What shocks have you guys had good luck with on these cars. I’m partial to Bilsteins. Have them on my truck and other cars. . My 68 has new KYB,s, it rides like crap. If so float on the freeway. Floats more then a big ol Lincoln. Suggestions..

 

I like Bilsteins so much I airfreighted some to Australia for my Corvettes and for other peoples Corvettes as well.

Koni ,s are good as well.

 

Glad I read this was thinking about KYB's....Guess I'll look into the Bilsteins.

Brian

 

I tried KYBs many years ago, didn't like them with my steel spring.
Went to adjustable Konis and have been very happy with them for over 20 years now.

 

How is the ride with Koni’s? Are you on stock springs?

 

Which Bilsteins are you running, the HDs or Sports? Sports are much stiffer... And springs must be married with the right shocks.

 

I installed Bilstein HDs in my 66 and 68. I also installed a set in my son's C-5. Stick with the HDs as others have said, the Sports are very firm. Jerry

 

So why are Blisteins more expensive for our vettes than they are for P/U trucks? T

 

Probably cuz it's a Corvette.

 

So about how much are bilstein hd,s?

 

So about how much are bilstein hd,s?

 

https://www.shockwarehouse.com/site/...ront-24-009461

Rears are probably the same price...............

 

Just looked it up. Fronts are 96 rears are 106. And free shipping is offered.

 

A little cheaper at Rockauto. That’s where I got mine.

 

Here's is what they say about the Koni's on the Eckler's site: (btw, they're on sale for $109 right now)

• Settings From Firm To Soft Ride
• Manually Adjusted By Removing Them From The Car And Rotating The Shock To The Next Setting

Koni's low pressure gas charged shock absorbers provide 5 settings that range from luxury car comfort to sports car firmness. At the softest setting the Koni's will be slightly stiffer than our Delco shocks and in the most firm position they will be right in line with our Bilstein shocks. Koni shocks are adjusted by removing them from the car and rotating the shock to the next setting.


I've always heard (and Tom Falconer always brings this up), Koni's are dual-action (dampen on Compression and Rebound strokes) whereas many shocks only dampen on the rebound. The corvette was 'tuned' ..and supplied from the factory with dual-action shocks and that's gong to give you the best handling closest to OEM. So that's why it's important to get the D/A shocks and why Koni's are a popular shock for that reason. I honestly don't know if the Bilsteins, KYB's or the Delco replacements are dual action or not. Perhaps someone else here does. I'd like to know if the Delco replacements are, and how guys like them?

.

 

Bilstein's are a mono tube gas pressured shock and it looks like from the youtube I watched they damper both up and down.

 

If you have a rear mono-leaf spring, I highly suggest that you put Sport Bilsteins in the rear...regardless of which you choose for the front. I went with HD's all around and have some measure of regret that I didn't put Sports in the rear. HD's would be fine with a steel spring...but not with a mono-leaf, IMO.

 

I have a VB&P spring, with Bilstein sports. The rear is still softer than the front of the car.

 

Looks like you have a 69. Hopefully stock suspension not F41. You should check for rear sway bar, 7 or 9 leaf in the rear, front coil spring wire diameter, steel or plastic rear spring. Any of that could have gotten changed in 50 years.
KYBs are just soft and will give you a floaty ride and you will probably get the pogo effect with stiff springs.
The shocks must match your spring rate to ride / handle well, especially ride.
Bilsteins seem to be the only non-adjustable shock that is well-tuned well our old Corvettes, best ride/handling. But they have 2 models. HD & Sport. That choice will depend on your springs.
IMHO the cheaper shocks are not worth the $. As you found out.
Next up the dollar list are the adjustables.
Konis or QA-1s. There may be others.
I ran Konis for years. Yes you can adjust them soft, then keep stiffening them up until you get a ride you like. On full soft they are slightly stiffer than KYBs not much. On full-stiff you won't like it, even running race springs on a race track, I never ran full-stiff.
I now have QA-1s but haven't driven the car yet. They suggested I start at 2-3 clicks from soft, out of the 12-15 clicks available. These are more easily adjustable by turning a small **** than the Konis, which require partial removal.
Good luck.
Nice looking car!

 

Thanx for the reply. I would never have bought kyb,s. My son had this car for two months and had them installed. How do the QA 1,s compare to the Koni’s price wise?
Three things that I need to do right away,
suspension
upgrade AC.
fix driver seat lean.