New shocks...which brand?
05-31-2009, 09:28 PM
#1
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New shocks...which brand? my stock deCarbons are groaning and moaning after 15 years of wear....i've read the nightmare's about switching the fronts...so for now, i'm just going to swap the rears out...the bisteins are around 100 each on jegs...are they worth it...compared to say...30 buck autozone variety? no, i'm hardly ever at the track...this car is my daily driver....is it worth the diff? or is there a happy medium somewhere that i dont know about
05-31-2009, 09:33 PM
#2
ive had both and the ride is better with the bilstein shocks. if you go that route get the shocks in the back for the 82-92 the valving is better then the ones they list for the 93-02 ones.
05-31-2009, 09:49 PM
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its the exact same size? only different internals? why does bilstein even make two versions if they didnt need to change them in 93
05-31-2009, 10:01 PM
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U guys would have alot better luck, getting into the suspension and brakes session and peeking around. Ive always been told that the bilsteins are the way to go on a upgraded shock for a DD.
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05-31-2009, 10:28 PM
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I just changed mine last week. My car has 170,000 miles and still had the original Decarbons. The fronts were making a hell of a noise so I knew they were gone. After looking through many different shocks I was told to stay clear of the Monroes and go with either Bilstein or Koni. Well I couldnt afford either so I found a great deal I couldnt pass up. I got all 4 KYB GR2's for $160 from a guy. These are supposedly a stock replacement or a little better than stock but I am very pleased with the ride. I would suggest them for a DD. My car rides like new again.
Now as far as installing them, the backs were cake. The fronts were a pain in the ***. I rented a spring compressor from Oreillys that worked very good. I just had to pry the springs apart a little to get the fingers in. Now the nut that holds the top part of the shock on was completely rusted on both of my shocks. So bad that it wasnt even a visible nut anymore. I had to cut both of my shocks in half with a reciprocating saw. I also found out the hard way that the easiest way to install the front shock assembly is to remove the upper A-arm, not the lower. Other than that it was fairly easy. I replaced my cotter pins also because they were so brittle.
Now as far as installing them, the backs were cake. The fronts were a pain in the ***. I rented a spring compressor from Oreillys that worked very good. I just had to pry the springs apart a little to get the fingers in. Now the nut that holds the top part of the shock on was completely rusted on both of my shocks. So bad that it wasnt even a visible nut anymore. I had to cut both of my shocks in half with a reciprocating saw. I also found out the hard way that the easiest way to install the front shock assembly is to remove the upper A-arm, not the lower. Other than that it was fairly easy. I replaced my cotter pins also because they were so brittle.
05-31-2009, 11:05 PM
#10
the 93-02 ones used to have better valving but over the years they adjusted it to almost stock de crapon valving. the 82-92 ones have the valving like that of the early 93-02 bilsteins.
