C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

Need some help with shocks

Old Apr 20, 2004 | 03:08 PM
  #1  
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wmm1955
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From: Long Beach Mississippi
Default Need some help with shocks

I live in an area that the roads are less than ideal, in fact theyu are pretty bad. I have an 85 vette as a daily driver and would like to find some new shocks that will give me a much smoother ride. The ones I have now are too stiff and really don;t proivide a comfortable ride except when on the highway or a nice level road. Any help in a softer riding shock would be appreciated.
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Old Apr 20, 2004 | 03:59 PM
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Default Re: Need some help with shocks (wmm1955)

KYB's are supposed to be really nice shocks and are only about $28 each. You can check SummitRacing.com on these.

PepBoys sells a Gabriel Gas Ryder featuring velocity sensitivity (VST Technology) which ride really well too. They are also inexpensive.

Jake
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Old Apr 20, 2004 | 04:15 PM
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Default Re: Need some help with shocks (JAKE)

Thanks for the info Jake. I have the Gabriel VST shocks on there now, in fact I just put them on a few weeks ago. They do ride better than the Bilstein shocks I had before.
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Old Apr 20, 2004 | 04:56 PM
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Default Re: Need some help with shocks (wmm1955)

Thanks for the info Jake. I have the Gabriel VST shocks on there now, in fact I just put them on a few weeks ago. They do ride better than the Bilstein shocks I had before.
Okay.

I don't know of any others that ride really soft without drastically compromising handling.

Jake
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Old Apr 20, 2004 | 06:06 PM
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Default Re: Need some help with shocks (wmm1955)

I faced the same problem with a 1995 convertible with 20,000 original miles: the standard Bilsteins were so stiff that I was experiencing rear wheel hop and front bump steer when encountering rough pavement — the main kind we seem to have in Ohio. I replaced the Bilsteins with Edelbrock Performer IAS shocks. I'm not certain that I buy all of the techno-jargon on the Edelbrock site (http://www.edelbrock.com/automotive/index.html), but the shocks really do work. I have a much-improved ride quality and overall much better performance. You can't do anything — accelerate, brake, or steer — if the wheels are not in contact with the pavement. For me, the Edelbrocks provided that contact. BTW, I bought mine at Jegs, but that's because I work a block away.
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Old Apr 20, 2004 | 06:22 PM
  #6  
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Default Re: Need some help with shocks (cduckworth)

Thats exactly the kind of things that I am running into. I'll have to take look at those. Thanks for the info.
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Old Apr 20, 2004 | 06:33 PM
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From: Cleveland OH
Default Re: Need some help with shocks (wmm1955)

Thanks for the info Jake. I have the Gabriel VST shocks on there now, in fact I just put them on a few weeks ago. They do ride better than the Bilstein shocks I had before.
I have the Gabriel shocks on my 89 as well, and they were very comfortable in a non-performance situation, as well as very responsive in a performance situation. However, when I switched to wider 18" tires with sticky Toyo rubber, they were completely inadequate. The tires seemed to completely overwhelm them. I will be looking into single adjustable Konis to replace them with this year.

Ron
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