Your Comments About Brands Of Shock Absorbers?

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Likes and dislikes? Please elaborate. The last shock absorbers I purchased was 14-years ago. Maybe things have changed?

[tmartin000]

Bilsteins loosen up, I have since moved onto KYB Monomax shocks!

LOVE THEM.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Hah!

Seems like they know "There is no money in old beaters"

[NinerBikes]

Can't speak for RV's, but for my cars, when reshod with shock absorbers and going through all new bushings doing a complete suspension R&R when all the rubber has gone bad, I've been most satisfied with Koni's. Bilsteins gas I had on my Jetta were harsh. The dampening valving on the Koni's was just much better. I did not get Sport models, I bought Koni Reds, oil dampening. Very satisfied with the ride.

[IAMICHABOD]

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
Pretty much uniform pricing everywhere?

I have been buying from This Place for a long time and they always have the best price and their staff is very helpful if you have any questions,they have been selling Bilsteins for many years.

[Lynnmor]

Replaced factory shocks on my F250 with Bilsteins to help control the motion caused by concrete slab highways. It didn't help and now the ride is stiffer giving the passengers and the trailer more of a beating. Wife wants the old ones back on. Pure waste of time and money.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Pretty much uniform pricing everywhere?

[Ductape]

Bilstein, never a bad experience.

[mike-s]

For the major players in the US aftermarket, in order:
Koni
Bilstein
KYB
Monroe/Rancho
Gabriel

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Hmmm...

Looking at "Stutting" the toad. '95 Dodge Spirit. Front has struts. The originals - 89,000 miles. Locals have been ordering Monroe and Gabriel through me and I must say I am not impressed just by looking at them. But the K cars aren't much to begin with. I was sorta hoping to see "Stay away from's" here.

[pianotuna]

Hi Brett,

I'm sure I'll pay less at the dentist after I get rid of the harsh ride.

wolfe10 wrote:
Don,

To get a softer ride without sacrificing handling means more $$. The Koni FSD has two sets of valves in it. That allows quite a lot less dampening over small, sharp bumps yet more dampening over the large ones. No rocket science, but they are more expensive to make that way.

Might ask others with same chassis on Class C section of the forum who have upgraded to either Bilstein or Koni for their observations. Ask them to tell you what shocks they had before and what difference they have experienced.

[GoPackGo]

Bilstein 5100 on my stock height dually since it was one month old. Great shocks w/lifetime warranty. Zinc plated 5100s can be used on stock height trucks OR on trucks with up to 2 inches of lift. I wanted the extra protection the zinc coating and gators provides.

[996Pilot]

Bilstein Yellow/Blue for stock height, Silver/Black for raised. Every vehicle I've changed over to Bilstein's has made a WORLD of difference to the ride/handling qualities. I'm sold!!!

edit -- I have to add, I used to live in southern Baja and every vehicle used to chew through shocks in 6 months --- until I switched to Bilstein's (at the recommendation of a Baja Racing friend). That was my first intro to Bilstein's and I'll never look back. They took the Baja beating and just kept working great.

[wolfe10]

Don,

To get a softer ride without sacrificing handling means more $$. The Koni FSD has two sets of valves in it. That allows quite a lot less dampening over small, sharp bumps yet more dampening over the large ones. No rocket science, but they are more expensive to make that way.

Might ask others with same chassis on Class C section of the forum who have upgraded to either Bilstein or Koni for their observations. Ask them to tell you what shocks they had before and what difference they have experienced.

[lawrosa]

I have had bad ecperience with ranchos back in the mid 80's.

2 chevys trucks I owned came with bilsteins from the factory and I was always happy with them..

With that said I just bought a newer truck and took the GM factory **** out and installed bilsteins. Towing now is night and day to the old shocks. Unloaded these shocks perform 100% better. Handling and ride..

See post here.


http://forums.woodalls.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/29041868/gotomsg/29051110.cfm#29051110