Struts

Best handling? In a 14 year old economy car design for max mpg?

Just buy the least expensive new ones. You'll notice a big difference with those and likely not a significance difference in more expensive ones compared to new cheap ones.

 

Most will use OEM / KYBs all around, some might try Monroe or Gabriel. I would avoid the less expensive lower quality options, unless the installation labor is little or free. A few times I've driven an 06 with either Monroe/Gabriel and might've felt a difference, almost like it was a nicer/softer ride, but I was comparing it to a vehicle that had older struts/shocks. Not sure if the Monroe/Gabriel offering will last as long before wearing or failure, and some may come with a lifetime warranty (read the fine print, as many have had issues with warranty replacements), neither OEM or KYB will have such a warranty.

Which brands have you been looking at lately? (other examples that may have a product for this application : Tokico, Bilstein, Koni, Sachs, Eibach, OSC, FCS, Unity, SenSen, etc., best to avoid the last four Chinese brands completely)

Were you considering one of the 'quick strut' options like, Monroe's premium Quick Strut, Gabriel's Ultra Readymount, KYB's Strut Plus, or Sachs quick struts?

Please tell us more about this potential swap, what year/model of Camry and would this be only the rear sway bar?

 

I'm always testing out the cheapest stuff you can find and a couple years ago I bought a pair of rear shock with Springs for less than $100 and they didn't fit so I returned them. Now, after all this time I finally am trying again and bought these: For 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Toyota Prius Rear Pair Complete Shocks & Strut | eBay

Will be putting them on in coming days and will report back with details.

 

Has anybody tried Mando struts? Rockauto carries them. Mando is the OEM strut for Volkswagen, Hyundai, and Kia. And all three ride pretty dam good these days. 1/3 less expensive than KYB.