Monroe - Quick-Strut Complete Strut Assembly

This thread is dedicated to the discussion of the Monroe - Quick-Strut Complete Strut Assembly.

I recently had a pair of these installed and I am experiencing a bit of difficulty. After the installation, the front end was lifted about 3" higher than what it was before the install. I was under the assumption that within a few days it would drop to OEM ride height. After a week the lift has come down and inch or so. It's been two weeks and it would be nice to bring it down at least another inch or so. The lift in the front is dumping weight in the back and I have lost most of the traction in the front. Not only is it annoying but I think it's dangerous because I have no acceleration power.

Anyone else have any problems with this? Part #171665 Monroe - Quick Struts. I have now been told the new springs will settle in after 2 weeks (it's been 2 weeks and nothing yet) I have also been told it can take 2-3 months for them to come down to more comfortable resting place.

I've read on the Net that the Quick Struts can ride higher than OEM and that's just the way it is. If they really are just naturally higher, shouldn't the air pump be triggered to lift the back up to level the ride?

I am going to see this weekend if the quick strut springs can be swapped with the OEM springs. If not I will look into adding the line to the shock pump and manually lift the back. The height of the car doesn't bother me, it's the weight distribution. If that all fails, I will either take in the butt and do the KYB install and see if I can return these monroes, cut the monroe springs, or put huge wheels in the back to get the weight back up front again.

Here's what the ride looked like 3 days after

and, 5 days after

Quote :

I've read on the Net that the Quick Struts can ride higher than OEM and that's just the way it is. If they really are just naturally higher, shouldn't the air pump be triggered to lift the back up to level the ride?

No, because the ALC depends on the front ride height being correct in order to "level" the car. The way it works, the front right height is some number, x. The rear ride height sensor doesn't know if the car is actually level, it only knows what "x" is supposed to be. If you change the front ride height to "x+2", the rear level is still targeting "x".

In other words, the ALC doesn't lift the rear of the car so that it's level, it lifts the rear to a certain pre-programmed height. The height of your rear end right now is the same as it was before you replaced the front shocks. Level is a relative term. Since the front end is now higher, the car is no longer level to the ground.

I'm experiencing the same thing with te quick struts I bought from strut master ( waiting on robo to buy his old setup). It still hasn't come down in front, doesn't matter I will be replacing them soon

I'm allmost there my friend.Just gotta save a few more bucks for my rear Konis.

highwaywarrior wrote:

I'm experiencing the same thing with te quick struts I bought from strut master ( waiting on robo to buy his old setup). It still hasn't come down in front, doesn't matter I will be replacing them soon

You mean you installed the quick struts as well and are being haunted by an excessive lift in the front?

I am calling Monroe today to see if they have a shorter spring for us to swap in.

Just took ride height measurements. From the ground, through the center of the wheel, to the bottom of the wheel well. Right under the chrome trim.
Front Left: 29 3/4"
Front Right: 29 1/4"
Back Left: 28 1/4"
Back Right 28 3/4"

That ~1" difference up front really does make a huge difference and kills my traction. I am thinking the best and easiest fix for this is to just lift the back an inch. I have the manually air line kit to install and bypass the pump. I will try that and see what happens. I think going through the trouble to put new springs on my be excessive.


I am going to check tire pressure too to make sure they are uniform.

Exactly yes mine sits way high

highwaywarrior wrote:

Exactly yes mine sits way high

Are you having traction problems as well? I also get vibrations on the gas pedal when I get up to speed. I have to accelerate slow and drive slow to keep the wheels on the ground.

Lifting the rear may alleviate your traction issues, but will not correct the problem.

Your CV joints will wear faster
your control arms are not at the correct geometry.
your handling is adversely affected.


I do think you need to get Monroe involved, and quickly. They may even cover the labor and cost of replacement springs. Get them involved before you inadvertantly wear out a set of tires, or worse have an accident that could have been avoided by proper handling.

Lifting the rear is not the correct solution. I feel strongly about this.

Measurements from my car:

Front Left: 28"
Front Right: 28 1/8"

These measurements are with 18" rims and 45 profile tires. With stock 16" wheels and 60 profile, the height would be just slightly lower, probably 27 7/8"-28" for both sides.

I agree lifting the rear isn't the best way, especially after hearing about your handing issues.

i only feel vibrations at 65, and when i accelerate rapidly car seems to pull to the right hard, i do know i need new wheel bearings

The vibration is probably wheel balance. The pull is likely torque steer, which is normal for a powerful FWD car. As long as there's no pull when rolling or stopping, just hold the wheel when you gas it.

More: https://rivperformance.editboard.com/t748-vibration-shimmy-at-cruising-speed

highwaywarrior wrote:

i only feel vibrations at 65, and when i accelerate rapidly car seems to pull to the right hard, i do know i need new wheel bearings

Daryl, I PMed you my contact's phone number at Monroe. Give him a call and tell him what you are experiencing. Let's get this resolved!

Update: I spoke with the folks at Monroe and they have agreed to refund me for the struts. That's great, but I paid for labor to get them installed as well. To ship them back, I will have to get them taken off and KYBs put on and I am having the guys at the garage do it for me. They said they would reimburse me for the labor if, when they receive and inspect the quick struts, that they can determine there is a problem with them..

I am not quite sure what that means, the spring is just too hard for this car. Plain and simple.

Daryl, please let me know how your call transpires with the Monroe crew. I told them they need to disassociate this part number with our vehicle because it does not work. We'll see if that happens...

Great news that Monroe is working with you. I know this doesn't help you personally, but it will be good to know (for future/fellow Riv owners) what Monroe's final word is on this. I'd be interested in knowing why they used these springs for this quick-strut assem, and if any action will be taken to correct it.

Thanks for posting this. I am still running the stock ones up front, but will probably skip the complete strut assembly unless they make a change.

I'll be watching this thread with interest. Awhile back, I looked into the Quick Strut option, but at that time, Monroe didn't make them for our cars. This must be a relatively new offering. Sorry you had to be the Guinea Pig for us Charlie. Hope everything works out for you, and Monroe can correct this.

I do see that Rockauto and such list the same part numbers for PA and Riv when you look up springs, but I would like to see confirmation if GM lists the same part numbers. I doubt it. That is probably why Monroe decided it was okay to cross-list the PA's quick strut for the Riv - The strut is the same, and somewhere a bean counter has decided the springs are close enough.

But, the spring should not be... I believe there has to be a major difference in the nose weight of the PA and Riv - the Riv has an aluminum hood, plus the battery is moved to the back seat, and the PA has the wider corners and accompanying extra sheetmetal to make it heavier... they should not have the same springs!

I am not an automotive engineer, but I can't believe these two cars take the same springs.

Agreed. There is some misconception that the PA and Riv are the same car! I had a YouTube member comment on my dyno run asking for tips on modding his PA, since he claimed they are the same car. PA is not a G-Body!!!

Sorry I meant I have to hold the wheel to the left in normal driving, this was after I installed quick struts and got an alignment.

I don't think mine are a Monroe product. I bought mine from strutmasters.com and bough tere quick struts, I am having the same issue though. I can stick my whole fist thumbs up in between the tire and wheels well lol

Make sure your tire pressures are consistent. If that's not the issue, I would take your car back to the alignment shop and ask them to correct it. Struts shouldn't cause a pull.

Ok. So I am piecing out all the parts I will need to build myself a new strut assembly, and I think....

I have everything I need with the quick strut, it's just the springs that are no good. So, maybe instead of trying to build a whole new assembly with springs and swapping it, why not just replace the FAT monroe spring with the OEM spring?

Besides it not fitting right in the boot, can anyone else foresee any other problems with doing this?

I would try it, if you're going to buy a new set of OEM springs anyway.

I believe you can buy the spring mounting insulators for not much. These are the parts that cushion each end of the spring against the strut.

Not to mention the Monroes come with a lifetime guarantee. And I'll tell you what, Aggie and I plan on spending a loooooooong time which each other, if you know what I mean.

O Hell Yeah Update:

Spoke to Monroe again today. They have promised to reimburse me for a set of front springs and the installation to put them in. YES! I LOVE GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE.

I urge anyone that comes across this thread that is experiencing a ride height issue with these monroe quick struts that you call monroe right away and report it. It's the only way they will change the product for future customers. I am the first to call in and report this issue so they think I am crazy, I got the wrong parts, or they were installed wrong.

Ok. So should I go with the Moogs or get those STS Eibach lowering springs? Monroe is buying. Kind of a joke, but not really!