Suspension & Brakes Springs | Shocks | Handling | Rotors

upgrading shocks

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 23, 2015 | 08:54 AM
  #1  
farmington's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (14)
 
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,807
Likes: 13
From: Little River SC
Default upgrading shocks

been kicking around upgrading my shocks. car has 60k on it and still the factory DeCarbons. Not looking to carve corners, its just a cruiser. Can get Koni Strt for $300 or KYB Gasadjust for $210. Not looking to spend a ton. Will probably do some tiny trimming of factory springs to get a minor ride height adjustment while I'm at it. Don't want to buy lowering springs, seems like most of them drop more than I want (have a steep driveway bottom to get by).
So throw your opinions, please.
Reply
Old Mar 23, 2015 | 12:58 PM
  #2  
SparkyJJO's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 7,364
Likes: 85
From: Ohio
Default

STR-T or Bilstein IMO. Had KYB before, granted a different model (GR2) but meh, I'd stick with those two.
Reply
Old Mar 23, 2015 | 01:31 PM
  #3  
UMI Sales's Avatar
FormerVendor
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,463
Likes: 1
Default

Koni and Bilstein seem to be the Hot Ticket entry level performance, but still excellent quality shocks. Don't forget though that lowering springs almost always change spring rates for better handling. So generally you'll notice the biggest difference in changing both rather than one or the other. If you only do one, you're "plagued" by the other. But for a regular street car that doesn't see any tracks, any of those shocks will do just fine.
Reply
Old Mar 23, 2015 | 03:30 PM
  #4  
Daniel Richards's Avatar
TECH Addict
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 2,769
Likes: 0
From: Ellijay, GA
Default

also, don't "trim" your stock rear springs, just do the heater hose mod to get the slight drop your looking for in the rear.
Reply
Old Mar 23, 2015 | 08:03 PM
  #5  
Stan1911's Avatar
Launching!
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 259
Likes: 1
From: Peoria, AZ
Default

Originally Posted by Daniel Richards
also, don't "trim" your stock rear springs, just do the heater hose mod to get the slight drop your looking for in the rear.
Good advise right there, my Son did the heater hose mod and I was like dam that looks awesome! He is going with BMR front springs and Koni STR-T shocks in the front.
Reply
Old Mar 26, 2015 | 11:13 AM
  #6  
Midnight02's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
15 Year Member
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,620
Likes: 6
From: Atlanta, GA
Default

As noted above, the Koni STR-T or Bilsteins are both budget minded and are nice upgrades from the stock shocks. I can speak from personal experience with the Bilsteins and have been very pleased with them on the street and on track.
Reply
Old Mar 26, 2015 | 12:58 PM
  #7  
BMR Sales2's Avatar
LS1Tech Premium Sponsor
iTrader: (40)
 
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,451
Likes: 20
From: Seffner, FL
Default

Originally Posted by farmington
been kicking around upgrading my shocks. car has 60k on it and still the factory DeCarbons. Not looking to carve corners, its just a cruiser. Can get Koni Strt for $300 or KYB Gasadjust for $210. Not looking to spend a ton. Will probably do some tiny trimming of factory springs to get a minor ride height adjustment while I'm at it. Don't want to buy lowering springs, seems like most of them drop more than I want (have a steep driveway bottom to get by).
So throw your opinions, please.
Definitely stick with the Bilstein or Koni STR.T shocks, they are both affordable and well performing options. The KYB shocks are mediocre at best and I would never recommend them to anybody with the better options available.

How low are you looking to drop the car?
__________________
Glenn ***
Sales Tech
www.bmrsuspension.com
813.986.9302


Find a Quality alignment shop near you!
Reply
Old Mar 26, 2015 | 01:05 PM
  #8  
lbm13186's Avatar
TECH Regular
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 405
Likes: 0
From: Stamford, ct
Default

I love my Koni's and wouldn't buy anything else, they make the car feel "expensive" for lack of a better word. Was very surprised when I installed them and still love them
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

6 Gifts Neither Your Dad Nor Grad Will Shove Into the 'Trinket Drawer'

 Brett Foote
story-1

Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-6

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-8

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-9

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Mar 26, 2015 | 01:23 PM
  #9  
farmington's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (14)
 
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,807
Likes: 13
From: Little River SC
Default

want to lower it less than an inch, maybe an inch in the back. Familiar with cutting springs so have no problem with creeping up on where I need to go.
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:57 AM.

story-0
6 Gifts Neither Your Dad Nor Grad Will Shove Into the 'Trinket Drawer'

Don't get dad new socks or a grill brush this year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-09 14:55:56


VIEW MORE
story-1
Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

Slideshow: We take a close look at the ONE and Artidiag 800BT2 diagnostic tools from Topdon and the reasons to buy one over the other.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 11:05:11


VIEW MORE
story-2
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

Slideshow: The controversial Ferrari F6 swaps its original flat-12 for a Corvette Z06-derived LT4 V8 and sends power to four rear wheels through a custom-built drivetrain.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-26 18:23:54


VIEW MORE
story-3
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

Slideshow:These GM engines didn't just make huge power, they survived abuse, boost, track days, and six-digit mileage with a reputation for refusing to quit.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-21 16:45:27


VIEW MORE
story-4
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-5
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-6
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-8
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-9
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE