Without warning, my hatchback shocks just decided to stop working and I'm shopping for a new set for my 1997. Is there a known better brand or is anything from Autozone good enough?

 

You mean the support struts? They're all the same, I wouldn't waste money on expensive ones thinking they're 'performance' struts. Ones from Advance or Auto Zone are just fine. I got ones from Advance last year and they work fine.

I'm assuming the early 4th gens are the same hatchback wise, so you'll need a T55 torx bit

 

Go hit up Napa or Carquest (or O'Reiley if thats in your area). Make sure you get Stabilus lift shocks... not some cheap knockoff.

 

Unless the hatch is getting opened 5 times or more a day, I don't see it worth dumping a ton of money in super 'quality' lift supports. But people can choose to waste their money on what they like.

 

23.99 each isn't what I would call dumping huge money into quality supports. I'm of the opinion that you replace it once with an OE quality part and forget about it, but that's just me...