Shocks

My 94 Vert has 130,000 on the clock and wonder what a good shock replacement might be.

[QUOTE=racingchester]My 94 Vert has 130,000 on the clock and wonder what a good shock replacement might be.[/QUOTE]

Depends on a few things:

1- obviously $$$
2-wear on other components...no need to throw big bucks at it if the rest of your suspension will allow your new shocks to get beat up.
3-overall goals...is it a DD, or just a weekend warrior, or do you auto-X?


If you have a ragged out suspension, use your car as a DD on terrible roads....no reason to put high $$ shocks like premium Bilstiens on the car. (throwing good money at bad)

or

If you have a tight suspension and you autoX or maybe a weekend warrior at track events....no need to be cheap and put brandX on the car.(throwing bad money at good)


GL




Jim

Car is a DD and just seems like its getting a little soft.  Everything else is still tight.  I'm an old guy and I don't drive nearly as aggresive as I once did.......

[QUOTE=racingchester]Car is a DD and just seems like its getting a little soft.  Everything else is still tight.  I'm an old guy and I don't drive nearly as aggresive as I once did.......[/QUOTE]

Then if it were me, I would buy my Fav. brand of gas shocks...be it Monroe, or the brandX with lifetime warrantee that the chain part houses sell.
You can go to the dealerships and buy OEM Chevy shocks, but they will cost a shiny dime.


I put the house brand on my Silverado, had them order me some Bilstiens for my C3.
the car road like it was a Flinststone car...I put the house brand on the C3 (with lifetime warrantee), it smoothed out the ride and corners great.
I do not have my C3 set up with a performance suspension, but the suspension is perfect mechanical wise...the deal is; it didnt take high $$$ shocks on my C3 to get a good ride for the purpose I was driving.

As far as my C4 goes; the previous owner had just put OEM Chevy shocks on it before I got it...when they go bad, I will upgrade...because...I do occasionaly hit the track, but do a lot of fun driving across the states and run across roads of every shape and condition.



GL






Jim

Thanks for the advise.  Probably will stay away from GM.....

What came the vette with from the factory?

Bilsteins were factory for most of the suspensions, with the exception of the Ride Control/later models.  My '85 still has the original, factory installed Bilsteins on it. When they give up the ghost, I'll be installing the same. 

My 84 had the factory Bilsteins on it until 2002 and 90k on the clock. I only replaced them for preventive measures. Definately noticed a big difference. I bought the tighter ones for the Z51 package (there were 2 options, stock and Z51). I got them at AutoZone and I think I spent $200 total?

Still good tips on what to consider for shocks, daily use or performance/preservation.  I still have my original Bilstein shocks on my 87, with over 166K mi, and drive over two sets of RR tracks each way to/from work (and I slow to about 30-35, so as not to jar the poor old warrior too much), so I'm thinking of replacing the shocks.  I don't want a tight set, so I'll take my mechanic's advice and get what he thinks best for my cute Corvette commuter car, which will probably be a Delco or Monroe set.  Your forum's advice is always helpful in making such decisions, at least we know something before we do something...thanks.

As one reply above stated, if just a DD and you don't drive it hard, then a good gas shock will work well.  My favorite "cheap" shock is the KYB "Gas-A-Just". Very similar to the Bilsteins in that they are a high pressure, monotube, performance shock and come in at about 1/2 the price of the Bilsteins.  I have a set on my 93 Coupe, and they perform very well on the street and for an occasional autocross.