shocks
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 251
Likes: 1
From: Windsor Connecticut
shocks
My 1984 : Has anyone personally tried both the Bilstein B6 shocks and the KYB JUST GAS MONO TUBE SHOCK, IF SO WHICH DO YOU THINK PERFORMED BETTER AND RODE SMOOTHER. i DIDN'T THINK PUTTING SHOCKS ON A CAR COULD BE SO COMPLICATED. Looking for answers to get the best performance out of my car.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,528
Likes: 752
From: South Dakota
I have had B6, B8, and KYB shocks on my '94 to '96 cars.
They all performed well as designed. However they designed them for different performance.
In order, the B8 is the firmest, the B6 is a little softer, and the KYB is the softest of the three.
My personal choice is the B8 because it is firmer but still not harsh and I think it meets my performance choice the best. I also like Bilstein shocks. They last a long time and have a lifetime guarantee.
The '84 has much stiffer springs and was originally criticized for being too stiff and revised spring rates for '85 and softer yet in the later years. Since you are looking for a smoother ride, I suspect the KYB's might be the smoothest choice, but I also suspect with those springs it will still be a stiff riding car.
Good luck with your choice.
They all performed well as designed. However they designed them for different performance.
In order, the B8 is the firmest, the B6 is a little softer, and the KYB is the softest of the three.
My personal choice is the B8 because it is firmer but still not harsh and I think it meets my performance choice the best. I also like Bilstein shocks. They last a long time and have a lifetime guarantee.
The '84 has much stiffer springs and was originally criticized for being too stiff and revised spring rates for '85 and softer yet in the later years. Since you are looking for a smoother ride, I suspect the KYB's might be the smoothest choice, but I also suspect with those springs it will still be a stiff riding car.
Good luck with your choice.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,331
Likes: 2,722
OP - there's very much that will effect ride quality!
An '84 there's no such thing as "soft ride" - QCVette mentioned the issues and I'd think that tire choice and tire age is going to somewhat dramatically effect ride quality. Not knowing what suspension the car was built with it's difficult to know what direction to point you towards.
In the interest of "soft ride" I'd say maybe you consider a change to '87 springs and shocks.
If the car is a "keeper" and you intend to drive and enjoy it, the change might certainly be the choice.
How old are your tires? Do you know what springs are in your car now? Was/is it a Z51 build? Not all '84 have SPID labels to check suspension options. Does yours?
Here's a SPID for an '84 that is likely as "hard ride" as any ever built. Compare your SPID to it. Check the Fxx codes and see if there actually might be a Z51.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...post1585504528
An '84 there's no such thing as "soft ride" - QCVette mentioned the issues and I'd think that tire choice and tire age is going to somewhat dramatically effect ride quality. Not knowing what suspension the car was built with it's difficult to know what direction to point you towards.
In the interest of "soft ride" I'd say maybe you consider a change to '87 springs and shocks.
If the car is a "keeper" and you intend to drive and enjoy it, the change might certainly be the choice.
How old are your tires? Do you know what springs are in your car now? Was/is it a Z51 build? Not all '84 have SPID labels to check suspension options. Does yours?
Here's a SPID for an '84 that is likely as "hard ride" as any ever built. Compare your SPID to it. Check the Fxx codes and see if there actually might be a Z51.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...post1585504528
Last edited by WVZR-1; May 16, 2017 at 09:18 AM.
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
Three fixation points for the front.
Two for the rears.
Bilsteins
If this isn't enough info try using the advanced search for the shocks in the topic.
You'll find much more info than anyone can offer in your post.
Two for the rears.
Bilsteins
If this isn't enough info try using the advanced search for the shocks in the topic.
You'll find much more info than anyone can offer in your post.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 13,345
Likes: 230
From: SCMR Rat Pack'r Charter Member..Great Bend KS
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 108
Likes: 3
If you have nothing but money of course get the Bils. I have a hard time justifying that kind of cash on my C4 when I have a pretty steep payment on my C7. So I replaced all bushing with poly, KYBs up and aft and upgraded the brakes to Hawks and shoed it with nice Mickey Thompsons. While I always knew that my little 383 in teh C4 would give the SR a run in a straight line I had no idea how well it would carve up the twisties. That said, it is a battle compared with finger tip control of the SR and it rides like a go kart, but it is a lot of fun on HPDE days.
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 251
Likes: 1
From: Windsor Connecticut
shocks
OP - there's very much that will effect ride quality!
An '84 there's no such thing as "soft ride" - QCVette mentioned the issues and I'd think that tire choice and tire age is going to somewhat dramatically effect ride quality. Not knowing what suspension the car was built with it's difficult to know what direction to point you towards.
In the interest of "soft ride" I'd say maybe you consider a change to '87 springs and shocks.
If the car is a "keeper" and you intend to drive and enjoy it, the change might certainly be the choice.
How old are your tires? Do you know what springs are in your car now? Was/is it a Z51 build? Not all '84 have SPID labels to check suspension options. Does yours?
Here's a SPID for an '84 that is likely as "hard ride" as any ever built. Compare your SPID to it. Check the Fxx codes and see if there actually might be a Z51.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...post1585504528
An '84 there's no such thing as "soft ride" - QCVette mentioned the issues and I'd think that tire choice and tire age is going to somewhat dramatically effect ride quality. Not knowing what suspension the car was built with it's difficult to know what direction to point you towards.
In the interest of "soft ride" I'd say maybe you consider a change to '87 springs and shocks.
If the car is a "keeper" and you intend to drive and enjoy it, the change might certainly be the choice.
How old are your tires? Do you know what springs are in your car now? Was/is it a Z51 build? Not all '84 have SPID labels to check suspension options. Does yours?
Here's a SPID for an '84 that is likely as "hard ride" as any ever built. Compare your SPID to it. Check the Fxx codes and see if there actually might be a Z51.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...post1585504528
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,331
Likes: 2,722
The car is a keeper for me My first Vet and I really like the car,so going on I do not have the Z51 Suspension, and going over my records those tires are about 11 years old,have plenty of tread,wondering if their shelf life is just gone.Could they have developed flat spot,been kept in a fairly warm area and I did move the car around.As for the shocks they are the originals and the car has 80,000 miles on it ,May have lost some gas over the years. Looking forward to hearing your opinion. Again Thanks for your input
If the shocks are OE and "black" maybe the expense of the Bilstein is "over-kill" - most might think not!
I might not rule out the thoughts of the later springs - replacement of the front is a somewhat complicated DIY - is there someone reliable that does your maintenance?
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 171
Likes: 6
From: SW Ontario
This was a very easy diy project. Took me roughly 1.5 hours. I took my time. The bolts came off pretty easily. Car feels a lot better driving and going over cracks and small bumps in the road. I'll have to do the fronts soon.
Last edited by James84vette; May 22, 2017 at 09:50 AM.
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 69
Likes: 5
From: Glenview IL
Last September changed the rear shocks with some KYB . Got them for free so I said that they are better that the 30 yo oem's that were on the car. It was a 1 hour job. I have to say that after the install the rear of the car rised with appx. 1 inch and they are stiff as hell .
I like stiff suspension, but on 85 with FE3 option ( I think this is heavy duty suspension) and these KYB's are not the best combo at all.
Anyway after I have asked some people and read a lot on the forum I have bought these .
I hope that in June will find some time to install them on the car.
I like stiff suspension, but on 85 with FE3 option ( I think this is heavy duty suspension) and these KYB's are not the best combo at all.
Anyway after I have asked some people and read a lot on the forum I have bought these .
I hope that in June will find some time to install them on the car.