Do you really need shocks/struts?
Here's a question. Has someone told you that you need shocks? Coming from my background as a shop owner, a lot of people who have been told that they need shocks really don't (i.e. "There is oil on the shock rod", etc.) . If your E hops like a bunny after you cross the Railroad tracks, you probably need 'em. If your dog urps on your shoulder because the horizon is lurching up and down, it's probably a good idea.
Try the old fashioned method for testing; it's not perfect, but it's not bad: put your knee on the bumper and bounce the toaster up and down a couple of times (if you are mass-challenged, have a larger friend do it). If your E settles right down and stops bouncing right away, the shocks are probably OK.
Resist the temptation to put on "Heavy Duty" replacements, unless you typically carry lots of weight, have an Ursa Minor, or tow a trailer. They make the car ride rougher than it needs to, and they are needlessly expensive. KYB or Bilstein ar emy personal favorites. As has been mentioned before here, it's a good idea to have an alignment after replacing the struts in front, not so much with the shocks in the back.
