We use our 82' for weekend roadtrips mostly. The car isnt driven hard, except for hangin a corner once in a while. Need opinions about shock absorbers. What would be the best set to deliver the best ride possible? The car is completly stock with 42,000 miles. Any input would be appreciated.

 

I bought the factory Delco's from GM. They were still available about 1 year ago.

Jim

 

Delco, they seem to mach my stock suspension. They are gas filled and not bouncy.

http://www.muskegonbrake.com/v4/go.g...&listTemplate=

 

A few weeks ago I bought 4 from Autozone, Gabrial Ultras and they ride great for me.
Plus they are painted black.

 

Get the KYB shocks. Much smoother ride than the AC delcos. I have tried both and prefer the KYB. Got mine at advance.

 

While everyone has a backside. Calibrations vary. Some will like the Delco units while others will like KYB, Billstien or Koni's. You may have to do some trial and error or if you're lucky you might find some forum members who have some different set ups and will give you a ride (preferably back to back). BUT you will need to know EVERYTHING about the suspension of each car as there are tons of options from the factory and aftermarket. This may prove impractical so you might have to SWAG it (Scientific Wild *** Guess). /:\

 

I had KYBs on my 77 but they were white and got dirty real easy.

 

I bought the kyb gas tube shocks which were slightly stiffer than delco stock but not as stiff or as expensive as Billsteins. I am extremely happy with them. Four on all the way around at medium price.

Lance P.

 

Just ordered 2 Monroe rear shocks from Advance this evening. They were $20.00 a piece with a lifetime warranty. I'm willing to give em a try at that price.

 

eldebrock iso shocks work great on my 72 but i also have a glass rear spring from vette brakes and new front end parts . i took off the the kBillsteins don't miss them at alll .

typical white person

 

Yes, they do.

 

What didn't you like about the Bilsteins vs the Edel? I have had B's on for about 8 yrs now with 550 front and a VB 365 glass rear. The fronts are starting to show wear so am looking at possible alternatives.

 

rode expandsion joints like a brick . corners are better too

 

Here was my thinking for whatever it's worth when I changed shocks.

If I were racing my car on a road track primarily I think I'd get one of the two Billstein models and spend the money. there are some other adjustible models from other makers that would perhaps work well in addition but I was only going to run mine on a road track with 17 turns (VIR) once for 100 minutes over four sessions and not run it particularly hard at that and then drive it for a Sunday driver so I wanted something new and known; just a bit stiffer than the Delco stocks; not as expensive or stiff as the Billsteins. My suspension is stock as well. The KYB gas twin tube shocks which are painted yellow have filled that bill perfectly.

There were Delco's on the car when I got it a year ago but they looked old and miserable externally though did not see leaks and I wanted to start with fresh shocks of known provenance and did. PO had no maintenance records to give me. This change has worked out well for me. The car doesn't dig and dive and stays flat in corners with reasonable ride and the tires stay in touch with the road for a basically stock system. Seems to ride just enough more firmly than what was on it that I'm happy with it.

Racing suspension would be an entirely different thing totally stiffening the car up all the way around the entire body mount and suspension system but that's not on the program.

I'd bet a new set of Delco's or others would have worked as well but what I put on there, the KYB's, KYB twin tube xlg2, has exactly met my needs and my expectations.

Don't know how long they last either. That will be an interesting question assuming no fluid leaks in these gas twin tube shocks in a few years.

Lance P.

 

In that case I'd like to think you would be considering some Koni 2-ways or 4-ways (rules permitting).

 

Would take talking and listening to some very experienced people at the form of racing attempted with the cars and with luck riding in someone's cars with the different choices. An alternative that's too much work would be if you raced occasionally to find a set that works for the racing format you race in and another set that works for the rest of your uses with the car but I don't want to do that much wrenching so it would have to be a compromise in one life or the other. I'd start with the old GM Powerbook I think it's called. I have a copy and it sets up the Vette for racing which is a whole more serious thing from scanning it. That kind of serious racing probably has such dedicated suspension you'd just go with one kind of shock for the purpose and that would be that. You race so you probably know what's best.

Lance