OEM struts vs. KYB

[Miranthis]

I have a gen 5.5 Camry se (2005). While rotating tires last night I found the drivers front strut is leaking. After reading many pages of threads on struts it looks like either the OEM or the KYB GR-2 are the choices. I got on line prices of about $114 for the OEM SE struts and about $80 for the KYB. The consensus of the prior posts seems to be that the KYB is stiffer than the OEM, but not by much. But no one really suggested just replacing with an OEM strut (I assumed due to cost of the OEM part).

The way I see it I should replace the fronts as a set (car has 101K on it so it is likely time). I expected the OEM to be much more expensive. If I am not really looking to change the ride so much as to just put a good quality strut on that will not ruin the current handling should I go with the cheaper KYB's or the OEM?

[james399]

Originally Posted by Miranthis

I have a gen 5.5 Camry se (2005). While rotating tires last night I found the drivers front strut is leaking. After reading many pages of threads on struts it looks like either the OEM or the KYB GR-2 are the choices. I got on line prices of about $114 for the OEM SE struts and about $80 for the KYB. The consensus of the prior posts seems to be that the KYB is stiffer than the OEM, but not by much. But no one really suggested just replacing with an OEM strut (I assumed due to cost of the OEM part).

The way I see it I should replace the fronts as a set (car has 101K on it so it is likely time). I expected the OEM to be much more expensive. If I am not really looking to change the ride so much as to just put a good quality strut on that will not ruin the current handling should I go with the cheaper KYB's or the OEM?

uh, the kyb is a stock replacement... if there is a difference it will be negligible... when people say it feels stiffer, it could be because of several things... (most of the time it is when someone puts springs into their used strust, which of course will be softer, and compare it to someone who put in brand new kyb struts with their springs...) but i don't trust "butt" dynos... as far as i knew, and someone correct me if i'm wrong but i thought the struts for the gen 5 se le and xle are the same... so i'm sure it will be fine, in fact there are cheaper alternatives to the kybs, all stock replacements... got to pepboys and or autozone, and they will give you a list...

[2k4CamThrilla]

Go with the KYB's. Most of our fellow Tn'ers who have replaced there struts along with new springs went with KYB struts.