It's time to change my shocks. I don't want to go all out on expensive high performance shocks. Any recommendations on a brand other than the originals? :auto:


[Modified by Ricks94vette, 4:45 PM 1/22/2004]

 

Personally, I'd stick with the stock Bilsteins. For a high-performance, non-coilover shock, it's hard to beat Bilstein.

Some guys here have tried KYB and liked them. They are cheaper and ride softer. However, there may be some longevity issues with KYB. I know from the Impala SS/Caprice crowd, KYB is basically considered a 1 year shock. Of course, those cars are a little heavier :)

With the Bilsteins, you pay once and are set for a long time.

 

i just replaced my OEM shocks with KYB shocks for about half the price of the OEM shocks and they performance is equal to hte OEM shocks they replaced. i've replaced all 4 struts on my toy supra and belive me replacing shocks on my 94 vette was a dream come true!
boonie

 

I recommend sticking with the OEM Bilstein shocks. I have gotten 55,000 miles out of each set of mine (on my third set now :p: ).

 

Just curious as to how one goes about deciding when to replace their shocks. Obviosuly mileage is one indicater as well as a visual inspection.
Lets say you bought the car used and you don't know if are when the shocks were replaced and there is no visible sign of leakage. The car feels tight but perhaps it would be better with new shocks...how do you know?

 

A good indication is when you go over a speed bump in a parking lot and the car bottoms out, and bounces a few times before settling. Also when the car seems to loose control and wheel hop during hard cornering. :flag

 

How is the ride with the KYB's. I really don't want a hard stiff ride. Just a good handling shock.

 

Rick, I have a 94 LT1 6 spd coupe. I wanted to keep the shocks original on my 94. There is something about the yellow shocks and how they look. The reason I thought my shocks needed replacement was when I was on the interstate I got what you might call floating. If I went over a dip or bump the front end would go up and down a couple of times before stabilizing. This didn't seem right. So I investigated shocks through the forum. I found a thread about how Bilstien would rebuild them. I contacted Bilstien and got a price. I didn't want to be without my ride so I decided to purchase a set of shocks from Car Quest and send the Bilstiens back. That's what I did. When I put the Car Quest shocks on the Vette the floating subsided. It seemed OK. I got the Bilstiens back and put those on and now I feel the Car Quest shocks are better. The floating seems to have returned. I'm not sure how the standard suppension should perform, but this floating doesn't seem right. Anyone out there have an opinion? I would think the dampning should be stiffer. If I go over a dip there should be one oscilation the than stabilize. How does your's perform?

Billstien charged me $275 to rebuild the 4 shocks and the 4 shocks from Car Quest was $97. I'd sure like to know how your's handles now before the change.

 

I also have a 94 maual 6spd. Are you talking about regular (non electrically adjusted)? I've checked with a GM parts dealer and he has come up with a AC Delco Red Monotube type for $500. Also a Silver Road Performer for $ 41.66. I don't know which of these are the Bilstein. Do anyone else out there know anything about replacing these. Thanks for your reply.

 

Definately do NOT go to the dealer for replacement shocks :eek: ! Order them from one of the various Corvette specialty vendors, as listed on the left side of the margin of CF. I recommend www.zip-corvette.com, www.madvet.com, www.vettebrakes.com, www.corvettecentral.com, www.tld-corvette.com. All will have the right Bilstein shocks for around $300 a set (non-adjustable).

I, too, have a '94 6 speed :reddevil

 

I have a set of KYBs on while while adjustables are being rebuilt. The nicest thing that I can say about them is that they were cheap, don't leak, fit fine and that they were cheap. Did I mention they were cheap.

I have the Z07 suspension on my '91 (higher rate) and these things are severely lacking in rebound damping.

They are probably fine shocks if you are not looking for a high performance ride.

-Z

 

I'm not sure why a person wants a soft riding, high speed, high performance car but that is what the stock front bilsteins are on a mid ninties Vette "soft" That is what the FLOATING feeling is. They work well around town and at say "55" but I DON'T Drive "55". IMO the rebound to is just to darn soft on stock front Bilsteins. They feel like grandads old Caddy the way they float. :rolleyes: But hey I'm a pedal ta the metal kinda guy. I want my rubber stuck to the ground. :steering: The Yellow Color sure is purtty tho. If I was spendin' your money :D I'd get adjustable shocks: Koni sports or QA1 that way you can set it up the way you like it. ;) Of course they ARE expensive!


[Modified by Gar, 6:02 PM 1/22/2004]

 

Funny I have a 94 6 speed and my car rides the same way. I couldn't believe that the stock Bilsteins were so "floatty". My car only has 23k miles so I don't think that they are worn out and I've checked them and they aren't leaking or anything like that. Seems GM just made a bad choice in shocks for a sports car. Will be repacing mine with the QA1s in the spring. Like the fact that they are adjustable w/o removing them from the car. The adjustability will be nice at the track! :)

 

I've got the base suspension on my 94. FE1 I believe it's called. There have been several posts about guys with base suspension replacing their stock Bilsteins with Z51 Bilsteins. Usually they have nothing but good things to say about this combo. Softer springs to keep the car from hopping around, and stiffer rebound on the shocks to keep the wheels in contact with the pavement.
I'm going that route when I replace my shocks. :cheers:

 

Funny thing is when I talked to Bilstien they asked me if I wanted to change the valving. I thought the shocks were bad so I said make them stock. They could have changed them to eliminate that float. Live and learn.

 

I remember talking to someone once that said they got the "Sears Point" revalving done by Bilstein. Wonder how many different set ups they can make?

 

Bilstien said they could do what ever you want. 50/50, 90/10, 60/40, what ever. I wonder how many C4 owners junked their Bilstiens and ther was really nothing wrong with them?

 

I just put Kyb's on the front of my 94 a couple of weeks ago.....
I like em alot.... :steering:

 

Rick, I have a 1994 and went to the Z51 shocks,and they made a shocking difference. :party:

 

So, if I am reading this correctly, putting z51 Bilsteins on a base suspension car yields goods handling results? Would this setup be more appropriate than stock for, say, autox? Are there any downsides to swapping the original shocks for z51 specs?