Shocks for front of Gen2 SWB pajero

[pjb]

Folks, I know this topic has been done to death, and I've looked through the old posts... But just in case there's some new ideas about:

I'm looking for a pair of new shocks for under the front of my gen2 SWB. Main thing I want to be sure of is not getting anything too hard. Existing ones are too hard, ride quality is terrible. And I don't really want to pay top dollar.

Got an okay price on some KYB Monomax's (supposed to be their heavy duty version).
I'm waiting on pricing for some Koni's (but I suspect they'll be pricey).

Any advice?

[NJV6]

We have the same dielema.

I biffed the front original ones pretty quick cos they were just to hard.

I bought some monro advernture ones and put them on for about a week before took them off as they too were too hard.

I now have some Rancho adjustables that ride not to bad when they are on soft setting but they really don't like big bumps as they are too soft. Nice ride except undulating stuff where they are inclined to boing. And in true rancho fashion the adjustors do not work anymore. Last time one of them stopped, I tok the adjustor off and hit the inside behind it with a centre punch which free'd it so it worked again. They are a pricey poorly made shock. I had a set in the back that went all spongy. aparently thats normal for them once they have got hot they don't ever work properly again.

[pjb]

Update:
Koni Heavy Tracks, $234+gst
I think the KYB's are about $120+gst

[pjb]

What have you got in the back now Glen?
Longer than standard?

[NJV6]

In the back I have standard non adjustable NZ new LWB pajero shocks with 150000km on them. They seem to do the job pretty nicely. They too are a KYB unit.

Same lenght. I did a fair bit of work without any shocks and the arms bind up at about 1 inch more travel than the std shocks let them so I didn't see it necessary to put longer ones in.

[pjb]

For anyone who is interested:
I put the KYB Gas-a-Just into the front of the Pajero. It's a monotube design, of which KYB list two versions, but only seem to sell one here in NZ.
Have only been for a short drive, but initial impressions are they are quite firm, but not unbearable. Probably about equivalent to the factory electronic adjustables set on Hard.
Will post again after more k's.