Ok, first off please don't bite my head off if this winds up being in the wrong board. The reason I posted it hear is because I don't want high performance or better than stock parts, I want a O.E. or production strut for my car. So I'm looking for restoration parts.

Here is my issue. I have a '87 IROC Vert. The car has 67K on it. The car is maybe a 8.5 or 9 on a scale of 1 to 10. I want to keep the car as stock as possible. I want to keep as many genuine or original optioned parts on the car as I can. Maybe one day I'll turn the car into a show car. The front struts have been replaced before. I have KYB struts, which are dead. I am looking for a new set. Does anybody know what the best option for stock/production struts are? Should I buy Delco Struts? Were bilsteins an option on Camaro's?

OneBadZ4U

Great question. I need shocks too, I can improve on the WS6 or go to OEM, tough one.

1985 WS6 is a kidney buster, but how else can you pull .92G ?

With 68K original miles on my oem shocks/struts im going to ask the same thing.
I like the way it rides, firm & tight but not rough. just gets a little bouncy when I want to have a little fun

Im more interested in getting close to the original ride but shock/strut design has obviously improved a lot in the last 23+ years

I had the same question 6 months ago. Probably the best choice is GM. If there still available. After looking around I went with Monroe Sensa-trak from Sear. They have been great. Feels very stock. Not too hard but firm. Plus they have a lifetime warranty.

I put on KYB, the adjustable ones, and they ride really hard, even on the lowest setting. However for street racing, setting them to extra Firm is a real kick.

However, I am pleased with Monroes I have put on other cars. Other than that you may be limited to GM.

John

I have KYB ADJ's on my '86 and love them on the firmest setting!

I called the local GM dealer, O.E. Struts = AC Delco. I'm not sure if that's a very good quality. Does anybody know if Bilsteins were offered as an original equipment strut on any 3rd gen Fbody?? I know they're pricy, but if its an option, I'll buy them.

If you want original ac delco is closest I had replaced my rear with them did not like ride replaced with bilsteins front struts rear shocks coupled with classic industries trw springs which was slightly higher than original stock ride now is 100 times better than stock never heard of bilstein as original equipment for our cars they are original for mercedes and bmw will not fit japanese

I have continued my I ran across a thread on struts. One member DJP87Z28 claimed that his IROC came with Bilsteins from the dealer. Here's his PM to me;

I think that I am going to go with Bilsteins. I hope eventually somebody can officially comfirm that Bilsteins are O.E. DJP87Z28 gave some very good support that it is true. Please if you read this and have Bilstein Struts from the dealer post it for us!!

for the money KYBs are great!!

Monroe Sensa Traks ar GARBAGE!!!! I havre had them and know peopel that do as well. Destoyed my ride!

How?

John

The sales brochure for my 1988 IROC just indicates that the front struts are simply of the modified MacPherson type. The rear shocks however are Delco/Bilstein.

Looking at the car the rear shocks are definately marked as being Bilstein. The front struts don't look like anything special and they are the orginals that came on the car. I would suspect that the 1987 models were very similar if not exactly the same.

Chuck

They are too stiff I guess. This is not a tech analyis but I have had them and know plently others and we all agree....they are junk.

For instance I had them on an 88 IROC-Z--car had more sqeaks/rattles....out on KYBs and it was like night and day.

I put Monroe struts on the Firebird, I love the way the car rides with them on, and they look factory. As long as you have the plastic strut covers that go over the strut to hide the cylinder, the Monroe's will look stock since they do not have a sticker on them. The factory ones didn't have a sticker either.

If you are "restoring" your car to a stock look and feel ACDelco or Monroe are the best choices. KYB and Bilsteins would not feel or look stock.

Yeah KYBs will feel great! Last time I'll say this but Monroe sensa tracks are cheap junk. There do not sense anything and they are way too hard. They are just a generic shock. DON'T DO IT!

Even the factoy ones are better.

I have a mid 80's Car & Driver with a Bilstein add, they disclose how the shock is used as OEM, Vette, Iroc, etc.

I can scan if you wish.

Would you be so kind to do that? Thanks, that's just what I was looking for. Bilsteins, here I come.

Bilsteins were OEM, wait, you already found that out. Well, I really would say just to get something better; even if you don't want adjustable or anything crazy!

I don't want to start a controversy but is everyone refering to the same thing? There is no doubt that the rear shocks on the IROC-Z were Delco/Bilstein units. However, I don't believe that the front struts were.

Attached is the page from my 1988 Camaro sales brochure. It specifies that the rear shocks were Delco/Bilstein. The front struts are not advertised as any special brand. I would think that if they were also made by Bilstein that Chevy would have advertised it in their sales material. Maybe I am reading something wrong here???

Chuck

I agree with Chuck. I don't think that the front struts were ever Bilstein.

Very good information. I guess the facts are starting to come to light. I'm glad to see so many people have the arcticles still. I guess I'm torn between possible Bilstein front struts or Delco. Remember, I want a O.E. type strut/shock(I.E. Restoration), not a upgrade like KYB ADJ or KONI. The performance is not as important as correct O.E. Application.

Thanks for all the help. Keep posting that great information.

I'd recommend grabbing a set of Bilstein shocks along with some struts from a local dealer. They will most likely be plain old ACs.