I agree, no more KYBs for me. I have never seen a stock Vanagon shock
fail catastrophically like I have seen KYBs do. Yep, they are cheaper. I
have had and seen numerous problems. The last time I tried to get one
replaced under the "Lifetime" deal it was a no go. This was a big seller
of KYBs, had one in stock, wouldn't take the bad one without a receipt
though he knew me as a regular. He said even then he could only take it
for evaluation by the KYB rep. Not what I call a 'generous warranty',
maybe other sellers are different.

Mark

George Goff wrote:
>
> I have used KYB products several times, but NEVER again.  Simply put, KYB
> products are junk.  What good is their lifetime warranty when their parts
> only last a third as long as the OE item which was replaced?
>
> In my firsthand experience, the most condemning examples of KYB's shoddiness
> were the KYB upper strut bearing mounts which I installed on a Volvo.  In
> less than 3000 miles, the bonded rubber was visibly separating from the inner
> and outer metal components causing the mounts to be poised on the verge of a
> catastrophic failure.  It doesn't take much foresight to know what happens
> when the upper mount on a MacPherson strut comes apart.  Of course, my parts
> guy told me that they would be covered under KYB's generous warranty, but, as
> I asked him,"Are you nuts?!"  I got my money back.
>
> George