trhs75

I found an eBay listing and a corresponding website for apxautoparts.com which lists a set of four RX300 struts for $135. They are made by a company called Sensen. Fantastic price, but I don't know anything about the product at all. APX has a high eBay rating. Has anyone had any experience with these?

bufferdan

Nice find! I say go for it. Id do it if i wasnt going back and forth over selling mine.

LA4Mead

It's hard to imagine all 4 for $135. Could it be $135 each?

carguy07

Sounds like a steal if that is for all four. The manufacturer is mentioned in this thread. Looks like they potentially make good stuff.

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls4...a-strut-3.html

trhs75

$40 each, $135 for the four. I couldn't believe it, either. I'm hoping to find someone who bought a set.

Carver

I checked the website and they want 160 for a set of four for an FWD, isn't that about what one OEM costs??

carguy07

Looks like that's the real price for all 4. Some feedback here: http://forums.maxima.org/4th-generat...s-yay-nay.html

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...2#post20975102

http://www.bimmerwerkz.com/forum/3-s...uts-71693.html

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...5#post21103045

Alexus02

i've had them for 5k miles on my 02. they're ok but the ride doesn't feel as soft as my worn out lexus ones. can't complain though for the price i paid. $135 for 4 on ebay.

LA4Mead

I don't want the original mushy ride. If these are stiffer, maybe that's the ticket for better handling when I'm ready. The original, even new, was too sloppy for me - I'd like a better handling car. Thanks for posting.

Lexspeed

I prefer to buy name brand parts, but for that price it is worth considering. I have 178k on my oem struts and I need to be thinking about replacing them soon.

trhs75

Lexspeed, I have abouit 130K on mine. They seem OK for now as far as I can tell. Do you notice ride degradation, or do you just feel that by that many miles we should replace them?

Lexspeed

I have a 99 (and as soon as this newbie learns how to do so, I'll post that in my signature) and keep meticulious records on my four vehicles. In 03 when I had 84k on the clock I replaced the front strut mounts to eliminate a rattle that was really pronounced on washboard roads. Other than that rattle issue, that the new mounts corrected, my oem struts seem to be working just fine. I can't say I have noticed any degradation, but they may have have so slowly worn that one cannot easily tell.

LA4Mead

I noticed the the ride gets softer - cushier, and many people prefer that and so you may not be able to tell if they are worn. Worn/soft is likely to mean less control in an emergency like swerving and braking hard from highway speed, such as something running out or blown in your path or along highway overpasses.
The rubber mounts that isolate the spring from the car might make noise over bumps indicating there is additional "play" controlling the suspension. The rubber parts seem to be prone to failure, but the car keeps on going so it's not like you're stranded unless something is so far gone it breaks.

LA4Mead

I've been considering replacing mine for a long time and the cost was the biggest factor. I prefer the brand name/KYB, too. But if this is truly a comparable product or better, then this is a very intriuging change in the affordability. I would still probably order OEM mounts, bearings, etc. unless anyone has experience otherwise comparing what's offered by KYB, Lexus, Toyota, or Monroe.
Love the input. Thanks!

This is the info I found from the retailer:
http://apxautoparts.com/apx/shocks-s...-set.html#desc

artbuc

I bought KYB struts made in Japan and they were top-notch quality. The KYB mounts/bearings were pure crap. KYB sub-contracts them out. I bought two mounts. One came from India and the other from another 3rd world country (I forget the name), They looked entirely different and both had horrible fit & finish. The bearings had separated in the box and ***** were everywhere. Returned them to Rockauto and bought OEM. You can also get mounts from Moog for about the same price as OEM. Moog has a great reputation but I don't know anything about their Toyota replacement mounts