Best shocks for a C3
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,455
Likes: 977
From: RI, Now Franklin/Nashville TN
Bilsteins by far one of the best along with Koni. I have had delcos, KyB gas a just, koni oils and now bilstein sports with my 360 composite spring. I would skip any mass market shock like Monroe's and think kyb's are a cheaper shock pretending to be higher quality than they are. From best to worse: bilstein/koni, KyB, Monroe. Have KGB gr2's on a grand Prix just ok. Recently put 4 bilsteins on my Chrysler 300-awesome! Also bilsteins on 94 mustang gt. Awesome!
Last edited by jb78L-82; Apr 24, 2013 at 06:09 PM.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
I did see the date, but figured what the heck...
to the point, what's the price on a set of the billsteins? I have a guy want to to sell me a set of orig delcos for $200.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 6,692
Likes: 29
From: Texas
Bilstein Sports on my 68, up from KYB's a few years ago. The KYB shocks gave a softer ride, but the Bilsteins were a major improvement in handling, cornering(lots of twisties here
), and the front of the car doesn't nosedive during hard braking
VBP has them on sale every now and then
), and the front of the car doesn't nosedive during hard brakingVBP has them on sale every now and then
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 70
Likes: 1
From: Adelaide South Australia
I have Carreras on my 69 Camaro to match the fancy aftermarket suspension. Very good
However, the new Bilsteins I put on a 70 Mustang project and they are by far the best shocks for no fuss handling. Excellent for anti diving and you will feel the difference.
Quality you can rely on.
However, the new Bilsteins I put on a 70 Mustang project and they are by far the best shocks for no fuss handling. Excellent for anti diving and you will feel the difference.
Quality you can rely on.
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Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,270
Likes: 20
From: Central Michigan
Just put KYB's on my 82. What an improvement over the Monroe Sensatrac. I can now roll over speed bumps rather than having to stop and truly bump over them. Maybe Bilsteins are even better yet, but there becomes a limit to how much $ one spends on parts, unless one is not $ limited. Having a daily cruiser at 90 miles a day, I am more interested in comfort than hard cornering. And, I don't do "twisties" and "hard braking".
I enjoy my car a little differently than you do...let's leave it at that
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 6,692
Likes: 29
From: Texas
Leave it where ever you want. I have driven 227K miles so far on my 82. And, I live where it is flat and straight. Drive your few miles as you want where it is twisty or whatever. I don't have your handling needs. So why should I over buy my shocks? Thanks for your kind (?) words.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,455
Likes: 977
From: RI, Now Franklin/Nashville TN
KYB's are not a bad shock just not very performance oriented as some have stated, especially the GR2's which are definitely geared more for comfort than handling. The Gas A Just KYB's are more for sport but not suited to a composite spring-ask me how I know. The interesting thing about the Bilsteins is that they not only offer superior handling but RIDE better than the other shocks, for the most part-that is what you are paying for. Bilsteins also will rarely wear out!
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,968
Likes: 44
From: East TN
If you don't want adjustable shocks, just get the Bilstein shocks. Bilstein HD's for touring, or Sports for performance. 
And if someone tells you to get a different brand of shock, "Fuhgeddaboudit!" 
So all you guys looking for the best shocks for your C3's can stop looking, you have found your answer.
And if someone tells you to get a different brand of shock, "Fuhgeddaboudit!" So all you guys looking for the best shocks for your C3's can stop looking, you have found your answer.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 6,692
Likes: 29
From: Texas
BTW, what a pleasant, smooth ride to work today in my pleasant cruiser rather than a spine crusher rock hard suspended vehicle.
Last edited by Wrecked82; Apr 25, 2013 at 09:15 AM.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 523
Likes: 4
From: Calgary Alberta
Well I've got the swaybars, wheels, and tires now, next step are the shocks, in my suspension project. I love the edelbrock IAS's I put on my step fathers 86 Z-51, but I can't find them for the 73. I'd like to keep the price under a 100 bucks a shock if possible but looking for the best in that price range, handling and control are the big issues, riding comfort isn't that big of a deal to me but would be nice. What would my fellow C3'ers recommend? I'm not forgetting about the springs in this deal, I just have to put them on hold while my funds recover from the wheels and tires. 
Pat Kunz
Pat Kunz
I'm probably going to get flamed for this but I am putting on Koni single adjustable on the front with 550 lb springs and Bilstein sports with a VBP dual mount spring on the back. I am hoping that I will be able to adjust the Koni's to match the Bilsteins. If not then I will replace the front or back shocks to match depending which I find the best. I thought having the ability to adjust the shock in the front would be more important than having the adjust ablity in the rear. Besides, the Bilsteins came as part of the performance kit from VBP.
Last edited by donyue; Apr 27, 2013 at 02:24 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,455
Likes: 977
From: RI, Now Franklin/Nashville TN
Hi Pat,
I'm probably going to get flamed for this but I am putting on Koni single adjustable on the front with 550 lb springs and Bilstein sports with a VBP dual mount spring on the back. I am hoping that I will be able to adjust the Koni's to match the Bilsteins. If not then I will replace the front or back shocks to match depending which I find the best. I thought having the ability to adjust the shock in the front would be more important than having the adjust ablity in the rear. Besides, the Bilsteins came as part of the performance kit from VBP.
I'm probably going to get flamed for this but I am putting on Koni single adjustable on the front with 550 lb springs and Bilstein sports with a VBP dual mount spring on the back. I am hoping that I will be able to adjust the Koni's to match the Bilsteins. If not then I will replace the front or back shocks to match depending which I find the best. I thought having the ability to adjust the shock in the front would be more important than having the adjust ablity in the rear. Besides, the Bilsteins came as part of the performance kit from VBP.
Hope that helps!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,248
Likes: 67
From: Warrington PA
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Unmodified
Went from KBY's (which were very good) to Bilstein Sports, (which were great) and switched to Bilstein HD's (which are the ultimate) for my type of driving, with my 82. They are more pleasurable to use as a "dd" and still give you the control and ride comfort that you may be seeking.
I do about 95 miles per day, similar to Larry82, but not all is flat, and I do enjoy the curves and the ride I now have with the HD's. This will be my choice of shock when the 74 gets back together....
It all depends what type of driving and ride you are looking to accomplish with your C3......
I do about 95 miles per day, similar to Larry82, but not all is flat, and I do enjoy the curves and the ride I now have with the HD's. This will be my choice of shock when the 74 gets back together....
It all depends what type of driving and ride you are looking to accomplish with your C3......
Had a 1976 L-82, 4-sp
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 5,338
Likes: 1,213
From: Some days your the dog and some days your the hydrant.
Royal Canadian Navy
I put on QA-1's non-adjustable. Handling is much better after replacing 30 year old Monroes and the QA-1's are rebuildable if that counts for anything.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,593
Likes: 103
From: Southern Indiana
Administrator
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