I've restarted my research on struts/shocks for our 92 Z, and have concluded that Bilsteins seem to be the best option. I had them on my 87 Monte SS, and loved them. It's a 100% street car, so no reason to give up ride quality for the Koni's, and I'm just not convinced to go with the Tokico Illuma's without "riding" them. With that said, were everyone's opinion on the Bilstein's using the Sport or the HD version out back? It appears that they only have the HD option for the front, so am I correct in assuming that everyone matched it with the HD for the rear? Is there any advantage in using the Sport rear shock? If yes, what circumstances? Shox.com lists both, so some people must be using the Sport option I guess. The car is a daily driver for 9 months of the year, eventually seeing 1 drag outing and maybe 1 auto-x a year... EDIT: I did just find this online @ eshocks.com: "Heavy Duty will be somewhat stiffer and give your car a stiffer and more controlled ride. Sport setting shocks are 30% stiffer than Heavy Duty and are usually used with lowering springs for very hard driving and competition. We recommend Heavy Duty shocks for most applications. " So if that is true, I guess I need the HD since it isn't (and probably will never be) lowered. Thanks! Jeff

You've correctly answered your own questions: one strut up front(works with either, lowered or non-lowered); HD out back(for non-lowered).

But unless shox has lowered its prices lately, www.autozone.com is the least expensive place to buy them... close to $100 lower, believe it or not!

Yup, I knew that because I used to work there. Someone voted a while back to use autopartswarehouse.com at $512 for all four, but when I looked nothing was coming up for the front struts. Maybe I would have to call w/ the part #...

Either way, something to consider is that w/ AZ you would also have to pay tax, which for me in CT, is $32 (@ 6%). So since shox.com matches prices, I will probably have them match AZ. We shall see... As mentioned elsewhere, the (warranty) return policy at AZ is very friendly, and I'm not sure how it would work through shox or directly to Bilstein.

Thanks!

Tax-free from shox, that's true. But even with a tax rate of 8.25% here in CA, there was still a huge savings from AZ. And AZ's shipping charges were free(for ground shipping), which made-up for the tax. So don't forget about all that when trying to get shox to match AZ's price.

All totalled, even with tax, it came out to about $70-$80 less to buy from AZ.

i loved my hd's... autozone does have the best deal but unfortunately some of the places selling them for more are doing so because they have the last remaining stock of them. according to bilstein and this is strictly through a phone conversation i had they are not producing any more of them until nov-dec and even that may be a stretch.

so, point being anyone that has them in stock is all they are going to have for a little time. i just had to pay almost double through tire rack just to get their last set of hd's so i could get my front end on the car. total bs. i love bilstein but i don't think i'll buy them again with their practices.

also just in case anyone wonders their part numbers have changed. f4.ve3 they have a new version of the hd now and to answer the question above. even though they list hd's and sports the only difference with them is the rear shock setup. the fronts are the same part number.

anyhow good luck, they do make a great strut... just bad business practices.

Just to let you know. I talked to Sam Strano, anyone who auto-x's knows who he is.

He told me last week that the sports are actually softer than the HD's. I talked to him about my spring/shock combo.

I have sportlines w/ bilsteins HD's in the front and sports out back. I am going with the pro kit and he said to go with the HD's in the rear. For whatever reason bilstein says the sports are stiffer when they are not.

He's the man...so I'm listening to what he tells me.

the sports are not stiffer... they are valved for a different setup. the sports are for those with lowered cars. hense 2" style sportline or lower spring rate drops. the hd's are for factory ride height or no more then 1 1/2" drop similar to the pro-kit. common knowledge that's been on here for the last 6 years i've been searching the site.

auto-x or not if you were really racing you wouldn't use the standard strut/shock combo anyhow but at least your on the right track! the bilsteins are very nice, just ashame they cost so much money. keep an eye out for good prices on the hd's once they are back into full production. currently autozone is the cheapest place around right now.