Bilstein Vs KYB Shocks?
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: May 2015
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From: WI
Bilstein Vs KYB Shocks?
I'm looking at buying new shocks for my 1987 Corvette since they probably need to be replaced anyway. I've found two options I like on Eckler's but I'm wondering your opinions. Which do you think is better for the C4? Bilstein or KYB? I've heard good things about Bilstein before but not much about KYB.
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I'm looking at buying new shocks for my 1987 Corvette since they probably need to be replaced anyway. I've found two options I like on Eckler's but I'm wondering your opinions. Which do you think is better for the C4? Bilstein or KYB? I've heard good things about Bilstein before but not much about KYB.
They will screw up a ball bearing then blame you then charge you for it
Last edited by antfarmer2; Jul 22, 2015 at 12:42 PM.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 19
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From: WI
I'm not a huge fan of Eckler's either. They are more often than not just a ripoff. Do Bilstein offer better performance? I'm not too worried about comfort but more so the performance aspects since it gets taken to track days now and then.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2011
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From: Trinity FL
The price difference between the Bills and the KYB's are marginal and the performance and longevity between the two aren't really even close. FWIW, I put Z51 spec bilsteins on my base FE1 1994 Coupe and it made it feel much tighter. In addition, the factory Bilstein shocks I removed still had a TON of life left in them even after 20 years and 100,000 miles. I actually sold them to a forum member on here and he is still using them! I think this is a great testament to how great Bilstein shocks really are. If you have the coin you could always look into QA1, Penske, Van Steel coil overs, etc... but its hard to beat the bang for the buck of Bilsteins.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2009
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From: South Dakota
My vote is for the Bilstein's also.
I put the Z51 Bilstein's on my base suspension '94 and '95. I have KYB on my '96.
The Bilstein's are firmer and exactly what I was looking for.
I also believe the Bilstein's will last better too. I have had them on several cars and never needed to replace them. On the B-body cars (Impala, Caprice, etc.) the forums have a number of references to the shocks still performing at over 200k miles. I've never taken them that far and a little suspicious, but still some strong testimonials.
I would not buy KYB's. I was an engineer at an auto manufacturer and we used KYB shocks. They were the only company to shut down our manufacturing line in 5 or 6 years. I spent the better part of 3 months working with them to improve their production processes. They had very poor controls and could not be counted on to maintain the changes to production. That was about 25 years ago, so hopefully they have improved, but I still have the bad impression whether it is valid today or not.
As a side note: If you do get the KYB's make sure you use a locking nut on the top. They used to come with a standard nut that would back off and create free play in the shock mounting. I had to do this repair on my '96 which had KYB's on it when I bought it. Searching the forums, I found that I was not alone. Several others reported the same problem.
I put the Z51 Bilstein's on my base suspension '94 and '95. I have KYB on my '96.
The Bilstein's are firmer and exactly what I was looking for.
I also believe the Bilstein's will last better too. I have had them on several cars and never needed to replace them. On the B-body cars (Impala, Caprice, etc.) the forums have a number of references to the shocks still performing at over 200k miles. I've never taken them that far and a little suspicious, but still some strong testimonials.
I would not buy KYB's. I was an engineer at an auto manufacturer and we used KYB shocks. They were the only company to shut down our manufacturing line in 5 or 6 years. I spent the better part of 3 months working with them to improve their production processes. They had very poor controls and could not be counted on to maintain the changes to production. That was about 25 years ago, so hopefully they have improved, but I still have the bad impression whether it is valid today or not.
As a side note: If you do get the KYB's make sure you use a locking nut on the top. They used to come with a standard nut that would back off and create free play in the shock mounting. I had to do this repair on my '96 which had KYB's on it when I bought it. Searching the forums, I found that I was not alone. Several others reported the same problem.
Last edited by QCVette; Jul 22, 2015 at 02:01 PM.
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...WW
Le Mans Master
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From: SF bay area C.A.
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If your mainly driving on the street the kyb will be fine but I use bilsteins Z51's. Had the cheaper bilsteins but they would not keep my rear planted enough in higher speed turns on a course that was a bit lumpy in a few places.
95 vert
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I usually go with bilsteins, but I did install a set of KYB's on my (steel blue) 90. KYB's were OK, but only if cost is an issue....
Melting Slicks
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From: Orchard Park NY
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C4's were meant to be a road car and overall performance is compromised using inferior parts.
Some guys will spend hundreds of dollars on polishers and wax then wimper like a little girl when it comes to shocks, tires or fluids.
Sorry WW no 'fence intended
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 2,264
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From: Orchard Park NY
Its not about tracking or racing, its about handling.
C4's were meant to be a road car and overall performance is compromised using inferior parts.
Some guys will spend hundreds of dollars on polishers and wax then wimper like a little girl when it comes to shocks, tires or fluids.
Sorry WW no 'fence intended
C4's were meant to be a road car and overall performance is compromised using inferior parts.
Some guys will spend hundreds of dollars on polishers and wax then wimper like a little girl when it comes to shocks, tires or fluids.
Sorry WW no 'fence intended
I was agreeing with you. KYB's are ****, no matter how many on this forum will vouch for them. They are bottom barrel cheapo replacements. I wouldn't settle for anything less than Bilsteins.
