I'm sure this type of question is what the "Search" function was designed for, and I'd use it if I could.

But, I am willing to bet that the shocks on my '92 Formula 350 are past their serviceable life. I have always wanted to try out the Edelbrock IAS shocks, because I have heard so many good things about them, but they aren't made for '92 Birds.

What is the best shock out there for our cars? And, if that is too much for my budget, what is the second best?

 

Koni sports are the best for a budget within reason, thats not to say they are cheap though. About $650 for all 4.

 

Ok, and can you generalize as to what type of ride characteristics Konis give to our cars?

 

Koni Yellows - Harsh ride, more the autocrossing agressive street driving.
Koni reds - Stiffer ride, can adjust harshness just like the yellows, more of a street strip kind of shock.

KYB - Your cheap but better then stock shocks
Bilsteins - Really like these for a real nice street shock that when you push them they will push back.

I have owned the bilstens and the reds and for a all around street car i prefered the bilsens.

 

I'll second the Bilsteins for a street car:-)

Do some shopping and u can prolly get them for $450 or so for the frt struts and rear shocks.

See if any 4th gen vendors are doing a GP and than see if they will do a strut/shock for you.

later
Jeremy

 

Wow, that is some serious coin for shocks. I'm used to the costs of shocks for my GTO and GP...big difference.

Can you say, from your experience, if I shell out that kind of money for the Bilsteins, am I going to drive the car the first time and say "wow, what a huge difference" or more like "oh, yeah, I guess it handles better"?

 

well i did a STB, Wonder bar, LCA's, and a tq. arm along with my Bilsteins so its hard for me to tell you exactly how much of a difference the Bilsteins made but i can tell you that after all that the car felt like a whole new beast.
If you can wait i'll have some Bilsteins struts and shocks, and a eibach pro-kit up for sale in about a month.

Justin

 

how come your selling?

 

I can wait. Drop me a PM when the time comes and we'll see if we can work something out. If you want, go ahead and PM me now with how many miles are on the shocks and struts and how much you need for them.

 

I think the first question that needs to be answered is what type of application are you going for. Is this for drag racing or for autocross/roadrace?

Regardless of application the struts/shocks are (IMO) the most important part of the suspension setup. It is well worth it to spend as much as you can if you are in search of a quality setup.

 

i'm selling becuase when i did my LS1 swap i used the hawks k-member and well their spring pockets wouldn't fit my pro kit springs. So i had to run a coil over set up and the bilsteins dont work with the spohn coil overs. I loved my bilsteins, i would have kept them if i could have.

Justin

 

I have the Billstein HD's and Eibach pro kit on my daily and it handles awesome. Big step up from the stock stuff and it was a WS6 to begin with. Have a few buddies with 'vettes (2 c4's and a C5) and neither can keep up in the twisties

 

I run the Koni Reds out back and the AGX's up front. I love them.

 

[QUOTE=CrazyHawaiian]I think the first question that needs to be answered is what type of application are you going for. Is this for drag racing or for autocross/roadrace?QUOTE]

Nothing so exotic. Just a street car that I want to handle well without being rock-harsh.

 

Big thumnbs up for the Bilsteins.

You can get them for under $400 for all 4 if you look hard enough and you have to love the lifetime warranty!

 

I have KYB AGX and Eibach Pro springs. Love them light years ahead of stock. I Use 1 in the front and 2 in the rear for street, 3 in the front and 7 in the rear for road racing, and use 1 in the front and 7in the left rear and 8 in the right rear for drag racing. KYB AGX are very versitale and adjustable. I paid $420 for front struts and rear scocks in Jan. 2005.

 

anyone have anything else good to say about the KYB AGX's??

if i could find the Bilsteins for $400 for the set id be all over them. ive loked as hard as i can with no result!

 

In about 3 weeks i'll have a set up for sale, along with some eibachs springs. Give me a PM and i'll give you a price.

Justin

 

Hey, I had asked above if you could PM me with a price and details a while back...can I get back to the head of the line on the possible sale?

 

oh haha sorry, i forgot sending you one right now.

 

Thanks, man! lol

 

What about Tokico, great shock, not really expensive. An in-between to KYB and Bilstien/Koni.

 

I did a search and the cheapest I could find the Bilsteins was $539.96 from Auto zone. Every where else was over $600. Where are you guys finding them for around $450???

 

For Dragracing I would go with the Lakewoods on a budget and something like HAL or QA1 if I wanted quality. For Handling I would go with Tokiko HP's on a budget and something like Koni or Bilstein if I wanted quality. And if I wanted something in between budget and quality for handling I would say Tokiko Illuminas (thats the route I went on my IROC-Z).

You can find alot of good deals on E-bay, just make sure the stuff is new in box (NIB). I picked up the full set of Tokiko Illuminas NIB for just over $400 shipped on E-bay.

 

what about the KYB AGX's over the Tokico HP's?
an in between (in price) between the HP's and Illuminas.
the AGX's run about $350 shipped while the Illuminas run $450 shipped and about $250 shipped for the HP's

 

The AGX's i have always heard are pretty good for the price, i havn't heard much about the illuminas.

 

I have Tokico Illuminas and they're great. I can Adjust all 4 of them inside the car easily. They make my car very comfortable when in the softest position and they have excellent handling in the stiffiest position. They're worth the money.

 

Sounds like you're in the same market I am Bull. I think I'll put myself in the running for the used set with the springs

 

I'll be getting the Bilsteins as well. I'll be running sportlines so using these is almost a must.

 

i got the tokicos illumnas....great shock/strut and made my car go from sloppy to good handling wise

 

I have been on kyb gr2's in the front and gas-a-justs in the rear for roughly 15k miles. Recently I was able to get used koni reds from a junkyard for very cheap, and I decided I'd throw the fronts on since I was replacing my ball joints. I must say that the difference in street manners is astounding. They absorb bumps and such when the kyb's would make the car sound as if it would break at the welds. However, even though they are much less punishing, there isn't one hint of float, and the car doesn't feel as if it has lost any of its handling ability. There is no question that these are superior to the kyb's, and I'd assume that all higher regarded dampers are seriously at a different level than their more budget counterparts.

 

KYB gr2 & gas-a-just aren't even in the same league with AGX. No shock is more adjustable than the AGX.

 

not what ive read...not close.