Suspension / ChassisQuestions about your suspension? Need chassis advice?
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I know that best for handling are Koni shocks and struts. I have also heard some bad things about Kyb shocks and struts. I'd like to know are Kyb GR-2 of any good. Not going to make a race car but fun-to-drive car with good handling. Opinions?
They are a good replacement strut, but not really a performance one like Bilstein or Koni. I've had both, and I like my Bilsteins alot better then the KYBs.
__________________ -Justin- out of my mind and I'll never know why '86 Pontiac Firebird 305-4bbl / 700R4 T-Top WS6
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Before buying anything, decide what it is you want (need). Konis will certainly give better performance than KYBs, but is it worth the extra $$$ to YOU? For me it wasn't, for some it is. People will tell you KYBs are great - others will say they're inferior. From a real race standpoint, KYBs probably do fall short, but if you've been mostly satisfied with whatever is currently on your car, they're probably an improvement. Ask yourself what you want from your car, and that should clarify a lot of things.
I got KYBs gr-2's struts up front and gas-adjust shocks in the rear and I love them! I got them for $163 from Summit, that included shiping and handling, not too bad.
Kevin
__________________ 1989 IROC-Z Hardtop
2nd Place Best Restoration Thirdgen Fest 2007 -- 2nd Place Best Restoration Thirdgen Fest 2008 -- 1st Place Best Restoration Thirdgen Fest 2009 -- 3rd Place Best Modified Thirdgen Fest 2009 -- 1st Place Best Restoration Thirdgen Fest 2010
*Just a little Vortec set up*
KYB's(non adjustbles) dont have stiff enough valving for hardcore racing but will perform fine on the street. Tokico HP's or Illuminas(adjustables) would be your next step up and definately be worth it if you're really looking for more performance than what you get from the factory. Many consider them a fine racing damper even. Bilstein and Koni would be the more popular choice among F-Body racecars and a few dollars more again. You really do get what you pay for with dampers on F-bodies.
I've been very impressed with my KYB's. I also have the GR-2's up front and the Gas-A-Just shocks. I know they're not a race-caliber shock, but my car is not a race car. It's a street car. It goes over potholes and speedbumps and 9 hour roadtrips, but it can hold more than its own on a winding road. Slap some some of my Spohn stuff and my Z-rated tires, and she'll down right run circles around the majority of cars I come across in the handling department.
Like some people have said, it all depends of what you want, but I can assure you that they are not junk and a decent improvement over stock.
Last edited by Gunny Highway; 12-24-2003 at 10:21 AM.
Hey gearhead, by my findings at Summit, it looks to me that that price would only get 1 shock, and 1 strut, since they all say "sold individually." If anybody can help me out here, it'd much appreciated. Also this seems to hold true by prices for shocks on ebay.
Oh yeah, also, for anyone who has Tokico shocks, does $260 all around sound good from ebay. I haven't found any store that carry them yet, or places at all. Thanks alot guys for any info. Later...
Hey gearhead, by my findings at Summit, it looks to me that that price would only get 1 shock, and 1 strut, since they all say "sold individually." If anybody can help me out here, it'd much appreciated.
I have my order sheet when i got my GR-2s and Gas-A-Justs. Yes they are sold individually. As of 6/19/2003 they were $49.95 for one GR-2 Strut a total of $99.90 for both fronts, and $27.95 for one Gas-A-Just shock a total of $55.90 for both rear shocks. A total of $155.80 and with free shiping and 7.95 for handling it came to $163.75. Summit was the cheapest, but there was a post a while ago about KYBs and there was some other place not a big company like summit and they were like $161 instead, but i could not find the link again. So if you were to buy them I recomend summit.
Kevin
__________________ 1989 IROC-Z Hardtop
2nd Place Best Restoration Thirdgen Fest 2007 -- 2nd Place Best Restoration Thirdgen Fest 2008 -- 1st Place Best Restoration Thirdgen Fest 2009 -- 3rd Place Best Modified Thirdgen Fest 2009 -- 1st Place Best Restoration Thirdgen Fest 2010
*Just a little Vortec set up*
Put it this way. You know when you compress the strut or shock the gas inside it supposed to push the cylinder back up?
Well my stock struts and shocks had no more gas. they went down and stayed down.
so yeah, the KYBS made a world of difference. for the price, you cant really beat it. Ill take the leftover $500 or whatever from not buying the bilsteins and put it towards my stealthram and forget about it.