What is best rear struts/coils replacement for 2009 Vibe ?

[GenVibe301]

Hello,
What is the current 2026 recommended replacement for rear struts (and perhaps also coils, given the high mileage) for my beloved car of past 12 years with 175,000 still good running miles 2009 Pontiac Vibe 1.8L FWD, VIN 5Y2SL67849Z410744. My driving style is gentle and I prefer a comfortable soft ride now in my 60s. Searching the archive has posts many years (decades) old and the parts world has likely changed since then. The OEM parts have been discontinued by GM and I'm unable to find any new old stock on the internet. How to proceed? Thanks, Kevin in VA

[jolt]

The rears are coil over shocks. There is not a big selection available, and when you want springs also, as a assembly, the selection drops down even more. When looking up parts, I go to Rock Auto Parts web site and check, as they have may different brands and suppliers of auto parts. MONROE Quick-Strut still makes the rear assemblies with springs. Typically Monroe shocks are a little softer and smoother than OEM shocks, and since they are the only ones making the assemblies from a known brand name, there is not much choice here. I have not used these off brand shocks but I have read that they can have problems in the cold and are more likely to leak. I would stay away from them.

All that being said, and having changed out struts assemblies on a few different cars, when it comes to struts; I would buy the parts and assemble them myself. The strut assemblies are used by shops to get the cars in and out the door. They are less labor involved and a time saver, but to make a price point they cut corners on the parts that are used in the assemblies. Most notable is the bearings in the upper strut assembly verse the OEM bearing.

Since your rears are not struts, they have no bearings in them and the assemblies will be fine.