34 year old shocks!
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,426
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From: Pennsylvania
34 year old shocks!
I just replaced all the verified original 34 year old factory shocks on my 1985 4+3. The car has 51,000 miles on it and has always been garaged and correctly maintained. The mounting bolts had absolutely no corrosion on them and were very easily removed. The non-Billstein original standard factory shocks looked like new, No oil leaking, no rust and they still had very good pressure left in them. Amazing! I replaced them just as a "feel good" type maintenance item because of their 34 year old age. Is it normal to have shocks this old last so long and still look and operate so well?
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 179
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From: Missouri
@FOURSPEEDVETTE I don't know if it's normal but I replaced my original shocks on my '84 this past summer with 60k miles and they were shot. They wouldn't even press back out on their own and they were covered in oil. Unless you have owned the car for a long time I'd guess they aren't the originals.
Last edited by James C4; Jan 16, 2019 at 11:20 AM.
Team Owner
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Usually the factory ones are done by 75K, if the car has been babied I'm not surprised yours lasted this many years, but its uncommon.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2012
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From: USA
I purchased a 84 with 58000 miles on it and it came from the Chicago area. Shocks appeared to be original and were in terrible shape. The lower bodies were rusted to the point of having holes clear through them. Just about useless as shocks anymore.
I do not think that it is normal for shocks to last that long.
I do not think that it is normal for shocks to last that long.
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Team Owner
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From: Outside the Quick Stop N.J.
FWIW I just ordered new shocks for my 79 DeVille (I know, not a C4, but the topic is relevant) with 21k on it. The car was always garaged and obviously rarely driven, but while only one has leaking seals they all are shot.
Le Mans Master
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From: Seattle Area WA
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Pennsylvania
No, Mine wasn't one built with original Bilsteins. I don't know what the build code was for that set up, but some had the yellow Bilsteins, and some had AC Delco(?) or the plain standard black shocks. I think only the Z51 suspensions all had Bilsteins. I've known about my 85 since the day it was ordered and delivered new to the original owner. I bought it from him with 20,000 miles on it and every service receipt and parts receipt since new. I have quite a folder for this car. The shocks I replaced were definitely the ones that the car was originally delivered with. The car has never seen road salt or winter weather of any kind. I do drive it some, but only from May to October here in Pennsylvania.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2013
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From: Sacramento California
Most of the factory Bilsteins also had the AC Delco name on them. This was from an agreement / manufacturing contract between the two at the time these cars were built. New Bilsteins just say Bilstein, even if they are exactly correct units for your car. But you can have the original Bilstein / AC Delco units rebuilt if you want, with different valving.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2018
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From: AA/Metro Detroit
Yep, mine are factory (albeit 1992), they're marked with both Bilstein, and directly below that just Delco (no AC, GM, Chevy, etc)
At 170k, mine are soft (read: nonfunctional), and got some rust and definitely are getting tossed in a junk box this spring. I don't doubt at 51k they could still look great and feel OK, but I'd be shocked if you put them on a dyno and it didn't show considerable loss from new. Sadly, Bilstein won't rebuild these anymore, that was the first option I tried.
At 170k, mine are soft (read: nonfunctional), and got some rust and definitely are getting tossed in a junk box this spring. I don't doubt at 51k they could still look great and feel OK, but I'd be shocked if you put them on a dyno and it didn't show considerable loss from new. Sadly, Bilstein won't rebuild these anymore, that was the first option I tried.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Hartford WI
Most of the factory Bilsteins also had the AC Delco name on them. This was from an agreement / manufacturing contract between the two at the time these cars were built. New Bilsteins just say Bilstein, even if they are exactly correct units for your car. But you can have the original Bilstein / AC Delco units rebuilt if you want, with different valving.
Why would you rebuild the original units? You have a 90 day warranty from what they tell me. The yellow Bilstein ones have lifetime.
Edit: If you had an NCRS thing and wanted to keep it original, I suppose you have to rebuild.
Last edited by aklim; Jan 17, 2019 at 07:19 PM.
Team Owner
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From: Hartford WI
I had a leak on one of them a couple years back. At that time they were 10 years old. I was asked to send the leaking one back to be tested on the "shock dyno". Called them and asked if they could also check my other one. They said to send it along. According to Fedex, within less than 2 hours of receipt of the old shocks, they created a label for shipping. NFW would I believe they tested them so quickly after receipt. Regardless, I got 2 new shocks back. Guess I will be happy since they are $200 FX3 shocks.
Another time, I had a hose that was venting crankcase fumes to the exhaust. It came out and blew oil fumes on the rear shock of the truck. By the time I discovered it, it was too late. I wiped the shock up and a couple days later, it was still oily. Checked the shock off the truck and it wouldn't bounce back. Wiped it and sent it back for a new one.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,426
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From: Pennsylvania
Yep, mine are factory (albeit 1992), they're marked with both Bilstein, and directly below that just Delco (no AC, GM, Chevy, etc)
At 170k, mine are soft (read: nonfunctional), and got some rust and definitely are getting tossed in a junk box this spring. I don't doubt at 51k they could still look great and feel OK, but I'd be shocked if you put them on a dyno and it didn't show considerable loss from new. Sadly, Bilstein won't rebuild these anymore, that was the first option I tried.
At 170k, mine are soft (read: nonfunctional), and got some rust and definitely are getting tossed in a junk box this spring. I don't doubt at 51k they could still look great and feel OK, but I'd be shocked if you put them on a dyno and it didn't show considerable loss from new. Sadly, Bilstein won't rebuild these anymore, that was the first option I tried.