They have a steel cover on the exposed shaft part of the shock. I had to go look to make sure.

Correction: When I wrote the above reply, I went to the xB and looked, and they do have a cover. But if they do come without a cover, then I must have taken the cover off of the stock xB's and put them on the new shocks. The xB's that are now in the Sensatrac box does not have a cover, but the sensatracs now on the xB are covered. I do know that I did not purchase additional covers. So I switched the covers out. Sorry for the initial misinformation.

 

Have decided on SensaTracs, since I just want soft shocks to allow full spring travel, with no desire to adjust them harder. Called my local reputable alignment specialty shop for an estimate. They want $275 for the 4 SensaTracs, plus $140 for installation, plus $40 to $100 for alignment. The high figure assumes the holes in the struts will not be precisely in the right place.
I called NAPA, and the same four SensaTracs were $175, and from the SL thread at https://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=20769, I can easily install them. Then I could decide on an alignment.

 

The suspension on our cars are unbelievably easy to work with just hand tools and a cheap spring compressor. Those prices are absolutely rediculous when you consider that it's only 150 for the shock/struts, and only 2 hours for a no brainer install.

Fyi, the bolt holes for the sensatracs line up perfectly. A small adjustment will need to be done on the brake line to line it up just right, other then that it works fine~

-M-flo

 

How neccessary is the spring compressor? The instructions here do not use one:
https://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=20769

It seems the strut can be removed with the spring compressed in it. Then the spring is under such little compression that it needs no compressor tool to free it from the strut or reinstall it in the strut. For reinstallation, a helper is shown to hold the spring compressed at allow the top nut to be put on the strut, but it looks like something I could do alone with two hands and a knee.

 

Those instructions suggest if you can loosen the strut nut. Most of the time, the nut doesn't loosen and you wind up just turning the shock around. I've changed about 7 xA suspensions, not one of them I was able to get the strut nut off without using a spring compressor.

It's not a bad idea to have it as a back up, besides it's relatively cheap (20 bucks at autozone?) and is a good tool if you adjust your suspension alot.

 

I have done one spring install... on an xB.

No spring compressor was required, just two guys.

 

heck you can raint the spring compressor for fre for Autozone

 

And you can buy one almost free:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...temnumber=3980

 

And, with Monroe's 90th Anniversary promotion (valid unti April 30), there is a $50 rebate on 2 struts + 2 shocks. Net cost for softer suspension = $125.

 

Just a clarification - if you got this from my initial posting on the "rebate" thread - it looks like you get a $50 certificate to be used withing 90 days for additional Monroe shocks & struts. So it's not a rebate but similar, I guess, to a gift card for a future purchase.

Here's the link to more information:

http://www.monroe.com/promo/document...onroe90WEB.pdf

 

I just bought a set of 4 SensaTracs from NAPA but am not pleased and will take them back. The struts have rubber covers, the shocks have no covers, and there is no cash rebate.

1. The promotion page does just say you get a "Comeback Certificate", even though you have to click on a "Rebate Pad" to bring up the application form:
http://www.monroe.com/promo/promotions.asp

2. I got my SensaTracs from NAPA. The box says NAPA not Monroe, but they are made by Tenneco who makes Monroe, and it's a Tenneco promotion.

3. NAPA had quoted me $175 for the set on the phone, but the set came to $225 in the store. They said the Comeback Certificate must have been included in the quote.

4. The box for the struts shows the upper cover is a rubber bellows. I hate those. The box for the shocks at least shows the upper cover is metal. Thinking of the $50 rebate, I went ahead and bought the set.

5. When I opened a shock box at home, there is no upper cover at all. The piston rod is bared to sand and salt.

6. I called NAPA to ask what a $50 Comeback Certificate would be good for. NAPA said the certificates are in-store credits that can be used for anything in the store.

So... the struts have rubber covers and the shocks have none, there is no cash rebate, and I can't think of $50 worth of NAPA auto supplies that I want.

 

They have a steel cover on the exposed shaft part of the shock. I had to go look to make sure.

Correction: When I wrote the above reply, I went to the xB and looked, and they do have a cover. But if they do come without a cover, as vintage42 says, then I must have taken the cover off of the stock xB's and put them on the new shocks. The xB's that are now in the Sensatrac box does not have a cover, but the sensatracs now on the xB are covered. I do know that I did not purchase additional covers. So I switched the covers out. Sorry for the initial misinformation.

 

Not having my xB yet, and not having the shocks out to look at, I would not have known that the KYBs had covers that should be removed and put onto SensaTracs.

Now that I re-read the SL DIY on Konis, it does say to take the *plastic* cover off the KYBs and put it onto the KONIS. Plastic, not steel.

When I returned my SensaTracs to NAPA, they said they thought rubber boot kits were available, but were not sure. They *should" have suggested that the car came with some kind of shock covers that were transferred from shock to shock.

It is illogical that any shock or strut be made without any cover for the piston - the seal would not last very long.

 

I'm doing my rears this weekend, good to know.

 

I took delivery of my xB yesterday - it only had 1 mile on it. I think I will go back to NAPA and get just the rear SensaTracs that I returned, leaving the fronts alone for now.

 

Boxer & vintage.....Let us know what you think of the change.

 

I put on the Echo #5987 rear SensaTrac shocks today, at 150 miles. It really is fast and easy, using 14mm and 17 mm wrenches (open, box and socket). Just park the car, crawl under and do it.

I stood both shocks upright, held onto the pistons, and pushed them closed as hard as I could. The KYB has a lot of resistance, and the SensaTrac has much less. So the SensaTrac lets the xB's rear springs compress much easier on bumps.

After installation, bumps seemed to pass under the rear of the car with less notice. But after a little while, the remembrance neccessary for comparison faded, and the SensaTracs just felt normal. So far I have not had time to carry any passengers.

I don't know why such a hard KYB shock was specified by Scion, but the SensaTrac seems to be a better shock for the US market.

SensaTracs are made for the US company Tenneco, who markets them under the brand names of Monroe, NAPA, Sears, Midas, etc. My SensaTracs were sold under the NAPA brand. The shock boxes said "Made in USA", but the shocks were stamped "Made in Belgium". The box for the front struts, which I did not buy, says "Made in Spain".

 

Well, I have em in, and I can echo the seniments above and by others. The ride feels much more buttoned down, kinda like a typically well-dampened VW or Bimmer kind of composure. Much of the dips and bumps on the way home were just a blip, not fazing the car with unruly ride motions as they previously did. I imagine Koni's are even better, but you gotta give it up to the SensaTracs for the price. Maybe the best mod I've done so far.

 

So if someone wanted a smooth everyday ride - hauling people will happen

I planned on putting in xA shocks and either the sensatrac or Koni struts.. I want to get a good spring but the ones that provide more give also appear to lower the car. I've got a max on 2in (if I can even squeeze that) due to my driveway.

 

Great to know info guys. I will get me a rear set today and get them mounted. It just doesn't seem like it could be this easy to loose that harsh ride. Thanks again!!!