need new shocks
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 468
Likes: 12
From: Pleasant Hill CA
need new shocks
i was wondering what everyone thi nks is the best replacement shocks for my 66 coupe. mostly driven around town and on freeway back and forth to car shows.
i am not looking for heavy duty stiff and harsh shocks . hate kyb shocks as they are way to stiff and jar the fillings out of my teeth. i am looking for a really
nice soft ride. i have been thinking about bilstein adjustable shocks but dont know if i can adjust them soft enough for a nice smooth ride?
i have delco shocks on right now but they are 20 years old and i need to find a nice soft riding shock? i like a very soft ride like a cadillac.
am i asking too much to get a nice smooth soft ride? I know bilsteins are good quality but are a little pricey but i know u get what u pay for. can i get a soft
enough ride with adjustable shocks? thanks for any recommendations and advice.
i am not looking for heavy duty stiff and harsh shocks . hate kyb shocks as they are way to stiff and jar the fillings out of my teeth. i am looking for a really
nice soft ride. i have been thinking about bilstein adjustable shocks but dont know if i can adjust them soft enough for a nice smooth ride?
i have delco shocks on right now but they are 20 years old and i need to find a nice soft riding shock? i like a very soft ride like a cadillac.
am i asking too much to get a nice smooth soft ride? I know bilsteins are good quality but are a little pricey but i know u get what u pay for. can i get a soft
enough ride with adjustable shocks? thanks for any recommendations and advice.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 253
Likes: 58
I went with Delco Advantage Gas Shocks on the rear, work fine in my opinion and will not break the bank. The rears look like originals but the front have a little different shape. I painted the rears the correct gray to match the ones the car was born with.
Mike
Mike
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,043
Likes: 738
From: Port Orchard, WA
2025 C2 of the Year ('64-'66) Finalist - Unmodified
2025 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
St. Jude Donor '25
You'll be getting about a dozen different answers here. I just ordered up a set of standard shocks from Bair's. They've been working well.
Last edited by Six7390gt; Sep 1, 2021 at 04:13 PM.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 301
Likes: 129
From: Republican Protection Program, Maine
2025 C2 of the Year ('64-'66) Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I put B6 Bilsteins on all four corners and there was a noticeable improvement in the ride.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 6,005
Likes: 1,510
From: Prescott Arizona
When I bought my 61, it had 90/10 drag shock up front and...wait for it...Air Shocks out back, so the huge 255-60s didn't nail the fender lips, but they did anyway. I replaced them all (after going down on tire size) with NAPA Monroe Sensa-Tracs. Big improvement
On my midyears, I've put KYB Gas-a-Justs on all of them and would call the ride firm but not harsh and that's with 215-65x15 TA's that I keep inflated to about 30 pounds even.
Another model that KYB makes, or maybe 'made', is the KYB GR-2 and it is a milder riding shock absorber.
Just looked at the KYB site and for OEM replacement shocks, they recommend a model called the Excel-G.
Mike T - Prescott AZ
On my midyears, I've put KYB Gas-a-Justs on all of them and would call the ride firm but not harsh and that's with 215-65x15 TA's that I keep inflated to about 30 pounds even.
Another model that KYB makes, or maybe 'made', is the KYB GR-2 and it is a milder riding shock absorber.
Just looked at the KYB site and for OEM replacement shocks, they recommend a model called the Excel-G.
Mike T - Prescott AZ
Last edited by Vet65te; Sep 1, 2021 at 08:25 PM.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Melting Slicks<br><img src="/forums/images/ranks/3k-4k.gif" border="0">
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,274
Likes: 2,220
From: Colorado Springs Colorado
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2023 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I put KYBs on my ‘66 20 years ago and hated them for the same reason you did. I switched to Bilsteins 15 years ago and love them.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,104
Likes: 701
From: Southern Illinois
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 50
Likes: 16
From: Rochester Hills MI
Just put Monroe OESpectrum front shocks on my '63 to replace worn out Monroe Gas Matics. Should have the rears today or tomorrow. Pleased with the ride so far. Firm but not harsh. Noticed one thing though. I just purchased the car a few months ago and was hearing a clunking noise when turning into a driveway with an incline or bump. When I removed the old shocks, I noticed both had a scrape mark on the inside top of the shock body. Appears they were contacting the coil spring or frame member where the top of the spring meets the frame when making those turns and thus making the clunking noise. I'm experiencing the same issue with the new shocks. It's as if the shock body is too tall for the car. Anyone else experienced this?
Last edited by vetteman454; Sep 14, 2021 at 10:48 AM. Reason: Added info
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,510
Likes: 531
From: Willowbrook IL
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15-'16