Shocks

Having used cheap shocks (Monroe, no-names, Gabriel, etc) in the past, I absolutely refuse to put those POS's on any of my cars. Brands I will use and have used:

Tokico
Eibach
KYB
Bilstein (currently have Bilstein HD shocks on my Miata.. they're $125 each.. if/when I need to replace them.. I'm going to see about having them re-valved so they're even firmer)


Why put cheapo shocks on a car that you dump tens of thousands of dollars into for engine/transmission stuff? The suspension is a key component of getting that power to the ground, and maintaining a safe, predictable ride.

I'm driving on the highway and interstate. Kids n da back seat. So I want a nice riding shock

Still get a quality shock .. doesn't have to be rock hard.. but get a good shock.

Hello,

I have used the standard monroe and gabriel and both were not a good choice. Brand new they feel just so so even for normal driving. Nothing to even consider for performance minded driving.

Damon

We use KYB's almost exclusively.Have never had a complaint or experienced a stiff ride. My experiences with moroes has been anything but good, Think fram oil filters . Gabriels are a better low end choice IMO

The white KYB gas shocks ride is a bit stiff, but are priced right at rock auto. $25.79 fronts, and $37.79 rear. The Bilstein shocks from PST are $115/each. Hotchkis sells the RCD tuned Bilstein shocks (not sure if they are different from the PST ones) for $400/set of 4.

I run the Bilstiens on my jeeps but for the 68 Charger, it is getting the QA1 double adjustables. They are twice as expensive as the Bilstiens but they are way cheaper than the XV's double adjustables. These shocks will allow you to dial them in for a weekend at the track and then adjust them for the ride home. Tim

I have put the KYB gas-adjust on my 74 Duster360, back in '84 when I restored the car. I went with larger front t-bars (solo racing) and Addco rear sway bar. The car has gone over 100k miles since then, and I have never really found the shocks a harsh or hard ride. I love the way I can toss the car in corners, and still have comfy long haul drives in the car.

I decided on the same KYB's for the 70 Sport Satellite, with larger t-bars, stock front sway bar, heavier rear springs, and rear sway bar. Think this should make for great long haul drives and handle decently for larger/older vehicle.

Think that the shock/spring thing, is kinda like women, everyone has an opinion and different tastes . . . . just my two cents . . .

Cheers,

Mark

OK, let me jump in, and ask a question. 71 RR, 530 in Alumn. hemi, hemi springs in back TA bars in front 1 inch front sway bar, dana passon overdrive, goodyear G 60 polyglass tires. What would be a good shock for this car? The motor will weigh about the same as a 340 so a little weight of the front. I don't want to jar my teeth out. I had gabriels that had three settings back in 75. What do you all think. I don't want mushy but as good handleing as i can given the equipment thats on the car, will be doing interstate speeds.

Your tires are the limiting factor in your ride, you could put in XV1 double adjustable monotubes and it wont help. With some sticky meats and stiff sidewalls your combination would be very effective and light. With the Polyglass's you get the best ones you can afford. Tim

I know ,i'm trying to build the car so that 99 out of a100 people will think its stock execpt for headers, thats the reason for the polyglass.

The KYBs have a bad rep from the guys that really push their cars. I've had mine in the Charger since 2003 and never thought that there was anything wrong with them. I wrote earlier that I had a similar experience with my old bed. I didn't realize what a worn out piece of crap I had until I bought that new $1900 bed!
I still have the KYBs in the car. I may try another brand when cash allows. Edelbrocks were suggested by some, but I read that they are not making them anymore and the current supply is dwindling down....

I bought the Monroes fellas...Thanks for the advice

Original motor is by by, i had the dana that i paid $150.00 for so why not? I got the alumn hemi for what i could have bought a mopar crate motor for, and was specked to my wants.I bought this car in 74 when i was 19, and i haven't driven it sence 1978. Execpt for wheels tires and headers it was stock the last time i drove it.So execpt for the drive train and two front seats it will be almost like it was.I don't know, i guess i want my cake and eat it to.I think it may be a one of one,but can't prove it and i'm keeping almost all my original stuff to put back on if need be.

We're a bit off the topic of shocks, but...

No radials weren't around then, which is why the poly glass design was such a decent performer. Widespread use of automotive radials didn't happen until the mid to late 70s. Old timers will remember why Pontiac was heavily advertising their RTS line and that wasn't Rapid Transit System but their Radial Tuned Suspension. All it amounted to was more agressive alignment specs and better shocks, but it sure threw a lot of consumers, and tire dealers for that matter, for a loop.

Bias ply tires will perform decently. A comparable radial will be faster once the systems is set up for it an the driver gets used to it. But a bias ply is also more forgiving of a tire for driver inexperience when run at the edge of grip. In my experience, bias plys tend to "broadcast" their loss of grip in a more linear and predicatable manner. Similarly, when traction is lost they will regain it in a similar linear way. Radials, on the other hand, tend to break loose more suddenly and not regain traction as quickly.

Thinking back to my oval track days, it took us several weeks of experimenting when we swapped from bias plys to radials before we were able to get the laps speeds back up. But once we did, we also started running faster too.

BTW, the f.a.s.t. cars are running plenty fast on bias plys. Stock reproduction bias play no less. Because of what I said above, a number of drag tires are still available in bias ply as well.