I need 2 new rear shocks for my Impreza 2.0 Turbo 2002 model.  I want to keep the car as near stock as I can and don't want to spend money unneccesarily.

I've heard that Sachs are often fitted as original equipment and I'm inclined to go for those.

Any opinions and/or other recommendations?

sachs are good OEM replacements used them before on a Honda

Ive just replaced the rear ones on mine on Monday as they we're knocking all the time. However mines an 05 Blobeye.

I went for KYB Ultra SR's.... they probably do them for your model i'd imagine.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/370742572448?ru=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fsch%2Fi.html%3F_from%3DR40%26_sacat%3D0%26_nkw%3D370742572448%26_rdc%3D1

Hi , I ha dmy rear shocks changed a month ago as i had a knocking, clanking noise  , turned out the seals had broke and they were shot  so to speak I just got the car in june and it needed a lot of work  as it had been thrashed by the prev owner  I got a new set of  BLISTEINS  the mechanic I used picked them I leave all my work to him I let him choose the parts the makes etc  cost me £742, Parts & labour  < I know £2 !!    but that was the price >  not bad and i sure feel a difference now  check em out  there are some reviews online , hope you get sorted  ;)

im soon to replace the suspension on my wagon thinking of uprating the shocks to koni's on standard springs, i imagine ride feel wont be much different from standard

Sounds like a good plan. Maybe be a bit stiffer with being new but I think it would still feel better to drive .

It depends which Konis you go for - Im assuming Koni yellow sport struts

 

it will feel a little firmer as the damping will be different, if they are adjustable you can have it on the lowest setting which would give the least damping for your normal road use.

 

Your springs provide the push back against the force of bumps etc on the road but the struts provide the controlled resistance to that movement - in this case by oil flow through holes. The Koni holes are smaller so even though you still have the standard springs the resistance to those springs has increased.

 

I have used them before and they were a great product but I hardly ever used the full setting as much as the feel was fantastic I felt I was killing the car as every bit of road repair had an accompanying clang and shook the car.

 

If you are looking for the same softness as the OE struts - even wrx ones, you may be disappointed, if you don't mind it being a bit firmer you will be rewarded with increased feel and positive response in the drive. ;)

 

final word of warning though... its a slippery slope, I started with the shocks then found the anti roll bars could do with being a little beefier and then found that was putting the strain on the strut mounts so had top and bottom front and rear braces - then found I didn't need to run any camber on the wheels as they stayed upright around corners but the tyres were strained so hankooks were changed for yoko's - great end result but the bank account took a bit of a beating :D  

I just changed to Sachs.  Originally I tried replacing just the side destroyed by a pothole but they have a slightly different spring pan height to the OEM fitment so I've had to change both.

:( More cost then but atleast it's done now :D 

best to change as a pair if over 15k miles as they do wear 

They hadn't !   And you can only sue a council for repairing the actual damage done.  Incidental costs such as replacing the other side aren't covered in law.

nightmare - a cost you could have well done without then :(

Council the Governments lap dogs the ******'s :D