i have bilsteins shocks and struts. i'm having concerns my rear shocks are bad and they aren't even very old.

i know this is asked a lot but just bare with me.

i daily drive my trans am in warm weather seasons. what brand or type is good at handling but also not too harsh on bumps?

i know theres monroe, kyb's and konis. but there are so many types.

any suggestions?

 

The most popular ones are Blistein HDs and Koni Yellows.

Koni's are more expensive but everybody raves that they are worth it for their adjust-ability.

I've personally used the Bilstein HDs and was EXTREMELY happy with them.

 

Don't Bilstein have lifetime warranties? How old are they?

The general consensus is that Bilsteins are softer than Konis, but that Konis have more performance......Koni users (such as myself) describe the ride as firm, but not stiff.

Koni yellows are on sale right now. 20% off pretty much anywhere they're sold. I run mine on the full soft setting.

 

thanks for your input, yea i think they are lifetime warranty, they are only around 4-5 yrs old and i only drive the car maybe 6months out of the yr on average.

but my problem is that the car has this rattling noise and i've tightened and replaced and bolted everything i can see or think of.

new sway bar links, new bushings on everything, tubular spohn lca's, spohn panahard bar, moog iroc rear springs, bilstein struts and shocks.

and the exhaust has been tweaked and ground effects are on tight as a drum.

but even on light bumps i still hear this rattling like a bolt with a loose washer, i'm so sick of it, my car is such a nice car but sounds like a clunker, literally.

 

Have you checked for excessive in and out play on either of your back wheels?

 

Check to see that the spare tire is solidly mounted in its rear compartment.

 

i'll check the back tires, they seemed pretty sturdy whenever i took them off and put them back on.

and no the spare tire is on tight as a drum and its not stuff flying around in the trunk area.

and the axle stop bumpers are intact as well

 

Where does the noise seem to be coming from?

 

its hard to tell but id guess its in the rear somewhere i'll let u guys know if i ever track it down.

 

Rod end LCA and PHB?

 

yes tubular design from spoon.

this noise was always there, i have replaced everything i can think of and its still there.

 

Only other thing I can think of is that your hatch isn't aligned right. There are rubber screw in bumpers in there. As well as the hatch motor can be moved up/down by adjusting the 3 bolts that hold it in.

 

You might check the shield around the gas tank as the screws sometimes dislodge allowing the shield to rattle a bit.

JamesC

 

thanks guys i'll check the gas tank shield next. the decklid isn't going anywhere its on there good n tight