Alain Thibault <alain@INTERGATE.BC.CA> wrote:

...just had some new KYB shocks installed.

Alain:
I do not want to be officious especially since you already have installed the
KYB shocks but, after some experience I have come to have a low opinion of
KYB products.  I used to install both KYB struts and shocks on my Volvo
240's.  I found them to have nowhere near the longevity nor ride quality of
the OEM parts.  Their only attribute is a lower initial price which soon
becomes moot when the have to be replaced prematurely.  I now use Boge parts
which do not cost all that much more.

I should have said, I try to use Boge products.  Recently, I decided to
install new strut mounts while I was redoing the front suspension on a 240.
Suprisingly, the original struts and mounts still seemed good but, at 127kmi
it seemed foolish not to replace them.  The fly in the ointment was that I
had not ordered the mounts with all of the other suspension parts.  With the
front end apart, I went to pick up the strut mounts to find only KYB's in
stock.  And, the worst of all worlds, they are MADE IN TAIWAN!  I won't even
use a Taiwanese rubber band but, time was of the essence and I had to use
them.  I have always felt that the concept of Japanese quality was an urban
myth anyway and now even they are using the slave labor pool of Taiwan to
save a few manufacturing pennies.

I will now climb down from my soapbox.
Rich