What's good in shocks / struts these days? I've tried to be diligent in figuring this out on my own, but was left more confused than when I began (especially about Sachs).

I'm going to be doing the rear first, because I'm short on free time. I don't mind going with a different series or even brand front / rear.

I like the idea of OE ride. But several times per year I load the wagon up (including a large rooftop box), and head into the mountains for camping with my kids. I may, in the next year, install overload springs, or better yet, fab up some plates for the hole in the middle of the coil spring mount for the trailing arms so that I can install an Airlift 1000 universal airspring helper kit. So I'm realistic in accepting a loss in comfort to compliment the stiffer rear...

Right now, the car gets really floaty in the back on the highway fully loaded. It's disconcerting on bends at highway speed. It's presently on 9 year old OE Volvo shocks with 25k on them (fronts likely OG), and Goodyear Reliant all-season (soft sidewall) 205/55/16s. I've experimented with pressures, and settled on 30F/32R psi unloaded, and 34/39 loaded. The NA motor gets me up the Green Mts. at highway speeds with AC (albeit barely) though. So there's that :-).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EDIT to above: I neglected to say, but I believe all my dampers have degraded. The back when loaded is most apparent, but even light, the car seems just a bit bouncy on rougher surface streets, and a tad floaty on the freeway. Not terrible, but I think it's time to refresh. They seem to pass the "bounce test" but I understand that's kind of like kicking the tires.

Thanks--Wilson