Have you heard about struts but need clarification on what it entails? From building construction to car suspensions, struts are used across industries. But how do they work, and why are they used so often?
A strut is a type of mechanical component used to strengthen and support the structure of an object or system. Struts combine a shock-absorbing spring with a damping unit to provide the most effective structural support. They can be found almost anywhere, from bridges to car suspensions and elevator shafts.
Struts are incredibly versatile components that provide excellent structural support for many applications. In this article, we will compare two common strut Manufacturers, the Monroe classic and the Oredy, an Amazon brand.
The strut market has seen quite an explosion over the past few years. Along with the veteran manufacturers like Monroe, KYB, and Gabriel, we now have quite a few Chinese knock-off brands.
Some of them are total garbage, while others are passable. Oredy is a representative of the latter. While they’re way behind the classic Monroe Quick-Strut, it’s worth comparing the two brands.
Price Over Quality
The price difference is the first thing that catches your eye. Oredy looks like a blatant steal. Sometimes the overseas-manufactured vehicles are cheaper, and their exchange elements are also. But when it comes to strut bars, it’s a different story.
Are Oredy Struts Good?
Oredy is an eBay-grade brand that only has an Amazon storefront. Some Oredy shock review revealed compares indicating that the overall quality of the product is satisfactory, but it can be potentially hazardous if it does not properly fit.
Oredy performance struts are easy to install, but their durability is questionable – it can be the center nuts becoming loose, the inaccurate height adjustment, or the fact that Oredy struts are way stiffer than Monroe suspension.
After all, Monroe has been here for decades. These guys manufacture many of their suspension parts in the US and have long established their QC processes.
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The reliable choice
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Monroe QuickStrut
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The reliable choice
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The budget pick
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Oredy strut assembly
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The budget pick
Remember the simple rule for suspension parts. High-quality brands will guarantee performance struts with better internal components. With a wallet-friendly price, you’re making a small gamble.
Now, let’s head to the meat of the Monroe Quick-Strut and Oredy struts review.
Oredy struts vs. Monroe Quick Strut:5 rules to live by when comparing them
When it comes to replacement parts, worn-out shock absorbers will need a change. With vehicle stability in mind, high-quality suspension parts will not be cheap. Even when they’re cheap, struts aren’t the most affordable replacement part you can get.
When examining a piece strut bar, you should look at the bigger picture and cover several elements before finalizing a purchase. In addition to the actual cost, keep in mind that the way something is built or how easy it is to install can be a game-changer when changing aftermarket suspension.
You will know good quality struts if you pay attention to the following:
- Construction: Not only of the body but all components inside.
- Installation: How easily can you plug these into your vehicle?
- Ride quality & feel: Stiff or smooth? How comfortable are they?
- Warranty: You don’t want to be left empty-handed after a few months.
- Manufacture: Facilities matter, as does location to some extent.
As far as outside construction and ease of installation go, both Oredy and Monroe struts are similar. Quick strut assemblies were meant for the DIY person who wants to escape a $500 mechanic fee.
Here’s a demonstration of installing Quick Struts. This one’s on a Camry, but as you can guess, the process is similar across car makes:
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The reliable choice
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Monroe QuickStrut
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The shocks plus coilovers themselves are also somewhat identical. You can expect them to cope well with typical road infrastructure.
What I mean is they won’t get cracked or toasted – except if you decide to go off the beaten path on a crazy offroad adventure. If you do that, please consider higher-grade shocks like Bilstein because you need better absorbers on adventure vehicles.
On that note, a word of the wise, remember to check the complete strut offers that will fit your car.
Now, in two of the five rules mentioned earlier, we see Monroe Quick struts and Oredy assemblies equal. What about the other three?
Here’s where Monroe shows why they’ve been a classic brand for so long.
3 Reasons Why Monroe Might Be a Better Choice Than Oredy
Remember I said that construction involves the outer part of the strut and the inner components?
Monroe’s significant advantage is the rubber suspension bushings they run on their struts. Tight and secure, it’s the secret key to why you would experience less noise and wobble with them. Lower-quality bonding (as some users experienced with Oredy) with insufficient quality control will have your struts rattling and shaking.
This is tied into the third factor: ride quality and feel. Monroe’s Quick Strut assembly drives smoother and absorbs potholes found in urban areas way better.
The OEM quality replacement (perks of using an American company) will ensure that the loaded struts increase comfort during long commutes.
Oredy’s internal components cause a stiffer ride that won’t feel as comfortable. It also has to do with vehicle models – but that’s the general verdict.
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The budget pick
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Oredy strut assembly
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Last but not least, let’s talk about warranty. In Monroe Quick-Strut reviews, you can learn that they come with Monroe’s lifetime warranty. Compared to that, Oredy struts have a warranty of just 18 months.
Remember the gamble I mentioned? With these generic eBay/Amazon brands, usually, the replacement shocks ride awesomely for a year or so. Once you pass a certain threshold, however, it goes downhill.
According to shock reviews, the 18-month guarantee increases that risk substantially. Oredy might be the better type of knockoff struts – they have good reviews for Camry, but the risk is still there.
Where are Oredy struts manufactured? What about Monroe?
As I mentioned, Monroe usually manufactures in the US. The Quick-Strut assemblies, specifically, are manufactured in Paragould, Arkansas. There’s a rather substantial Tenneco facility in that area – it prioritizes strut production.
As far as Oredy goes, their shocks and struts are made in China. Their only US-based component is the after-service team that can troubleshoot you should anything happen.
Upon checking their website, I see they have one year of free support. Wondering how this ties into the 18-month parts warranty…
Closing words
So that’s about it for those two brands and their strut assemblies. Look, I’m not a huge fan of Monroe – if it’s about their shocks, I prefer Bilstein or KYB.
However, as far as affordable struts go, they’re the king. I’ve mentioned before how they outperform Gabriel struts too.
Oredy is a decent (to some extent) alternative for those looking for a budget deal. Life has taught me, however, that cheap stuff always has a hidden price. Suspension isn’t the area I’d take a risk with that.
Ultimately, it’s up to you. Many car owners have been OK with both, and plenty have bad things to say about Monroe or Oredy.
If you have any experiences with either, please let me know in the comments. Or if you have any questions – I’ll gladly try to answer them!