1982 Shock Replacement
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1982 Shock Replacement
Hello,
I am looking to replace the shocks on my stock corvette. I do have a 340lb fiberglass rear leaf spring. I am looking for a confrontable ride apposed to something sporty as I don't have a lot of fun curvy roads in Iowa. I have seen comments about the Bilstein HD shock and I am not apposed to it but was looking more at AC Delco or Monroe that are a better price range. I don't want to waste my money on over kill shocks or cheap shocks either so looking for some input. Thanks
I am looking to replace the shocks on my stock corvette. I do have a 340lb fiberglass rear leaf spring. I am looking for a confrontable ride apposed to something sporty as I don't have a lot of fun curvy roads in Iowa. I have seen comments about the Bilstein HD shock and I am not apposed to it but was looking more at AC Delco or Monroe that are a better price range. I don't want to waste my money on over kill shocks or cheap shocks either so looking for some input. Thanks
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 7,680
Likes: 2,482
From: Indiana
I have no experience with plastic spring but do with bilsteins and ac delco.
mx made ac delco gas are ok daily driver stock but will fall apart. Don’t waste money.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...nt-advice.html
bilsteins front awesome usa made, rear later steel 10 and 6 leaf good..but rears and recent order now made in mexico..i would seriously take advice for rears and your plastic spring and even entertain usa made alternatives.
I also got good advice here but I’m steel rear
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ce-please.html
mx made ac delco gas are ok daily driver stock but will fall apart. Don’t waste money.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...nt-advice.html
bilsteins front awesome usa made, rear later steel 10 and 6 leaf good..but rears and recent order now made in mexico..i would seriously take advice for rears and your plastic spring and even entertain usa made alternatives.
I also got good advice here but I’m steel rear
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ce-please.html
Last edited by interpon; Aug 15, 2021 at 09:13 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 7,680
Likes: 2,482
From: Indiana
my rear
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...s-install.html
pay attention post 15 for front install as directions wrong
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...s-install.html
Last edited by interpon; Aug 15, 2021 at 10:02 AM.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 388
Likes: 117
From: Tacoma, Wa
I have QA1 single adjustable shocks. Adjusts with a turn of a ****. Dial them in as you drive. I run a 360 lb spring, with the shocks at 10/16 clicks (more clicks=stiffer ride). I’ll dial them back to 8/16 for long drives.
Last edited by Cmurray79; Aug 15, 2021 at 10:34 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 7,680
Likes: 2,482
From: Indiana
https://www.qa1.net/automotive/suspe...-shocks-struts
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I bought the car as a project so I have been fixing it up. I am not sure about the front shock as the wording is off of them but the back says Monroe Sensa Trac.
Last edited by JMalone88; Aug 15, 2021 at 07:51 PM.
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Installed the Bilsteins HD shocks today and they ride really nice. Wish they would have included instructions in the box for the fronts shocks to make sure I put the washers on correctly. They made sure to include stickers so they must of thought those were more important.
The Monroe shocks I took off were completely junk. Pushed them down and there was no return in 3 of the 4.
The Monroe shocks I took off were completely junk. Pushed them down and there was no return in 3 of the 4.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 7,680
Likes: 2,482
From: Indiana
Installed the Bilsteins HD shocks today and they ride really nice. Wish they would have included instructions in the box for the fronts shocks to make sure I put the washers on correctly. They made sure to include stickers so they must of thought those were more important.
The Monroe shocks I took off were completely junk. Pushed them down and there was no return in 3 of the 4.
The Monroe shocks I took off were completely junk. Pushed them down and there was no return in 3 of the 4.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2005
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From: Arizona - If you don’t know CFI, STOP proliferating the myths around it...
I think 78-82 are all the same. I just looked at my 82 ASM and it shows the same thing for the rear shock assembly. Although, mine actually has all the numbers in the boxes. 
I've had Bilstiens on mine for a long time and like them.
I've had Bilstiens on mine for a long time and like them.
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Joined: Sep 2020
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Yes, those posts were very helpful.
The one thing I am still not 100% sure of is the top nuts on the front shocks are tight enough. I ran them down with 9 thread showing which seemed to be a reasonable amount of rubber squish. Definitely wasn't hard to run the nut down with a ratchet wrench and the allen head wrench so it is hard to determine if tight enough. Is there somewhere posted it tells you how far to run the nuts down?
The one thing I am still not 100% sure of is the top nuts on the front shocks are tight enough. I ran them down with 9 thread showing which seemed to be a reasonable amount of rubber squish. Definitely wasn't hard to run the nut down with a ratchet wrench and the allen head wrench so it is hard to determine if tight enough. Is there somewhere posted it tells you how far to run the nuts down?
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
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From: Crossville TN
Monroe Gas-Matics will work for you. But, they won't last anywhere near as long a the Bilsteins. But, they will give you a decent ride and be a lot easier on your wallet. If you wanted the Bilsteins, I would tell you B6's in front and B8's in the back.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 7,680
Likes: 2,482
From: Indiana
Yes, those posts were very helpful.
The one thing I am still not 100% sure of is the top nuts on the front shocks are tight enough. I ran them down with 9 thread showing which seemed to be a reasonable amount of rubber squish. Definitely wasn't hard to run the nut down with a ratchet wrench and the allen head wrench so it is hard to determine if tight enough. Is there somewhere posted it tells you how far to run the nuts down?
The one thing I am still not 100% sure of is the top nuts on the front shocks are tight enough. I ran them down with 9 thread showing which seemed to be a reasonable amount of rubber squish. Definitely wasn't hard to run the nut down with a ratchet wrench and the allen head wrench so it is hard to determine if tight enough. Is there somewhere posted it tells you how far to run the nuts down?
now my sway bar links had a torque spec.. and no way as it really squished them (loaded or unloaded) so i left at normal squish to washer. Then i was doing a round about at speed and thought the entire front end came apart. It was the sway bar link lol..so now i am between torque and over squish..
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 2,291
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From: Fleming Island, FL
Yes, those posts were very helpful.
The one thing I am still not 100% sure of is the top nuts on the front shocks are tight enough. I ran them down with 9 thread showing which seemed to be a reasonable amount of rubber squish. Definitely wasn't hard to run the nut down with a ratchet wrench and the allen head wrench so it is hard to determine if tight enough. Is there somewhere posted it tells you how far to run the nuts down?
The one thing I am still not 100% sure of is the top nuts on the front shocks are tight enough. I ran them down with 9 thread showing which seemed to be a reasonable amount of rubber squish. Definitely wasn't hard to run the nut down with a ratchet wrench and the allen head wrench so it is hard to determine if tight enough. Is there somewhere posted it tells you how far to run the nuts down?
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
The shock is the hydraulic damper for that suspension member...you don't NEED the rubber cushion, other than to limit shock loading of that rod/nut. You need to make the rubber bulge some. You don't want a 'loose' connection there.