Shocks/Struts??

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Aug 16, 2006 | 04:13 PM

11secondhorse

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From: Roanoke, VA

Shocks/Struts??

I need advise on what shocks and struts to get. I am putting in the prokit soon and want to replace the stock crap thats 40k miles old lol. I prefer not to spend a million dollars on them right now but i dont want something that sucks either. Is there a shock/strut that performs and is decent priced?? Let me know what i need..

Aug 16, 2006 | 05:26 PM

02SS0384

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Depends on a lot of factors. What you use your car for, what kind of ride you want... Your best bet would be to call Sam Straino (Sponsor--->) and talk with him. He will not try and sell you something you don't need. I call him ready to buy a set of Koni's, after talking for awhile he suggested a set of revalved Bilstein's. I'm very happy with that choice and saved around $200.

Aug 16, 2006 | 07:01 PM

11secondhorse

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Im definately not paying 700+ for Konis. Id rather not spend $500 on bilsteins LOL

Aug 16, 2006 | 08:29 PM

Pipelayaz

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KYB is what you want. Decent yet cheap.

Aug 17, 2006 | 12:04 AM

11secondhorse

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Ive had KYBs on a fox and they were "decent" pretty comfortable ride but seemed to handle alright in cornering. Anyone else got any ideas?

Aug 17, 2006 | 08:05 AM

jmilz28

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Gawd, this subject has been beaten to death. If you're lowering, you should really only look at Konis or revalved Bilsteins. If you don't, put some crappy or non-suitable shock on and live with your decision. Good shocks make this car a whole different animal.

Seriously, just get Konis first and see how it handles. Konis even give you the option to lower the front a little and do the heater hose mod on the rear and bang, you're lowered almost an inch but still have ground clearance to drive with everyday. You've asked advice, you already know the right answer. If you don't pony up, you get to ride around in a harsh POS. You get what you pay for. Why even ask for advice if you're not going to follow it...

Aug 17, 2006 | 08:30 AM

coolformula

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Aug 17, 2006 | 11:10 AM

02SS#406

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Quote:

Originally Posted by 11secondhorse

I understand where you're coming from on this subject. It's becoming quite the ***-whipping for folks that can't spend the $800-$1k to lower their cars. Several folks on here and others in my neck of the woods, are pretty happy with other options. The Pro-kit drops these quite a bit, and makes it very hard for a run-of-the-mill shock to be effective. The Koni's and Re-valves are definitely money well spent, but there are other options that work, though not as well.

Aug 17, 2006 | 12:31 PM

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wade99z

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I've seen KYB AGX adjustables on eBay for less than $300 regularly.

Crap, y/n?

Not being facetious, I don't know.

Aug 17, 2006 | 12:48 PM

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Caswell

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Quote:

Originally Posted by 02SS#406

The Pro-kit drops these quite a bit, and makes it very hard for a run-of-the-mill shock to be effective...

Yup. A more moderate drop is cheaper.

I've been very happy with 35K miles on the SLP level 1 kit, but it's a much more conservative drop than an Eibach ProKit. Much cheaper though - after sponsor group purchase discounts and selling the stock parts I think I only had about $300 in it.

If I was dead set on a Pro Kit I'd go for the Strano revalved Bilsteins.

Aug 17, 2006 | 01:01 PM

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chupr0kabra

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From: Pearland, TX

Quote:

Originally Posted by 11secondhorse

The frustration doesn't come from your lack of knowledge, just the fact that this EXACT question gets posted in this section about once every three days. Obviously, people don't like paying a lot of money for any parts, but shocks are one of those instances where "you get what you pay for" really applies.

Not trying to jump your case, but if you search this forum, you will find TONS of threads like this.

-Mike

Aug 17, 2006 | 01:42 PM

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Viper

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We get tagged with 3X the cost of most because of the mighty LS1. It's obviosuly the same motor as in the vette, so we pay vette prices. Have since 1998. Vendors know it, and will continue the trend. Welcome to the board and congrats on leaving the rustang world and getting a real car.

Aug 17, 2006 | 02:04 PM

#14

02SS#406

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Quote:

Originally Posted by wade99z

I've seen KYB AGX adjustables on eBay for less than $300 regularly.

Crap, y/n?

Not being facetious, I don't know.

An acquaintance has the KYB's on his TA with a pro-kit, and the rear end is awful. They just don't keep up well at all, and it's VERY harsh. The adjustment ***** seem a little brittle, also. I'd probably go with the Tokico's if I were looking for cheaper stuff, but that's only my humble opinion.

Aug 17, 2006 | 06:51 PM

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Azrael

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I know, the sticker shock was one of the things we considered a long time before tackling the suspension on the car. For the wife and I it was all about getting enough of the go fast to make us happy for our Daily Driver before dropping a lot of money on suspension. The irony is suspension is one of the best things you can do for your car, and has made our car a totally different animal.

With that in mind we discussed it and spending the money for the Koni's and doing things right is cheaper in the long run then replacing shocks that just are not meant for the application. Really I have spent more money on tires for our Camaro than I did for the Koni Single Adjustables. I would do it again as well.

Spending less on a dampener that will not work for you in the end means you have to spend more to replace them. I know it hurts but with all things modding any car are labors of love, and only a personal investment.

I thought about that when I convinced the wife to get 315's in the back with new tires up front and spent more than the Koni's...

Aug 18, 2006 | 10:48 PM

#16

11secondhorse

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I bought revalved bilsteins from strano, they said my ride will kick *** with those and a prokit whooohooo!

Aug 18, 2006 | 11:30 PM

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staringback05

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i saw earlier in this thread that you can go with something different if you dont lower your car, sorry if i hijack, but i dont want to start another thread on this......besides scraping speed bumps and eliminating some kinds of headers you can have...what does lowering the car really do? i know it makes a lower center of gravity and the results of that...but is there anything else? and what are "HDs"? seeing as i dont really want my car lowered

Aug 19, 2006 | 06:12 AM

#18

Caswell

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Quote:

Originally Posted by staringback05

I'll let the experts give a more concise explanation of the performance benefits. Appearance is a huge factor though. You don't have to lower it very much to get rid of the 4x4 look. Mine is lowered an inch in the back and half an inch in the front, and even that dramatically improved the stance of the car. I don't scrap speedbumps, driveways, etc.

"HD's" are Bilstein HD shocks. For cars that haven't been lowered, they work great off the shelf. Once you get into the higher spring rates of lowering springs, they don't work as well as-is. Having them revalved to match those spring rates is still cheaper than a quality adjustable shock like a Koni SA.