So many shocks & struts to choose from... need input!
 

On Summit's site and trying to figure out what shocks & struts to order.

83 Firebird & it's a daily driver with off-ramp cornering needs.

Car will be running the Eibach springs and I do see they offer Belltech and Bilstein setups for lowered cars... but how much does that really matter for an inch drop?

I hate to go the cheap route, but how are the KYB struts on these cars? I know with other cars I've had they seem to be pretty much just stock replacement.

Not getting into adjustables.

Thoughts?

Maybe some of these :lol:

http://www.autoweek.com/storyimage/C...k-absorber.jpg

Re: So many shocks & struts to choose from... need input!
 

I recommend koni yellows. Just leave them on the lowest setting. But if you're set on not using adjustable then I would go with bilstein.

Re: So many shocks & struts to choose from... need input!
 

KONI's if money is no object, BILSTIEN'S just a little less and KYB's that are affordable.

All are good choices and the decision is yours. I have KYB's front and rear and they work for me.

Re: So many shocks & struts to choose from... need input!
 

Spend all your money on shocks- forget about any other shni parts right now. YYou are better off cutting your stock springs and putting Koni;s than to put those aftermarlet springs and KYB.

Once anyone has driven on a Koni, they then understand why.

Re: So many shocks & struts to choose from... need input!
 

Hey Dean. Do you have a dyno sheet for the Koni's? I've been able to put together bits and pieces but haven't been able to find a complete document. Maybe by Koni's design?

Re: So many shocks & struts to choose from... need input!
 

I don't. I use koni universals and van tell you they are right in line with Afco and QA1 valving. With that said, I always stated my 3rd gen struts (yellow s) were slightly too high compression valved. I would guess comp to be a 6 and rebound range 5-12 adjustable. My litle old lightweight v6 could have used a 5 or 4 on comp side. I ran 825lb fronts with about 9 or 10on reb adj.

Re: So many shocks & struts to choose from... need input!
 

Also Ramey, my effectve angle was a tad bit greater than most other people here thus the need to run that high front rebound. With that said, the increased angle still did not reduce my comp side enough. I was probably getting close to 10° caster on hard nose dive set prior to corner rollout of the inner rebound. I was very low.

Re: So many shocks & struts to choose from... need input!
 

spend as much as you can on shocks and struts....they make the most difference in ride and handling...that said, I have koni yellows with eibach prokit springs and run the yellows on the harder settings and it rides great and corners like its on rails....I do have my entire suspension done to but the ride is great! also you cant really go wrong with bilsteins either.

Re: So many shocks & struts to choose from... need input!
 

Damnit Dean, it's good to see you're still on here. You need to get an avatar so I can keep your damn screen names straight!

Do not get Eibach's lowering kits. They're built for looks, not for performance. Either nut up and get the Ground Control Weight Jack kit and use Eibach's racing springs, or stay stock until you can afford to go Ground Control. (I wish I could find the weight jacks without springs and then go with Hypercos instead)

For these cars, I'd go with the Koni yellows, or the Bilstein AK series. The AK series is not the standard off-the-shelf unit. They are race valved special order from Bilstein, and do not carry Bilstein's lifetime warranty. Other than the valving they are identical to the B6 units.

I am biased towards Bilsteins these days. They are cheap to have revalved, and they're so popular in racing (dirt track, circle track, etc. etc.) there is almost always some local guy who can do it. I've got twin-tube Koni's on my Miata, and they're almost three times the price to have revalved compared to the Bilsteins (and that's if no hard parts need replacement!), and I'd have to send them across the country and deal with eight weeks of down time. :doh:

Re: So many shocks & struts to choose from... need input!
 

"....I'm gonna trade this life for fortune and fame
I'd even cut my hair and change my name...."

I drive a v6, and have KYBs all the way around and all I have to say is rails. It wont slide no matter how hard I throw it into a turn. And doesnt push the front end either, though again its only got the v6 and now a turbo :)

Get what your budget allows, there are many choices but I have absolutely no complaints on the KYBs, they also had great prices on Tirerack.com. For me nobody had a lower price than them for the KYBs. They have been on the car for 5 years and havent changed a bit.

Ill throw a quick example of a hairy situation. Flying up a highway onramp that was pretty much a complete circle, a $100k Mercedes decides to slam on his breaks cause im up his *** just as we come to the merge. Lane clear to the left so I pull the steering wheel as hard as I can to avoid his bumper at about 65mph. Literally only 5-10 feet from hitting him and the car did not step out at all. Maybe a little protest squeal from the tires but it was a solid lane change.

He was showboating his mercedes, so I showed him his 100k couldnt handle turns, he got pissed and slammed his brakes when he couldnt pull away around the turn. That was about 4 years ago. I dont drive like an ******* anymore, lol.

Re: So many shocks & struts to choose from... need input!
 

All good information guys, thanks!

And good to know the KYB's hold up. Was leaning that way as I really don't need the car to be some super performance machine... just need new struts haha

Re: So many shocks & struts to choose from... need input!
 

As nice as your story is, it is just that. My point? the KYB's are not what you crack them up to be either. It bothers me when people try to promote stuff to others just because its "what they have".

Rest assured, the Mercedes was stopping just to get you away from him, he was not racing you. I happen to just get out of a 100K+ AMG SL550 2009 that I drive often. I can tell you first hand with both cars the Mercedes would pull on you with 1/2 throttle no matter what you;ve done, as well as out corner you with KYB's and probably average tires at best.

Before you ask me how I know, might want to research who I am and what I built (yes it's a V6 car- I know them quite well)

Arron, the AXG KYB's at bet are a 7 of 10, the Koni's being the 10 of 10, and on that same scale the standard KYB's are about a 3- new stck dampers being a 1.

He asked for opinions, I gave him mine. I never said "KYBs are the best shocks out there!" I gave him an experience, and my opinion so your point is moot.

And actually, he was brake checking me and the KYBs held the road in an extreme situation. That my friend is experience. I also didnt say what kind of mercedes it was, so you cannot say for sure whether he can or cant out corner me. ALSO, I didnt say my v6 is king of the road. And for the matter of him brake checking me, he was the teenager in daddys car that thought he was hot **** on the straight, easily outrunning me, but when he wanted to crawl through the on ramp and hold up traffic because he was being a dick, I got on his *** and went around him. I didnt see him trying to be a badass after that.

Before you call someone out, think before you speak. He asked for an opinion, I gave him mine, with a personal experience with a particular shock and strut combo that I happen to have.

Not trying to be a dick, but how about you answer the OPs question with information on your particular setup and how you like or dislike it, instead of getting on my **** for a situation that YOU were not in.

Back to topic. I like my KYBs, but for the OP, buy whatever your budget allows, or what ever you think is best. Not everyone wants a race car.....

Re: So many shocks & struts to choose from... need input!
 

You definitely live in your own bubble. I am not trying to be a dick either. I stick with facts, experience, and downright good tech advice for people to spend their hard earned dollars wisely....
...You gave your opinion- then I critiqued it...you then took offense.

Now since you want to debate me, Ill give it a go with you and answer your questions to show your simple mind how I actually did "think before I spoke"

1) KYB's held the road in an extreme situation- your statement above said the tires made a protest squeal and the car (the back end) did not step aout at all. That partner is undesteer, You yanked the wheel and the car did not respond. I would hardly call that perfoming.

2)You didn't say what kind of Mercedes it was so I have no idea if it could or could not outhandle you? You staed it's a 100K mercedes from 4 years ago. I have driven every one of them on a track, The AMG CLK63, SL63, and E63. Now the SLR is a million dollar car so that is rulesd out by your 100K comment. I also as stated drive a SL55 AMG a few times a month as well as owning my own 90's C Class BRABUS that I built the suspension on with my own fabricating. I also owned and built the most redically sorted V6 3rd gen Camaro in the world- and probably the most sorted 3rdgen on factory wheels of any third gen...and that is documented and well known. Might I suggest you ...um...think...before YOU speak?

I also am an accomplished racer, professional race team manager, and exotic car driving instructor as well as being fairly well known as a chassis fabricator and all and all chassis/suspension guru...whoops, you step on your dick there buddy? yeah, thought so.

I would say my experience as well as MY opinion that I posted to correct YOUR opinion is well justified so the OP can make a judgement on who is posting and what he is basing his purchase on.

I would love to here just how much more mdoifications you have to that V6 handling beast other than KYB gas-a-just shocks? Tire brand and size for starters (in case I confused you), then please go on and on while I listen and learn.

Lastly Willie, you say "i gave him an experience". You have one experience with one shock...and nothing to compare it to. I would hardly call that an experience. The OP ask for comparisons- someone that has experience to give imput on different shocks availiable out there. I have used Tokico's, Bilsteins, KYB AGX's, KYB Gas-a-just, Koni Rades, Koni Yellows, Varistruts, QA1's, Afco's, Motion, Carrera, I could go on and on.

1. Your an idiot.

2. Your an idiot.

The tire squealed AFTER the lane change was complete. The rear end did NOT step out at all. A small squeal doesnt mean the rear end broke loose in any way, shape or form. Its called a one wheel winner, ever heard of it? It didnt slide, and I also didnt mention the tone or length of squeal. As long as it stayed between the lines and didnt go crazy sideways with an "over correction", if you would, it did just fine for a daily driver application.

I said the situation happened 4 years ago. I never said the mercedes was 4 years old, learn to read.

I NEVER at any point in time said my car was a beast, handling god, badass car, so stop trying to put words in my mouth to make you look smarter. Its a daily driver and will stay that way. Until you drive my car, you cant say how it handles or what is has. I didnt step on anyones dick and I dont give a rats *** how much money you have, that you have your own race team, or who you are or where you come from. Anyone can be an internet tough guy.

When you ASSUME, you are making an *** out of yourself.

Correcting my opinion? You really are an idiot. An opinion isnt right or wrong. An opinion is what someone THINKS, not what is fact. Ill give you a FACT. My car is a daily driver, and the KYBs perform just fine for that purpose.

Let me clarify just incase you didnt happen to read that. ITS NOT A RACE CAR FOR THE SECOND TIME.

You can take your mercedes and shove it, you can take your experience and shove it unless you are going to contribute to the OPs question and stop cluttering his thread.

Oh, you have used every shock/strut under the sun? How about what you think about them so the OP can make his own decision on what he wants to buy, instead of misspelling more times than i can count with both hands, feet, and my dick.

Oh, and me taking offense? Stop putting words in my mouth, and stop assuming you know all the facts and maybe I wouldnt get offended.

If your such a big guru, why are you such an idiot?

Signing off and ignoring the nonsense which is more common than pie that you will find on the internet.

OP hope you find what your looking for.