Shock question
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 672
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From: Chesapeake Virginia
Shock question
Hey guys,
do shocks go bad due to age (not milage)??
the reason I ask is, I recently got a nice '85 that only has 44,000 miles on it, the shocks are the original Bilstien/delco's. the car seems to ride exceptionally rough, I feel every single pebble in the road. I know it's a 'vette and designed for handling but I would think it would be smoother than it is. it does NOT have the Z51 suspension package on it either.
I'm thinking that the shocks are pretty much gone just due to age and the seals deteriorating over time. the car did come from upstate New York and I'm pretty sure the roads are quite rough up there so the 44,000 could be pretty tough miles.
I'm looking into replacing the shocks and am wondering if anyone can suggest a shock that will "smooth" out the ride some, It's a daily driver and I don't really care about "carving up the road" with it, I just want a little more comfortable ride.
by the way, I have done a bunch of searches but it seems like everyone is looking to make the car more responsive and could care less about a smooth ride. I'm just the opposite, My old bones don't like the ride of this one.
thanks,
do shocks go bad due to age (not milage)??
the reason I ask is, I recently got a nice '85 that only has 44,000 miles on it, the shocks are the original Bilstien/delco's. the car seems to ride exceptionally rough, I feel every single pebble in the road. I know it's a 'vette and designed for handling but I would think it would be smoother than it is. it does NOT have the Z51 suspension package on it either.
I'm thinking that the shocks are pretty much gone just due to age and the seals deteriorating over time. the car did come from upstate New York and I'm pretty sure the roads are quite rough up there so the 44,000 could be pretty tough miles.
I'm looking into replacing the shocks and am wondering if anyone can suggest a shock that will "smooth" out the ride some, It's a daily driver and I don't really care about "carving up the road" with it, I just want a little more comfortable ride.
by the way, I have done a bunch of searches but it seems like everyone is looking to make the car more responsive and could care less about a smooth ride. I'm just the opposite, My old bones don't like the ride of this one.
thanks,
Team Owner
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From: Riverside County Southern California
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St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
They do go bad. One of my Bilsteins went bad within a year, and it was covered by their warranty.
That would be one out of 4 sets I have bought within 16 years.
That would be one out of 4 sets I have bought within 16 years.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: SANTA CRUZ CA
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,179
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From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
KYB's are junk on a Corvette, worthless at speeds above 55
That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Shocks need to be changed at regular intervals like oil, filters and tires.
Unless you know exactly how old the shocks are change them.
50-60K miles is a good mileage for replacement. Or five to eight years tops.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Shocks need to be changed at regular intervals like oil, filters and tires.
Unless you know exactly how old the shocks are change them.
50-60K miles is a good mileage for replacement. Or five to eight years tops.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,284
Likes: 3
From: Murphy NC
I am also wondering why so many people buy a Vette then want to soften the ride. It kinda reminds me of buying a champion stallion and having him gelded. Why didn't you just buy a trail horse to start with.
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Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
Bling factor? 
I always wanted to own and drive a Corvette. The C4 made that possible. The story is the same for many others.
Others just like to drive. Or the bling factor.
My Corvette need is for speed.
I always wanted to own and drive a Corvette. The C4 made that possible. The story is the same for many others.
Others just like to drive. Or the bling factor.
My Corvette need is for speed.
Last edited by JrRifleCoach; Nov 16, 2013 at 12:34 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 1,331
Likes: 2
Spend the money and get the Bilsteins.
I'm a big fan of the B6 HDs on my vette. The car rides smooth when I'm not getting on it. But firms up nicely when I start to really play with her.
Short of buying a set of Koni shocks I couldn't imagine putting anything else on the car.
The modern Bilsteins are light years beyond what came on our vettes originally.
I'm a big fan of the B6 HDs on my vette. The car rides smooth when I'm not getting on it. But firms up nicely when I start to really play with her.
Short of buying a set of Koni shocks I couldn't imagine putting anything else on the car.
The modern Bilsteins are light years beyond what came on our vettes originally.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,493
Likes: 475
From: New Jersey
The KYB will also definitely raise the ride height which is borderline already. My Bilsteins are 28 years old so I am fixin to send them for a factory rebuild. How old are your tires? The set that came with my '86 were 23(!) years old and sounded like basketballs when you whacked the sidewall. The iron head L98 would pull the rear sideways grabbing second and that was not a product of the engine. Car rides much better on new rubber.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 672
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From: Chesapeake Virginia
OK guys, I finally got off the fence about the whole shock issue. I took everthing that everyone said into consideration and decided on the KYB shocks. I was really torn between the Bilstiens and the KYB's, I read tons of reviews but the one thing that put me over the top was a comparison of the two concerning design and recommended use. IF I were going to race this or do auto-x it would not have been an issue. I use this car as my daily driver and wanted a smooth ride (as much as possible with a vette anyway)---I understand that the KYB's aren't the quality of the bilstiens but at 1/3'rd the price, if I run them a year and don't like them I'm not out that much $$$'s
I figure compared to my 28 year old factory shocks pretty much anything would be an improvement. I'll let you know what I think of them after I have installed them and run them for a while.
I figure compared to my 28 year old factory shocks pretty much anything would be an improvement. I'll let you know what I think of them after I have installed them and run them for a while.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: SCMR Rat Pack'r Charter Member..Great Bend KS
Shocks do not have a "use by" date. Shocks wear out, they don't age out.
Bilstein's are the best value out there: they aren't cheap, but you get WAY more than you pay for. That said, when it came time to replace the Bilstein's on my C4, I tried Edelbrock AIS (took them off after 25 miles and sold them to a guy who wanted soft shocks for his wife's C4), then put on KONI units.
The KONI's don't have the coolness factor of the AIS units (they look like they came off a road grader), but boy do they do the job!!
Bilstein's are the best value out there: they aren't cheap, but you get WAY more than you pay for. That said, when it came time to replace the Bilstein's on my C4, I tried Edelbrock AIS (took them off after 25 miles and sold them to a guy who wanted soft shocks for his wife's C4), then put on KONI units.
The KONI's don't have the coolness factor of the AIS units (they look like they came off a road grader), but boy do they do the job!!