shocks and struts?

[emotionalpiracy]

im pretty sure im going to need them within the next few months
along with a new air dam
hah


any suggestions?

normally i try and do my own research first
but summit has 3 pages worth of product.

a friend suggested kyb gas
but there are too many for me to focus on

i give up
i tried deleting this post and putting it where its supposed to go but im lazy

[0rion]

moving this to where you'll get more responses.

[Sam Strano]

The only KYB's I'd consider using (which is why they are the only KYB's you'll find on my site) are the AGX's. Other options that are workable are Tokico's, and of course Koni's.

Some details that are important here. The Tokico's and AGX's aren't great shocks, they are "ok". The AGX's are the better of the two if you are going to add lowering springs at some point, the Tokico's are really best kept on with only stock springs.

You'll notice I did not mention Bilstein HD's. Two reasons, one hugely important one. That is they messed them all up about a year or so ago (actually a bit longer now), and took what was a well damped replacement shock for stock springs and made them much more like the DeCarbon's on the car OE. And there aren't any around because they realized they screwed up and can't get the old ones built again for some reason.

The BEST shocks for the car are Koni's. They aren't cheap, for a reason. The adjustment is a lot better than the AGX's. The quality is a lot better. They can be used with stock or lowering springs. And honestly, the way to the best handling and riding car is through quality dampers. The stock shocks are bad, and are responsible for most of the issues folks don't like. The disconnected, vague feel. The really fast generation of roll and pitch. The jumpy rear over not-so-smooth pavement. The "two-stage" turn-in when the front and rear just don't feel like they are connected to the same car.

I'll simply add this. While folks sometimes freak over price of Koni's, I see it as an investment. Frankly good shocks do much more for the car than any other supsension component (and I sell off of those as well). And in all reality, they don't cost any more than a good set of tires, which will wear out in 15-20k miles.

[LukesSpeedShop]

The more and more I read on gettin new shocks, the more I get confused. Ive read just about every message within the past year about "what shocks to get" but im still confused. Its so hard to buy a product that you have to put so much money towards and live with for a few years. I'm going to say that my budget is going to be around $400 for all 4 corners. I know I can get blistins for about that much, and the ASX's for a bit less, but with adjustablity. I have a 02 Camaro that Im going to lower 1.4" that is a daily driver, and i might, might take it to an autox a couple times a year.

I mean if Sam Strano sells the ASX's at all, they have to be worth the money spent right?

We all wish we could get Koni's but its just not an option for a lot of us.

Still confused, and wish there were more members like Sam that really explains things out, instead of saying this and that about products without any reasonable explaination.

[SexOnWheels]

The more and more I read on gettin new shocks, the more I get confused. Ive read just about every message within the past year about "what shocks to get" but im still confused. Its so hard to buy a product that you have to put so much money towards and live with for a few years. I'm going to say that my budget is going to be around $400 for all 4 corners. I know I can get blistins for about that much, and the ASX's for a bit less, but with adjustablity. I have a 02 Camaro that Im going to lower 1.4" that is a daily driver, and i might, might take it to an autox a couple times a year.

I mean if Sam Strano sells the ASX's at all, they have to be worth the money spent right?

We all wish we could get Koni's but its just not an option for a lot of us.

Still confused, and wish there were more members like Sam that really explains things out, instead of saying this and that about products without any reasonable explaination.

It is just that the best shocks for our cars are not AGX's as their rates to dampen are not good imo.

For your budget get the Bilstiens.

[Sam Strano]

I disagree.... Folks tend to get stuck in their ways, and I know Bilstein is name we all associate with "good", but you have to review the situation.

Bilstein, a while back, changed their valving to make it "better", much like Coca-Cola did in the '80's with "New" Coke... which sucked. Same thing here, as far as I'm concerned they took a useful shock and made a mess of it. And they finally realized it, which is why Bilstein's are on a huge backorder (since March and still counting), because they can't get the previous ones build again for some reason. So to review. The Bilstein's you see in today's catalog and that you might find in some corner somewhere are NOT the decent ones available not so long ago.

While I never thought I'd actually say this, I think there are other options to look at not because they've gotten better themselves, but because Bilstein fell below them in they way the work.

You can peruse my shock page on my website, look around the prices are there. If you have ANY questions, call me.

[SexOnWheels]

I was, of course, referring to the old stlye HD's.

@Sam does this mean that they will continue to make the oldstyle HD's or are they a thing of the past?

[Sam Strano]

At this point, I can't say... Haven't make the "old" ones for quite a while. Don't know what will happen until they actually show up again.

[Speed Psychosis]

Some details that are important here. The Tokico's and AGX's aren't great shocks, they are "ok". The AGX's are the better of the two if you are going to add lowering springs at some point, the Tokico's are really best kept on with only stock springs.

Tokico blues or illumina? because I heard the illuminas were very nice, but that was for a different car...

[Sam Strano]

They do not make the Illumina for the 4th gen front.....

[Zapper2003]

Sam I tried calling you today actually, about 2:30 in the P.M., I actually figured you'd be closed anyways so I didn't bother with leaving a message as I was just checking on the availability of the HD's and some of your opinions on this very subject. However, I now know that I won't be looking for these said bilsteins anymore. I too have factored in about 4-450$ on a set of shocks/struts and do not plan to lower my car at all.

[Speed Psychosis]

They do not make the Illumina for the 4th gen front.....

strange I actually have seen the kit containing all 4 struts on ebay, on what I thought seemed to be a legit store. but I'd trust you more than ebay. I wonder why they would design the rears and not front

[The Guz]

Go koni's. Best shock for an F Body. Listen to Sam. He knows what he is talking about.

[LukesSpeedShop]

Go koni's. Best shock for an F Body. Listen to Sam. He knows what he is talking about.

If I had the $800 for konis, then Id get them. I know that they would be ideal, but im looking for something within my budget, which the konis are not. So im not looking for the best, maybe 2nd best, or 3rd best.

Hot Rodding on a budget.

[Sam Strano]

Sam I tried calling you today actually, about 2:30 in the P.M., I actually figured you'd be closed anyways so I didn't bother with leaving a message as I was just checking on the availability of the HD's and some of your opinions on this very subject. However, I now know that I won't be looking for these said bilsteins anymore. I too have factored in about 4-450$ on a set of shocks/struts and do not plan to lower my car at all.

Feel free to call me again. I'm not generally around on weekends, but I am during the week. I'm more than happy to help you with the options.

[Sam Strano]

If I had the $800 for konis, then Id get them. I know that they would be ideal, but im looking for something within my budget, which the konis are not. So im not looking for the best, maybe 2nd best, or 3rd best.

Hot Rodding on a budget.

Understandable. Just a few "devil's advocate" notes:

--Koni's start @ $740 a set. While "close" to $800, it is about 7.5% off of that $800 price.

--Hotrodding on the cheap is a-okay. But I'd caution you that picking shocks is no different than any other parts you could buy that have a lot of "levels" pricing wise. Cheap is usually cheap for a reason. Aveo's are cheap because they aren't Corvette's.

[Zapper2003]

Feel free to call me again. I'm not generally around on weekends, but I am during the week. I'm more than happy to help you with the options.

Will do, but I may wait til' after the holidays. I've got a few items I'm still saving a bit for.

[Sam Strano]

No sweat... I don't plan on going anywhere.

[shady milkman]

No sweat... I don't plan on going anywhere.

hey sam. can i shoot you a email, i have some questions

[SexOnWheels]

hey sam. can i shoot you a email, i have some questions

Phone him Shady as he rarely answers e-mails....