I'm always looking for a good quality product with a down to earth price! 
I just put Bilstein HD shocks on mine. Very pleased with the damping and rebound. Big improvement over the stock 10 year old OEM units. 
Anyone try these shocks?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,891
Likes: 4
From: North Port Fl
20 or 30 years ago, when ever I changed shocks on my own vehicles I usually used Monroe shocks, they used to have various grade of replacement shocks (standard, heavy duty and for the rear Air Shocks). Their standard grade shocks were always as good or a little better than OEM. I haven't bought shocks in years for any of the vehicles I've owned except for the Koni's I put on my C5 so I can't comment on the quality today but they used to be very good.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,995
Likes: 61
From: Fort Wayne IN
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 13,760
Likes: 75
From: Haymarket VA
It would be some pretty crappy marketing if they said they were less than equal to or not as good as stockers.
Go with the Bilsteins. They are the best buy for a performance shock for these cars..
Go with the Bilsteins. They are the best buy for a performance shock for these cars..
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,877
Likes: 1
From: Ok! So you don't believe in conspiracies, but will you acknowledge the possibility of there being coordinated activities in secret places? Texas
The Bilsteins are good shocks, but they are 2 times the price of the Monroes. Are they 2 times better than the Monroes? I can't tell you because I have not driven on the Monroe shocks, nor have most of the people that are telling you to go buy Bilsteins.
Get as much tech data as you can and compare the 2 choices on paper for yourself, then let your wisdom and wallet decide which is best for you.
I can honestly tell you that I would feel comfortable putting Monroes on my car. HTH
Get as much tech data as you can and compare the 2 choices on paper for yourself, then let your wisdom and wallet decide which is best for you.
I can honestly tell you that I would feel comfortable putting Monroes on my car. HTH
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 922
Likes: 2
From: Resume Speed Tennessee
MidAmerica's site shows they are taking backorders on c5 Bilstein HDs. What's the deal, is the company behind on production?
Saw a good price from a vendor in Meridian MS, $300 shipped, and now can't remember the name of the place!
Saw a good price from a vendor in Meridian MS, $300 shipped, and now can't remember the name of the place!
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,325
Likes: 0
From: You can't get there from here NJ
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
C6 ZO6 shocks from Gene, aren't much more, and I would trust them more. Many folks have changed to them, and are VERY HAPPY with the results. I've been thinking about doing this myself too.
Maybe i'm wrong, but I just remember using Monroe's years ago on my cars, and thought they sucked. Then again, that was a long time ago.
Maybe i'm wrong, but I just remember using Monroe's years ago on my cars, and thought they sucked. Then again, that was a long time ago.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,812
Likes: 2,029
From: eastern NC
Like others, I have had nothing but great service from Monroes for many years and would not hesitate to use them again.
I currently have Bilsteins on a number of my cars and am very pleased with them as well. Van Steel has them for $299 a set... BSP-9704
http://www.vansteel.com/index.cfm?fu...formsearch.cfm
I don't know if they are back ordering them, but you can give them a call if you're interested.
Good luck... GUSTO
I currently have Bilsteins on a number of my cars and am very pleased with them as well. Van Steel has them for $299 a set... BSP-9704
http://www.vansteel.com/index.cfm?fu...formsearch.cfm
I don't know if they are back ordering them, but you can give them a call if you're interested.
Good luck... GUSTO
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 922
Likes: 2
From: Resume Speed Tennessee
Curious about the highly hiped and even higher priced Edelbrock IAS shocks.... double the price of Bilsteins! Anyone tried them, or know anyone that has?
(And no, I don't want to be the guinea pig.)
(And no, I don't want to be the guinea pig.)
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,325
Likes: 0
From: You can't get there from here NJ
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
I had Edelbrock shocks on my DD Ford Explorer, and they were pretty good. They lasted about 80K miles on a vehicle that carried a lot of weight with tools , etc.
However, I had KYB shocks in a previous truck, and they were just as good IMPO, and they were alot cheaper, but had the same high pressure gas technology.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 1,966
Likes: 0
From: Baton Rouge LA
The Bilsteins were OEM on many C4 cars, including the ZR-1, and I really thought they were very well tuned to the car.
BUT.. What really struck me about Bilstein was that they had consumer contact lines and that through the people who manned these lines, they would re-build, and do many custom adjustments (valving) to the systems. Obviously my experience was limited to ZR-1 cars, but I heard repeatedly the same story from others. If i were considering shocks for my Z)6, I may buy anything, but I would call Bilstein and discuss what they have for the ZO6, And assuming they still are doing special setups, i would discuss all the options. I would also discuss what they know about the ZO6. Everyone here already knows that many shock manufacturers build OEM and "good, better, best" shocks based on the car manufacturers detailed specs, not on trials with the actual car. That being said, I have always been a big Monroe fan, always used Monroe's. That is, until I experienced 10 years of Bilsteins.
Personally, despite my past with Monroe, I would also call Gene Culley about the C6 ZO6, maybe even first. I really don't understand the claims of "improvement" over shocks that have been tuned for years over all kinds of roads on the actual car. And before I get jumped on, I am sure you can get firmness, or whatever, and be really please, but is what you got exactly what the other poster wants?
OK, I guess I will get jumped on, but shocks are so very important, and I think we should be very, very specific about the differences we perceive before we say to others that they will notice a "difference" and be pleased.
BUT.. What really struck me about Bilstein was that they had consumer contact lines and that through the people who manned these lines, they would re-build, and do many custom adjustments (valving) to the systems. Obviously my experience was limited to ZR-1 cars, but I heard repeatedly the same story from others. If i were considering shocks for my Z)6, I may buy anything, but I would call Bilstein and discuss what they have for the ZO6, And assuming they still are doing special setups, i would discuss all the options. I would also discuss what they know about the ZO6. Everyone here already knows that many shock manufacturers build OEM and "good, better, best" shocks based on the car manufacturers detailed specs, not on trials with the actual car. That being said, I have always been a big Monroe fan, always used Monroe's. That is, until I experienced 10 years of Bilsteins.
Personally, despite my past with Monroe, I would also call Gene Culley about the C6 ZO6, maybe even first. I really don't understand the claims of "improvement" over shocks that have been tuned for years over all kinds of roads on the actual car. And before I get jumped on, I am sure you can get firmness, or whatever, and be really please, but is what you got exactly what the other poster wants?
OK, I guess I will get jumped on, but shocks are so very important, and I think we should be very, very specific about the differences we perceive before we say to others that they will notice a "difference" and be pleased.