Just wondering my back is killing me even worse now and i found a good deal on them.

 

I belive so, I know that the front will fit but not sure about the rear, I want the front strts, cause I heard that the lower your car about an 1/2 inch

 

The Monroe Sensatrac 5987 for the 2002 Echo sedan is an excellent replacement for the rear shocks on the xB with stock springs.

Those Monroes fit properly and give a much less brutal ride than the overly stiff OEM shocks.

Quite a few folks have done this swap (or a very similar one for some lowered xBs - shorter shocks - 5870) to get a better ride.

Mine are on order right now, and I hope they are in before my upcoming trip.

====

Rear shocks by themselves will NOT lower the static height of the vehicle unless for some very strange reason you are already beyond the height limits of your stock shocks (airbags, for example). Shocks do not support the vehicle, they only dampen suspension movement (that's why the Brits call them dampers).

Front struts, however, CAN affect static ride height because the strut assemblies have the spring perches as a part of them. The Monroe struts for the 2002 Echo sedan (71575 strut and a 63618 boot kit - or use the old boots if they are OK) have the perches mounted about a half inch lower than the OEM struts for the xB, and lower the front of the xB about 1/2 inch when installed. Other than a smoother ride and a 1/2 inch lowering of the front ONLY, a complete changeout to the Monroe's intended for the 2002 Echo cause no other changes.

HTH,

 

I have the Koni adjustables in the rear and they were the same part for an Echo.

Erik

 

(The nice thing about the Monroes is even at Sears they are like $80 a pair, installed, for the rear - or pick 'em up at NAPA for around $33 each. The Koni shocks are adjustable and fancier, but definately a bit more expensive.)

 

Absolutely Not! JK, yes.

 

Sorry I posted this before I saw another thread on this on this page.
Thanks guys

 

I had the Monroe Shocks (rears) installed on my stock heigth xB aq few weeks ago.

To copy a line from others who made this change, this is the best money I have spent on this car.

Much smoother ride.

 

Kinda new around here, but I am trying to figure out if these monroe numbers would fit on an xA as well as an xB?

 

I won't swear to it, but they 'should.' Might try a search for xA shocks ...

 

Monroe Sensatrac for the Echo do fit, as the 15 minutes it took me yesterday for the rears will attest. Ride seems better but I haven't gone more than 3 miles so far.

Front struts will be another day.

 

just another retarded question, but i'm riding on teins which should i go with?

 

Just installed rear shocks on my xB that has S-tech springs. I used KYB GR-2 which is 1" shorter than the stock. Part # is 343295 (its for 2002 Echo). The ride is alot better now.

 

Jumped on the bandwagon and purchased the 5870 Monroes since my car is almost 2inches lowered.

They should be here tommorow. Will let you know how they are.

 

You will Absofreakinlutly love them. They are one, if not The best mod for the xB/xA hands down!!!

 

I have some question. I have a daily driver that i will be adding 17 or 18 inch wheels, not sure just yet. But I definitely do what a smoother ride.
Im thinking of getting the Tein springs which will prob drop my car 1.5 inch.
Now if I get Monroe shocks for the rear, do I have to get front shocks also?
But lets say I do go with front monroe shocks, that will drop my ride another .5 in the front. can I ride that way?or do I just adjust the rear another .5?
Please forgive the ignorance, new at trying to get my ride smoother

any help is greatly appreciated

 

Er... just one comment here on a problem with that quote. The phrases "adding 17 or 18 inch wheels" and "want a smoother ride" are mutually exclusive.

ANY reduction in sidewall height makes for a more brutal ride. Sorry.

Replacing just the rear shocks with less stiff ones improves the ride a lot. Replacing the front struts can be an additional improvement in ride, but doesn't make near as much difference. My recommendation would be to try the rears only to see how it feels.

Tom

 

I replaced the rears with the Konis---MUCH better ride!!!

I didn't know about the Monroes at the time---it sounds like you can get the same results for much less $$$ unless you particularly want adjustable shocks.

Unless you need front struts, it's not cost-effective to replace them.

Believe me, the ride is less punishing now from just the rear replacement.

This thead is more in-depth...

https://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=65648

 

I'll take it step by step...
For smoother ride- 17's will be smoother than 18's. Stick with 215/40/17 tire size.
Your spring choice is good. H techs drop an inch, whereas the S techs drop closer to 2 inches.
Pass on the front struts till you need them (60K plus). The rears will smooth out the ride nicely. (I got em and love them).
Hopefully by the time we NEED struts, Monroe will have added the correct struts to their catalogue to cover the xA and xB. Hope this clears up any remaining questions.

 

OK here's a quick overview about the Monroe 5870 rear shocks. I have Megan Racing springs with a 280 lbs Front and 230 lbs Rear spring rates.

I measured the height of both shocks (stock and the 5870's).

Stock = 29 3/8 inches tall
5870 = 27 inches tall

I'm lowered about 1.85-2 inches .... Not so bad for a shorter shock. The monroe is larger in diameter compared to the stock shock. Is there any advantages to this?

I took it for a 5 miles ride highway and streets. The ride is smoother coming from the rear. The rear doesn't bounce as the shock is doing its job. My stock shocks are 56k and now i feel that they are dead. I can still feel the stiff springs in the front, there is no getting out of that unless someone has Monroe's on the Front with the megan racing springs. Not bad for an 80 dollar purchase. I hope they last just as long.