Well all of this time, I've been under the assumption that FCP only carries rear shocks for my car in options I don't want: Billstien B6/HD, Koni Sport, and OEM (Monroe?). I've even seen forum posts seeming confirming that FCP doesn't offer Billstein B4 or either Sachs shock for the rear. Well that is wrong.

While it doesn't come up in a keyword (word being "shock" "suspension" "damper"), I found the Bilstein B4. It was listed with the "you may also need:" items below the listing description. So I entered the Sachs part number for the monotube rear, and it also came up. And of course the Sachs happen to be on sale (along with the bearings, mounts, and boots that I want for the front) which ends tomorrow. I would really like buy from FCP because of their lifetime warranty, plus they are local to me. Not to mention the free shipping. Right before I found the Sachs, I considered the B4, because if the clunking happens to me, I can swap them out--at least for as long as FCP carries them. The Bilstein B4 fronts seem to be liked, until they fail, because they reportedly seize, rather than fail to dampen. Of course FCP doesn't carry KYB, so if I want to support them, while having the assurance of the warranty, KYB is off the table. And if I want to take advantage of the sale, I need to decide soon. Which isn't the end of the world, because I tend to drag these things out way too long. Truth is, any quality shock will beat the heck out of what's on there now.

So I'm going to sleep on it. putting the on-sale Sachs on all four corners will run roughly $197, Bilstein TC at reg. price for approximately $280. Plus the associated bits needed for the fronts. Both within my self-imposed $300 budget for just the dampers. But there's no evidence that convinces me that the Bilstein will perform better than the Sachs, and plenty to suggest the Bilstein will give trouble. So I'm leaning in favor of the Sachs twin tube front paired with the mono rear. Yeah they're a "brand" now, having been absorbed by other companies a few times. But I've read very few critical anecdotes, aside from others sharing my confusion. Good or bad, at least the Bilstein B4 opinions seem to be fairly consistent over the years.


I secretly despise sales, because they tend to taint my decision making process. The number of regrets in purchasing sale items is extremely high compared to paying full price. And I expect I'm not alone there. However, even prior to the sale, I really thought the Sachs F&R combo might be my best bet. I also figured I'd be buying the Sachs for the front regardless of what I chose for the rear, so KYB in the rear isn't completely out of the question. But again, I like getting it all from FCP now that I'm aware of the option.

Decisions, decisions...