Shock Recommendations - Best Ride
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2004
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St. Jude Donor '05
Shock Recommendations - Best Ride
OK, I decided to put this queston to the forum, even though I have a damper design engineer 2 cubicles down. Let that speak for the respect I have for this forum.
My Vert is pretty much original stock (FE1) equipment, but I'm looking to replace the shocks with a goal of leaning more towards the ride quality than the handling. I'd like to hear your recommendations, and perhaps get some stock numbers for further research.
My Vert is pretty much original stock (FE1) equipment, but I'm looking to replace the shocks with a goal of leaning more towards the ride quality than the handling. I'd like to hear your recommendations, and perhaps get some stock numbers for further research.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
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From: Athens AL
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Id go with Edelbrock IAS if ride quality was my main concern, I think theyll handle some spirited driving but ride is their selling point.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2002
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From: Corvette valley Georgia
St. Jude Donor '06
Originally Posted by vader86
Id go with Edelbrock IAS if ride quality was my main concern, I think theyll handle some spirited driving but ride is their selling point.
If I were doing that over again!
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Milpitas ca
Originally Posted by vader86
Id go with Edelbrock IAS if ride quality was my main concern, I think theyll handle some spirited driving but ride is their selling point.
I put in Edelbrocks in May and have no complaints.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 9,715
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From: Kempner Texas
From all I've read the Edelbrocks are outstanding shocks, but be aware, they are pricey.
I you're on a tight budget, Gabriel sells a gas shock which gives an outstanding ride also and are very inexpensive. Pep Boys sells them. I believe they are called VHT.
Jake
I you're on a tight budget, Gabriel sells a gas shock which gives an outstanding ride also and are very inexpensive. Pep Boys sells them. I believe they are called VHT.
Jake
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 9,715
Likes: 27
From: Kempner Texas
From all I've read the Edelbrocks are outstanding shocks, but be aware, they are pricey.
I you're on a tight budget, Gabriel sells a gas shock which gives an outstanding ride also and are very inexpensive. Pep Boys sells them. I believe they are called VHT.
You can buy all four for less than what one Edelbrock costs.
Jake
I you're on a tight budget, Gabriel sells a gas shock which gives an outstanding ride also and are very inexpensive. Pep Boys sells them. I believe they are called VHT.
You can buy all four for less than what one Edelbrock costs.
Jake
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,126
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From: Cleveland OH
Originally Posted by JAKE
I you're on a tight budget, Gabriel sells a gas shock which gives an outstanding ride also and are very inexpensive. Pep Boys sells them. I believe they are called VHT.
I have these Gabriel's, and the ride is fantastic with them. I will be replacing them with QA1s, but that's more due to the upgrades that I've done to the car as opposed to not liking the Gabriels. Actually, they handle pretty well, but they are not Bilsteins - let's just put it that way.
Ron
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Ft. Lauderdale Fl
I agree
Originally Posted by JAKE
From all I've read the Edelbrocks are outstanding shocks, but be aware, they are pricey.
I you're on a tight budget, Gabriel sells a gas shock which gives an outstanding ride also and are very inexpensive. Pep Boys sells them. I believe they are called VHT.
You can buy all four for less than what one Edelbrock costs.
Jake
I you're on a tight budget, Gabriel sells a gas shock which gives an outstanding ride also and are very inexpensive. Pep Boys sells them. I believe they are called VHT.
You can buy all four for less than what one Edelbrock costs.
Jake
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: SCMR Rat Pack'r Charter Member..Great Bend KS
I have to agree with the majority; if price is not a concern and smooth ride is your goal, the Edelbrocks are an attractive option... pun intended. They are NOT in the same class as the KONI or the QA's as far as performance goes, but they do ride nice.
Larry
Larry
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,629
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From: Lawrenceville PA
Not to be a naysayer, but at about $125.00 per shock aren't they a little pricey when you can get Blisteins for $75.00 and KYB's for under $50.00? If you are just looking for a better ride and not handling performance, why spend the $125.00? Just my 2 cents.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Milpitas ca
Originally Posted by 1986pacecar
Not to be a naysayer, but at about $125.00 per shock aren't they a little pricey when you can get Blisteins for $75.00 and KYB's for under $50.00? If you are just looking for a better ride and not handling performance, why spend the $125.00? Just my 2 cents.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,793
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From: VA
Originally Posted by 1986pacecar
If you are just looking for a better ride and not handling performance, why spend the $125.00? Just my 2 cents.
As for handling performance, I found that they improved real world handling significantly (compared to stock Bilsteins with 60k on them), because I'm no longer afraid that a bump will send me off the side of the mountain.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 3,490
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From: Hewitt NJ
If you're willing to spend the money for the Edelbrocks then you should also consider the QA1s. They are only a little more money, but offer 12 way adjustment. You can set them soft for a nice ride or if you ever decide to drag race or auto-x you can change the adjustment to suit your needs. I have them on my car (FE1 suspension) and love them.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 755
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From: Sierra Foothills, State of Jefferson
I put Edelbrocks on my 94, replacing the long-worn Bilsteins.
IMHO the Edelbrocks offer a good compromise between performance handling and ride quality. I do remember driving the Vette off the dealer's lot and going over some train tracks
, the ride was pretty hard.
What I REALLY wanted to install were QA1's with coilovers, and lose the transverse springs- however the budget wasn't there
IMHO the Edelbrocks offer a good compromise between performance handling and ride quality. I do remember driving the Vette off the dealer's lot and going over some train tracks
, the ride was pretty hard.What I REALLY wanted to install were QA1's with coilovers, and lose the transverse springs- however the budget wasn't there
Pro
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 671
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From: WATERFORD CT
I put a set of TPIS shocks on my Z51 85 and the ride improvment is huge.On the street I cannot say there is a big loss in handling but I do not autocross or anything like that.Also I must add that when I damaged one of the TPIS shocks when I hit a curb they were not the most helpfull people to talk to(I called to try and purchase one shock) so maybe I will try putting two Gabrials in the rear.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 1999
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From: Stafford, Virginia Kittah, Kittah, Kittah...
Originally Posted by JAKE
From all I've read the Edelbrocks are outstanding shocks, but be aware, they are pricey.
I you're on a tight budget, Gabriel sells a gas shock which gives an outstanding ride also and are very inexpensive. Pep Boys sells them. I believe they are called VHT.
You can buy all four for less than what one Edelbrock costs.
Jake
I you're on a tight budget, Gabriel sells a gas shock which gives an outstanding ride also and are very inexpensive. Pep Boys sells them. I believe they are called VHT.
You can buy all four for less than what one Edelbrock costs.
Jake
In 3 years, I blew 3 of 4 of them out... Luckily they have a lifetime warranty from Pep Boys, but it was still a PITA to swap them out...
I'm running Monroe Sensatrak shocks in my current Vette and while I'm not excited about them, they do ride better than the Gabriels and so far no problems... They cost me about $40/set more than the Gabriels but it was worth it...
I'm still playing with the idea of going QA1 on the car so the Monroes might come off soon...
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2004
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St. Jude Donor '05
Summary :: Thanks for the responses
When I first talked to my colleague, who at one time worked for Monroe, he pointed me towards a Montore technology that works similar to the Edelbrock IAS, but in a quick search we couldn't find a part number that fits the C4.
We discussed the Edelbrock, and from what I hear in the previous posts, their claims are valid. The most handling performance I need is driving down I-94 in and out the trucks, but that well used freeway with its ever present 5Hz expansion crack frequency
needs a damper that isolates those small disturbances.
I think the QA1 may be an overkill for my application. And, while its true the monotube Bilsteins are less expensive, they are apparently designed for handling. I'm looking for high ride quality. The Gabriel product was the only one that was discussed as breaking. Think I'll steer clear.
Folks, let me suggest...ride is important. Its always a tradeoff between roll stiffness and comfort. I think I'll go with the Edelbrock and keep good notes.
Thanks for all the responses.
We discussed the Edelbrock, and from what I hear in the previous posts, their claims are valid. The most handling performance I need is driving down I-94 in and out the trucks, but that well used freeway with its ever present 5Hz expansion crack frequency
needs a damper that isolates those small disturbances.I think the QA1 may be an overkill for my application. And, while its true the monotube Bilsteins are less expensive, they are apparently designed for handling. I'm looking for high ride quality. The Gabriel product was the only one that was discussed as breaking. Think I'll steer clear.
Folks, let me suggest...ride is important. Its always a tradeoff between roll stiffness and comfort. I think I'll go with the Edelbrock and keep good notes.
Thanks for all the responses.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 9,715
Likes: 27
From: Kempner Texas
Originally Posted by ~SlvrFox~
When I first talked to my colleague, who at one time worked for Monroe, he pointed me towards a Montore technology that works similar to the Edelbrock IAS, but in a quick search we couldn't find a part number that fits the C4.
We discussed the Edelbrock, and from what I hear in the previous posts, their claims are valid. The most handling performance I need is driving down I-94 in and out the trucks, but that well used freeway with its ever present 5Hz expansion crack frequency needs a damper that isolates those small disturbances.
I think the QA1 may be an overkill for my application. And, while its true the monotube Bilsteins are less expensive, they are apparently designed for handling. I'm looking for high ride quality. The Gabriel product was the only one that was discussed as breaking. Think I'll steer clear.
Folks, let me suggest...ride is important. Its always a tradeoff between roll stiffness and comfort. I think I'll go with the Edelbrock and keep good notes.
Thanks for all the responses.
We discussed the Edelbrock, and from what I hear in the previous posts, their claims are valid. The most handling performance I need is driving down I-94 in and out the trucks, but that well used freeway with its ever present 5Hz expansion crack frequency
needs a damper that isolates those small disturbances.I think the QA1 may be an overkill for my application. And, while its true the monotube Bilsteins are less expensive, they are apparently designed for handling. I'm looking for high ride quality. The Gabriel product was the only one that was discussed as breaking. Think I'll steer clear.
Folks, let me suggest...ride is important. Its always a tradeoff between roll stiffness and comfort. I think I'll go with the Edelbrock and keep good notes.
Thanks for all the responses.
Just as a point of interest, though, I'd like to see a survey of those who have had breaking problems with the Gabriel shocks.
I've had Gabriels on my 86 over four years without a problem.
In fact, they were on the car when I bought it, so I don't know how many miles had been put on them when I was handed the keys. Not knowing this, and thinking they MAY have been in need of replacement, I went to Pep Boys, bought a brand new set and installed them. There was absolutley no discernable difference in ride or handling. So I took them off, back to Pep Boys and got my $$ back.
I'm just wondering how common it is for the Gabriels to fail.
Jake