shocks
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 251
Likes: 1
From: Windsor Connecticut
shocks
Got 80 Thousand miles on my 1984 Vet,time to chage the shocks, what would be the best one to install on the car. I am not racing it just cruising with it. Looking for some good honest opinions.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,332
Likes: 3,247
From: Hartford WI
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 251
Likes: 1
From: Windsor Connecticut
shocks
Let me say this about the shocks on my car,they aren't leaking, I was just going to change them because (1) they are the originals (2) the car just turn 80 thousand. With the z51 Suspension the car to me ride I think the same as it did when I first bought it. Is there a rule of thumb as to how often you should change the shocks. Looking for some good honest opinions.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,332
Likes: 3,247
From: Hartford WI
Let me say this about the shocks on my car,they aren't leaking, I was just going to change them because (1) they are the originals (2) the car just turn 80 thousand. With the z51 Suspension the car to me ride I think the same as it did when I first bought it. Is there a rule of thumb as to how often you should change the shocks. Looking for some good honest opinions.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,170
Likes: 672
From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
Let me say this about the shocks on my car,they aren't leaking, I was just going to change them because (1) they are the originals (2) the car just turn 80 thousand. With the z51 Suspension the car to me ride I think the same as it did when I first bought it. Is there a rule of thumb as to how often you should change the shocks. Looking for some good honest opinions.
Most people have no clue as to the importance of the shock absorber.
So those will argue that shocks only need to be replaced if they're leaking.
Or any shock that's cheap will work better than those taken off.
The 84 Z51 is a pretty ridged setup and a good set of Bilsteins will hep control the suspension properly.
You might come back and say those are too stiff.
So many will say the KYBs will offer a softer ride.
My opinion is your springs will never offer a smooth ride. Its a C4 Corvette.
Unless your ready to swap out the springs and bars, best to get used to it.
Or sell it for a Buick.....
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 251
Likes: 1
From: Windsor Connecticut
shocks
50K or 5-6 years.
Most people have no clue as to the importance of the shock absorber.
So those will argue that shocks only need to be replaced if they're leaking.
Or any shock that's cheap will work better than those taken off.
The 84 Z51 is a pretty ridged setup and a good set of Bilsteins will hep control the suspension properly.
You might come back and say those are too stiff.
So many will say the KYBs will offer a softer ride.
My opinion is your springs will never offer a smooth ride. Its a C4 Corvette.
Unless your ready to swap out the springs and bars, best to get used to it.
Or sell it for a Buick.....
Most people have no clue as to the importance of the shock absorber.
So those will argue that shocks only need to be replaced if they're leaking.
Or any shock that's cheap will work better than those taken off.
The 84 Z51 is a pretty ridged setup and a good set of Bilsteins will hep control the suspension properly.
You might come back and say those are too stiff.
So many will say the KYBs will offer a softer ride.
My opinion is your springs will never offer a smooth ride. Its a C4 Corvette.
Unless your ready to swap out the springs and bars, best to get used to it.
Or sell it for a Buick.....
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 2,692
Likes: 349
From: Sacramento California
Lots of existing threads on this topic. For bargain shocks, KYB is probably the best value, they are supposed to be pretty good. If you want a premium quality shock that lasts a long time, go with the Bilstein HDs, they are engineered specifically for this vehicle.
http://www.ajusa.com/1984-Chevrolet-...v7bbq67a9.html
And as JrRifleCoash said the early C4s have heavy springs and there is no shock that will soften your ride very much. Higher profile tires might help though
http://www.ajusa.com/1984-Chevrolet-...v7bbq67a9.html
And as JrRifleCoash said the early C4s have heavy springs and there is no shock that will soften your ride very much. Higher profile tires might help though
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,067
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From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Let me say this about the shocks on my car,they aren't leaking, I was just going to change them because (1) they are the originals (2) the car just turn 80 thousand. With the z51 Suspension the car to me ride I think the same as it did when I first bought it. Is there a rule of thumb as to how often you should change the shocks. Looking for some good honest opinions.
You are due.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,332
Likes: 3,247
From: Hartford WI
Kinda wonder if it is specific to C4s or not. I had a 91 F-body that we changed shocks in 94. IIRC, the shocks were 3 years old. You could push it all the way down, go take a **** and come back to find that it is about 3/4 way back to rest position. Obviously they weren't Bilsteins. Just regular Delco. Replaced them with Tokiko and you could see it works better.
Last edited by aklim; May 8, 2017 at 05:43 PM.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 438
Likes: 14
From: Tucson/Santa Paula AZ/CA
2017 C4 of Year Finalist
Kinda wonder if it is specific to C4s or not. I had a 91 F-body that we changed shocks in 94. IIRC, the shocks were 3 years old. You could push it all the way down, go take a **** and come back to find that it is about 3/4 way back to rest position. Obviously they weren't Bilsteins. Just regular Delco. Replaced them with Tokiko and you could see it works better.
You are simply describing a gas charged shock that has lost most of it's pressure. The gas pressure is only added to prevent the oil in the shock from foaming during operation. The gas is NOT used to suspend the car or change ride height, only to prevent the oil from aerating.
HTH,
Mick
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 761
Likes: 66
From: Fitzwilliam New Hampshire
Kinda wonder if it is specific to C4s or not. I had a 91 F-body that we changed shocks in 94. IIRC, the shocks were 3 years old. You could push it all the way down, go take a **** and come back to find that it is about 3/4 way back to rest position. Obviously they weren't Bilsteins. Just regular Delco. Replaced them with Tokiko and you could see it works better.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 2,692
Likes: 349
From: Sacramento California
On my 1995 base coupe, I just replaced the original factory Delco Bilstein shocks for brand new Bilstein B6 units.
The old shocks: the fronts were bad (leaking oil) but the rears are functioning just fine and I'm trying to recoup a few bucks by selling them. Nobody is biting, can't really blame them since they look, well... they look 23 years old.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 438
Likes: 14
From: Tucson/Santa Paula AZ/CA
2017 C4 of Year Finalist
My experience plus everything I have read says: yes
On my 1995 base coupe, I just replaced the original factory Delco Bilstein shocks for brand new Bilstein B6 units.
The old shocks: the fronts were bad (leaking oil) but the rears are functioning just fine and I'm trying to recoup a few bucks by selling them. Nobody is biting, can't really blame them since they look, well... they look 23 years old.
On my 1995 base coupe, I just replaced the original factory Delco Bilstein shocks for brand new Bilstein B6 units.
The old shocks: the fronts were bad (leaking oil) but the rears are functioning just fine and I'm trying to recoup a few bucks by selling them. Nobody is biting, can't really blame them since they look, well... they look 23 years old.
Mick
Racer
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 324
Likes: 7
From: Littleton Colorado
I replaced all 4 originals on my '96 Base Coupe at about 130k miles and 18 years old. I didn't notice any leaks, but they didn't seem to be "absorbing" like they should. I went with Bilstiens, as there didn't seem to be much love for other similarly- or lower-priced options here.
Just by coincidence, I did the left rear last. This is what I found:
To this day, I have no idea how they did that.
Just by coincidence, I did the left rear last. This is what I found:
To this day, I have no idea how they did that.