Shocks
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 6,470
Likes: 2
From: levittown pa. usa Even a bad day with my `Vette, is better than a good day at work
St. Jude Donor '10
Shocks
Ok: I`m tired of bouncing my kidney stones loose, while driving my `87 Vette. The car has the Z52 suspension with the Bilstein shocks. This car handles like a go cart, but it rides like a boxcar. What are the best reasonably priced shocks, to soften up the ride. The shocks on the car are not worn (35,000 mi). This car does not go over bumps, it goes through them. My wife says the car rides so stiff, & jars so much, that she does not enjoy riding in it. I put a Sony CD player in, & it spends more time skipping, than playing.
Thanks
Ken
Thanks
Ken
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
The Z52 suspension option actually has the base suspension in terms of shocks and springs, but it does has the same stiffer sway bars as the Z51 option. Z52 also got the stiffener bracing pieces that the convertible had in order to stiffen up the body over the base coupe.
As far as the Bilsteins go, the Z51 and Z52 had the same rear shock but the front shock on the Z51 was a stiffer version.
You might try the KYB Gas-A-Just shocks if you want to remove the Bilsteins. You can get them at Summit Racing for $28 each plus a $8.95 order charge. But you might try dropping the tire pressure to 30psi to see if that makes any difference.
As far as the Bilsteins go, the Z51 and Z52 had the same rear shock but the front shock on the Z51 was a stiffer version.
You might try the KYB Gas-A-Just shocks if you want to remove the Bilsteins. You can get them at Summit Racing for $28 each plus a $8.95 order charge. But you might try dropping the tire pressure to 30psi to see if that makes any difference.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,182
Likes: 14
From: POINT PLEASANT NEW JERSEY
I have an 87 and just took out he Bilsteins and repalced them with AC Delco "Reactek" Shocks all around. They are a smoother riding Gas Shock. Hey look......forget about a "Lincoln Continental " ride..it is a Vette. As far as your wife not liking to ride along with you......whats the problem?????? You've been blessed ...heck./.....keep the Bilsteins!!!!! 
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 6,470
Likes: 2
From: levittown pa. usa Even a bad day with my `Vette, is better than a good day at work
St. Jude Donor '10
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[/IMG] Thanks; but I really don`t mind taking the wife for a ride once in a while in the `Vette, after all she bought me the Harley, which she can`t ride because she has a bad back. So I feel I have to make some concessions. As for letting the air out, the car has `96 CE wheels with the 17" tires, they are not very thick. It looks like if I let any of the air out, I`ll be riding on the rims. I might look into the KYBs, or the Delcos. thanks for the help.
Ken [IMG]
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[/IMG] Thanks; but I really don`t mind taking the wife for a ride once in a while in the `Vette, after all she bought me the Harley, which she can`t ride because she has a bad back. So I feel I have to make some concessions. As for letting the air out, the car has `96 CE wheels with the 17" tires, they are not very thick. It looks like if I let any of the air out, I`ll be riding on the rims. I might look into the KYBs, or the Delcos. thanks for the help.Ken
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Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 30,845
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From: Boston, Dallas, Detroit, SoCal, back to Boston MA
I've got HAL QA1 adjustables on my car.
You can dial in whatever you want.
Turn it down when shes in the car, and then crank it back up when you want to be more aggresive w/o having to even jack the car up.
You can dial in whatever you want.
Turn it down when shes in the car, and then crank it back up when you want to be more aggresive w/o having to even jack the car up.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 3,490
Likes: 68
From: Hewitt NJ
Originally Posted by BrianCunningham
I've got HAL QA1 adjustables on my car.
You can dial in whatever you want.
Turn it down when shes in the car, and then crank it back up when you want to be more aggresive w/o having to even jack the car up.
You can dial in whatever you want.
Turn it down when shes in the car, and then crank it back up when you want to be more aggresive w/o having to even jack the car up.
