I'm fairly certain the struts on my car are shot (they bounce a lot and creak when turning) so I need to buy some new ones. Do these look good? http://www.summitracing.com/parts/KYB-343211/. If not, could you please link me some good ones that aren't too expensive (not over $100 each please).

 

they're ok...that's what i have right now on the 87, but they're practically shot already...

shocks are one of those things were you really should spend more money than you want to...

I bought bilsteins for my Z28, when i shoulda bought Koni's...

 

Well I'm only 17 so I don't have a huge budget, and there are other things like SFC's and such I'd like to get for it. Do these look like they would world a little better? http://www.summitracing.com/parts/KYB-743019/

Or maybe these would would be even better? http://www.summitracing.com/parts/HAL-TC2502P/

 

I have KYB GR2 shocks/struts on my car and I like them. I don't have that many miles on em' though. But, I would definitely buy them again. You can get a set of all 4 on ebay for around $130-$140, which I think is a pretty good deal.

 

Might want to think about getting some strut mounts while you're replacing the struts. It's commonly overlooked.

 

Do they go out as well?

 

yes, kyb makes those too. stock replacements.

i actually bought sfcs and installed them on my 180k mile car, before anything else, and it made the car worse. i didn't think it was possible to make my car worse than it already was, but i proved myself wrong.

 

Is there struts all the way around on our cars?? Or is there just two in the front?

I'm pretty sure I'm going to buy the kyb agx struts tonight as long as I know if I need 2 or 4.

 

Front = struts
Rear = shocks

 

Sorry, haven't been on for a while. The strut fits into a sleeve with a bearing and they can stiffen up. The bearing also sits inside of a rubber mount that can deteriorate over time as well. I had one with what looked like a rip in it, but you could only see it when the weight of the car was pushing the strut upwards.

Here's a pic with a screwdriver sticking in the hole where the rubber separated:
Wornsuspensionparts.jpg?t=1289792092

 

KYB Shocks & Struts 343211 are rear shocks. Struts will be more expensive no matter whose they are.

My suggestion:
http://www.stranoparts.com/partdetai...D=87&ModelID=9

If you're even thinking of SFCs and the labor involved to get them installed, you should be looking a step above OE replacement mass-market shocks and struts. GR-2's will obviously be better than the dead things that are in there now, but that's not saying a whole lot. I might slap them on a car that I knew I was going to sell off in a year or so, or put them on a car that had no other aftermarket option, but that's about it.

I'm assuming that the shocks aren't in any better shape, so you do want to do all four. Otherwise you'll end up with the front end 'stiff' and the rear will suddenly feel all bouncy and "sloppy-loose".

Call Sam at the number shown on the top of that linked page and actually talk to him. I know he's got some other pricy stuff for 3rd Gens that you'd use for really serious autocross and such, but he also has a reputation for NOT selling you more than what you need. He may have another suggestion that doesn't break the bank - and I think he can get things not shown on the website.


Norm

 

Before you get SFC's or any thing else for the car aftermarket wise, the very best things money can buy besides tires is 1)shocks (rears) and struts (fronts), and 2) as stated above you should definately get new strut mounts.

My suggestion? I agree with Norm on the choice of the AGX2's at the very least (even though I would still not put them on a car of mine, they are probably the best bang for the buck- I perfer Koni's at the very least, but thats me and my pocket book when I did mine). Now when you are replacing front struts, IF YOU DO NOT REPLACE worn out cvrappy factory strut mounts then even the best dampered new struts will not function in suspension travel dampering if there is slop for worn strut mounts. THe best mounts and are worth their weight in gold is "solid bearing strut mounts" (aftermarket ones, not factory replacement originals) for just a tad more money than the originals- BUT WELL WORTH IT. You WILL notice a big difference with these in how the car steering feels, and how much better the struts will damper the chassis movement.

Dean

 

Alright thanks for the info!

My dads friend said he would be able to get me parts for cheaper as long as I provide the product number. I'm going to get the ABX'2s for front struts. As for rear shocks, I don't know what to get. What is a good rear shock that isn't a ton of money.

Also, could you link me to those strut mounts that have the bearing in them?

 

Ok what should I do. Koni are really expensive and I don't have that kind of money. Since the AGX says shock/strut should I go with:

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/KYB-743019/ on the back wheels, and these http://www.summitracing.com/parts/KYB-735001/ on the front?

Or use the front struts linked above and these as back shocks? http://www.summitracing.com/parts/KON-30-1265SPT/

And then I'm planning to pick up these for strut mounts:

Drivers side: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/KYB-SM5118/

Passenger side:http://www.summitracing.com/parts/KYB-SM5119/

They have the bearing in them, so that's good news

 

Thanks guys...

 

Those struts would be my absolute minumum budget choice, so YES.

The struytt mounts you picture are NOT for our cars, they are factory replacements for 4th gens, not 3rd gens. Anyways, As I stated already, you should stay away from the crappy factory reproduction units like this for the direct replacement on 3rd gens- they are crap with rubber bushing inserts that allow for unwanted flex of the suspenion upper mount pioint and take away drastically from performance and responsiveness.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/KYB-SM5028/

Go with any of these solid bearing types- No rubber inserts:

http://www.spohn.net/shop/1982-1992-...ut-Mounts.html

http://www.hotpart.com/shop/index.ph...uct_detail&p=8

http://www.racecraft.com/index.php?m...b3e1d7ae1cc2cc


You personally can't go wrong with Hotpart's design and price- TRUST ME- these are well worth the little extra money over crappy stock replacements. They isolate any sloppy unwanted movement of the strut shaft mounted in a fixed position even vertically where it comes to strut damper. They make any strut more effective and take away rubber bushing slop both lateral and vertical movement.

 

Alright I'll get the AGX then.

As for the strut mounts, I can't really spend $215, so I found these on summit which are only $57 each, have an internal bearing, and are for 1982-1992 camaros.

Driver:http://www.summitracing.com/parts/KYB-SM5027/

Passenger:http://www.summitracing.com/parts/KYB-SM5028/

 

I'm in the same boat. So it looks like this is the best value for the money ($736.20):

Strut mounts (J&M Products - lifetime warranty):
http://www.hotpart.com/shop/index.ph...uct_detail&p=8

Struts (Koni - dial setting):
http://www.hotpart.com/shop/index.ph...ct_detail&p=15

Thoughts?

 

Then save your money until you can afford another $100 dollars.

2 x $57.00 = $ 114.00 = crap

-OR-
1 x $215.00 (for both) = major improvement.


I've said my peice- Its in your hands now. Takre my advice or leave it.

 

I think I'll be visiting Spohn. They're only an hour away from me.

 

Ok I'm about to buy all of the above mentioned things, but do I also need new springs? It's a daily driver so I want stock ride height, do these look good? http://www.summitracing.com/parts/BEL-5116/

 

No need to redo springs.

 

Well I have horrible ride quality. The thing rattles like hell and makes weird noises every time I hit a man hole, small bump in the road or speed bump. My friend said springs could cause it. If springs are not required then that saves me some money (yay ) and means less work.

 

Most 3rd gens rattle, even new.What makes your ride sh!tty is worn/shot shocks/struts since they dampen the bumps on the road.

If your springs were shot.Your suspension would sag or sit unevenly.

 

Alright that's all I needed to know! Getting new shocks/struts and strut mounts. Thanks for all the help through my many questions