Lar

Thank you for your effort to help. I appreciate it. 

The car is seldom driven in the winter. These days it's driven about 2,000 miles a year. So, it may be driven 10,000 miles in the next 5 years. The front Gabriel struts have about 20,000 miles on them.  You're right on the tire size & I assume on the wheel 6.5 width. I've taken a lot of training on computerized engine controls which said don't go to a different diameter tire, because it throws off the computer calculating the vehicle speed sensor & affects the timing.  When a car has a drivability problem, the fix may be to go back to the OE tire size.  Newer cars may have the capability to be "flashed" to compensate for changes, but I'm not sure if anything is available for something this old?  Thanks for all of your effort.

Just under 130,000 miles. Even when all the parts were new, it was a stiff ride. I don't think it has gotten any worse over the years. On the highway it's smooth. It's in the City where almost all of the driving is, that I wish it were better, but I probably just need longer wheelbase & a heavier car. My goal is not to make it like new, I wanted to make it much better than it was when it was new.  I was hoping modern technology would have improved shock absorbing performance & maybe it has. Maybe what I get will be better than what it has been since it was new? I was just hoping to find other's experiences with different brands on my specific model of car.  I appreciate everybody's input.  

I think the 1st 8 to 12 tires were Good Year then after that until now, they have been Michelin.  Before buying, I go online to tire rack etc. & see how tires are rated by tire rack and by actual customers that have been driving on them for a while.  Thanks for the link. 
I will take into consideration, but I wonder if they are really worth $300 "more" for 2 struts compared to Monroe.  I wish I could see road test of the different brand shocks, like tire rack offers for tires. I've gone on You Tube, where mostly there are installation videos, rather than brand comparisons. Although Scotty Kilmer did show how a no-name Chinese brand was worse than the originals with many miles on them. 

5 hours ago, Last Indian said:

The best stock, AKA ride, you’re going to get is out of the factory strut, which are by all appearances gone. So your choices are as follows.

If by chance you want the OEM struts you’ll have to go to a real good GM dealer who knows their stuff & see if the supply is exhausted! Many times even when other dealers say they are gone they are not. Why? Because dealers all over the country will have old stock at their dealerships that don’t show up on any websites. But a GM dealer has access to a database that shows every dealers stock! They in turn can see if that dealer wants to release the stock. If they do you can get it, but you will have to pay more for it! Shipping etc. I have done this for years with many cars. 

The next closest will be Monroe’s or Gabriel’s best struts, but I personally would by just the struts, not the quick struts, which is the complete assembly. While these are convenient you have no control over any of the components & there are much better upper strut bearings, spring insulators & springs to be had than what they will use. I also would encourage you to by new springs! No matter how good you think yours are, they are fatigued & work hardened. They, not the strut are what do most of the work. If you can’t get the OEM springs, but I think you may be able to, there are many spring companies that can make them.

Last, if you are looking for a good ride, but one that improves handling, KYB’s AGX struts would be hard to beat! They are adjustable in firmness! They have a substantially larger shaft diameter, which makes a huge difference in suspension defection & movement, as well as handling. This is important why? At the end of the day with a MacPherson strut the only thing holding the top suspension to the car body is the strut shaft since there isn’t any upper Aarm! Think about that for a moment! Also unrecognized by most folks more than 50% of your ride comfort comes from your tires! The wrong tire tread, bad ride. The wrong tire composition, bad ride. Tire technology is very important today & even more so for a FWD car, since the front tires do both steering & propulsion! 
 

My two cents worth!

I’m blushing!

Thank you very much.  Looks like one Co. like Monroe or Gabriel no longer offers all the individual parts. They offer the shock, the bellows, or the whole unit. Not the springs & the upper mount alone. If various brands were bought, one Co. would blame the other when they don't fit together.  I'm planning on the Monroe 171686 complete unit which is described as having a "premium" upper strut mount.  I've owned the Grand Am since it was new. It has never had a comfortable ride. I replaced the front struts & various sets of tires. I don't think there was a noticeable improvement with any of the changes. I understand that the GT1 Coupe is a sportier suspension than a family sedan. I assumed part if not a lot of that was in the strut assemblies. The funny thing is that as I look at the applications, they don't care if it is an SE or a GT or an Alero, or a Chevy Malibu.  I'm not changing the rear struts, just to get a better ride. They aren't bouncing, but they are rattling & I just thought I would see if an improvement over OE was available at the same time that I am replacing the rear struts to get rid of the rattle.   I appreciate everybody's input. 

6 hours ago, Ringo64 said:

I'm afraid, we do not delete posts. Looking in your profile, you had a topic but it didn't get any replies. At any rate, welcome!

https://foreverpontiac.com/profile/5396-lar/

Thank You. Somehow, I haven't been able to access my own profile, to see past post. 

3 hours ago, Frosty said:

My personal favorite brands are: KYB, Bilstein, Monroe, and then Gabriel. Typically all of them have gas shocks. Also, OEM replacements from AC Delco are not bad if price is a concern.

Thank You. 

Thanks, I joined in 2019, haven't posted in a while, so apparently my posts were deleted?

I hope to hear from whoever has the strut knowledge. 

Are there certain rear struts that give a smoother ride than others? 

I want everything to remain stock configuration, I'd just like to have a softer ride. I think Monroe ready struts were what I put on 3 years ago. I don't think that improved the ride. None of the 4 are leaking & there is no bouncing, it just rides rough & pretty much has since it was new. I just installed 4 new Michelin tires. Does anybody make an advanced strut that gives a better ride to the sporty GT Coupes? Thanks!