Mid Year Model Change Struts – Get the correct ones?

[Gene]

Hey, have been looking to buy REAR shocks for my 1994 model year Ford Taurus GL, Sedan, non-police, 3.0 L OHV, engine code U.

When I look on the Big Box store sites (NAPA, AutoZone, Advanced Auto, PepBoys) I run into “small print” that says, from 3/94. This is for Brands like Monroe, MOOOG, Sensen, Suncore, OESpectrum and many more brands on eBay! Oh and I called the local Ford Dealer and he confirms that there are two different part numbers depending on when the Taurus was built.

So it appears there was some change, mid-model year that effects rear shock absorbers. I think.

But when I look at KYB website, KYB only offers ONE style of rear strut for this car (naked & quick). My parts store guy called KYB and got no where. I tried emailing, but got the same canned reply from a “gate keeper” named Victoria. Either she doesn’t know what the difference is and/or is unwilling to ask someone, but that failed. Too bad as I’d be interested in KYBs for this car and another I own.

So does anyone know what was the change that effected the rear shocks on 1994 bulls? Is it critical or would a “one size fits all” shock work out? What was the change in March 1994?

For example, the Rock Auto page shows that Monroe has two different struts on offer for the 1994 model year depending on when the car was built.

I blew up the pictures of those two different quick struts and best I can tell is that the struts only differ in the configuration of the springs. It looks like one is a variable rate spring and the other constant rate spring. But then Monroe also offers two different naked struts (71616 & 71781) so perhaps there is something internal as well?

Interesting that KYB only offer one strut assembly and not two? So does anyone know what was the change that effected the rear shocks on 1994 bulls? What was the change in March 1994?

Also the original struts (still has OEM Ford tag on them) appears to be constant rate springs, while the information suggests that the variable rate springs are required.

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[Mike]

If KYB makes only 1 strut design, with no exceptions listed for different manufacturing dates, then they seem to have settled on a design which will fit all of the 94 Taurus Sedans.
It is not surprising that the people at KYB don’t have any specific details on Ford’s mid-year manufacturing change, since KYB makes only 1 rear strut for your vehicle.
More likely than not, no one at KYB is going to have any idea as to any strut engineering decisions that were made back in 1993-94.

As for Monroe…since they appear to be identical, logically, if you are determined to learn the exact differences between the 2 Monroe models, your options are;
Click on the Info button on Rockauto’s website to see the manufacturing specs
OR
Look up the specifications on Monroe’s website
OR
Contact Monroe and ask them what the differences are.

As for whether or not the KYBs will fit your particular application, I am confident that they will.

[Author]

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