turned out well. Thanks for the info and tips.

 

[Ameri]

Update: The Monroe shocks are fine. They don't rattle. I think the main issure with the KYB shocks is that one of them was completely locked out to where it would not retract. It was locked out in the extended position. I suspect an internal valve problem with that shock.

The Monroe shocks don't pound my kidneys like the KYB shocks did. Nice.

One word of caution: Don't use the lock nuts that come with the Monroe mounts. They are lock nuts that bite in way too hard. You'll never get them tight before they start spinning the threaded studs. I had to cut through one of the studs to get the mount back off the car. I recommend using either the factory lock nuts or some free spinning nuts.

Thanks for sharing this! I am curious, do you have the soft ride or the firm ride (F41)?