AW11 Budget/OEM shock replacement.

Ok so everyone has probably done the best shock, shock vs coil over to death but I'm more interested in the best budget OEM replacement.
 
A quick search reveals there are 3 or 4 options for the AW11 (prices are delivered or local):
KYB GR-2 $440
Gabriel Ultra $320
Monroe Sensa-trac $440 (can't find local or anywhere that ships them to Aus, price is estimated)
Tokico HP (blue) $520
 
The Tokico blue are the stand out best of the lot but are not far off the price of Koni Yellow ($755 from twosrus.com at the moment).
 
I've had Monroe sensa-trac on an SW20 in the past and found the ride very comfortable but still responsive enough to have some fun. They complimented the stock suspension set up well for the road but I certainly wouldn't consider them for anything more serious (or a weekender), this would make them perfect for my application but can't find them in Aus.
 
KYB have a very good reputation and you'd consider the Toyota OEM manufacturer would produce just as good of an aftermarket product but that doesn't appear to be the case with their KYB GR-2. The consensus from the majority of reviews indicate they're soft, spongy and don't stand up to hard work (everyone from Echo through to Supra owner, even Honda owners agree!)
 
The Gabriel Ultra (cheapest and nastiest some would say) have nothing but good reviews. No one argues the price is right, but most people who reviewed them found the ride slightly firmer than factory and they handled a beating. The biggest problems came from 4x4 owners (Pedder's off the shelf 4x4 replacements) who had increased the ride by more than a couple of inches or towing heavy loads. The problem is I've not found many reviews from small compact sports car owners that are looking for the same ride I a; Any complaints from this group are not with the product but that they're not Koni's. Has anyone tried the Gabriel and know if they're a reasonable OEM replacement in a car like the AW11? $320 is the 25% off price at Supercheap that ends on the 10/6/13, though I may be able to get them direct from ATAP.

You will be able to find the monroe, kyb and gabriels on rockauto I think. Should be the cheapest you'll find online. I paid $30 for each Monroe shock for a Saab I once owned :)

I heard the KYB SSS's were *okay*, but coming from someone who had KYB OEM's, I can totally agree with how soft and underdampened they feel. They might soak up bumps pretty well but you damn well felt and heard it when you hit a tiny pithole, they simply couldn't handle the rebound at all.
 
Don't forget TRD fronts are still available I believe, the rears are long discontinued. Tokico's definitely seem the go for those that can't justify Koni yellows.

Thats good news.
 
hrmmmmmm, be careful with that, maybe double check it. they list that part number from 84-89. buts its well known that the shocks differed on 84-86 and 87-89. so surely the same one can't do both series
 
http://gabriel.com/our-products/car-light-truck-van/pv-detailed-specs/?partnum=G44802
 
specs are there but I can't remember the size differances in the S1 and S2

I notice on the yank gabriel site lists different shocks for the different years. Lucky for us, the ones listed on the Ausy site are actually 87-89!
 
US listings:
85-87 AW11 Front G44802 Rear G44803
87-89 AW11 Front G44802 Rear G44943 
 
With all the positive feedback I will be purchasing the Gabriels from Supercheap after pay day (Killed the credit card buying a rebuild kit for the other car). I've got a set of Koni Yellows which will be going into a track AW11 eventually so if I can find the time I will try both and see if there is a noticeable difference for the daily driver. 
 
Cheers,
 
Nick

Ok I've got my Koni yellows for the track car and Gabriels for the weekender. I'll endeavour to trial them both with stock suspension and report back. In other news I'll have 4 stock shocks for sale, all roadworthy and passed inspection recently.

I snapped up a pair of unused inserts off gumtree for a couple of hundred and purchased my second pair from twosrus.com with a load of other stuff. Twosrus will set you back about $800for a full set of inserts (delivered), with their current discount.
 
I've not seen a strut replacement, other than Monroe, only inserts. Many picture the strut replacement, but I'm not sure that's what is sold (like on the ebay ad you've posted, as those pictured wont fit an AW11).
 
There are some cheap deals on Ebay from time to time but it all works out to be much the same as twosrus.com. My biggest gripe is with twosrus shipping price in general, I've asked if there is an alternative but due to failures in the past they're firm with the limited options. I've found a similar package from amazon would cost me literally half or less. Unfortunately they will not ship to Aus but they would be by far the cheapest.
 
The biggest advantage to twosrus is a whole heap of other parts you will struggle to find elsewhere and the piece of mind that what you're getting is 100% correct, when you're spending big bucks (lets face it, $800 for shocks is 1/5th the value of the car), you want to get it right.
 
Nick.

kojab
Good info. 
 
I am hoping that I don't need to buy new struts as I have G4 coilovers but one of the shocks is leaking so I had thoughts of fitting koni inserts.  Is this possible?  I have read several times people looking to rebuild the G4s due to leaking shocks and wondered if you just can't fit some other manufactures inserts or is that not possible.
 
I am the new owner of RobYobs AW11  Very happy with it.
 
Cheers

How is that 3sgte powered AW11 going? What area are you in? You should come along to the Sydney monthly meets?