Please help! Need some more shock info before purchase!

[fhturner]

I hate to make another whole thread with some questions I already asked in a previous one, but I am ready to purchase replacements for my worn out shocks. It looks like the Bilsteins are the way to go for good performance but reasonable cost. At 78,500 miles, my rear shocks are really the problem, but I'm wondering if I should just go ahead and replace the fronts too. So, my questions are:

1. Should I go ahead and do the fronts, too? I'm leaning toward "yes" there, thinking that I might as well get all four corners up to "100%"...

2. Should I go with the HD models or the stiffer Sport models? I'm thinking HD, since I'm after a good combination of ride & handling, and they should at least be stiffer than the factory shocks.

3. Where should I have these changed? Dealer? Quick oil-change place? Somewhere in the middle? Low cost is attractive to me, but not at the expense of competence and having the job done right.

4. From what I've seen so far, I'm figuring $150/$300 for 2/4 shocks. Is that about right? How much should I expect to pay for installation?

Thanks to anyone who can help me with this! As I said, I'm anxious to order the shocks and get this rear-end handling problem I'm having taken care of.

Bonus Q : Where would these Bilstein shocks fit in the lineup when compared to FE1, Z51, and FE4 suspension parts?

 

[c4c5specialist]

Hi there,
i would recommend the Bilstein Sports for your shock purchase.
Now, if you are looking for cheap, your ride and handling will suffer.
Once the Bilsteins are installed, make sure that you have a competant alignment technician correctly adjust your settings to GM specifications.
Allthebest, c4c5

 

[fhturner]

Hi there,
i would recommend the Bilstein Sports for your shock purchase.

Okay, thanks, I'll probably do that then. I was thinking HD for a little "comfier" ride, but if you recommend the Sports, I'll reconsider!

Now, if you are looking for cheap, your ride and handling will suffer.

Not looking for cheap, necessarily, just don't want to get raped! What should I expect to pay if I do all 4 shocks? Or only 2?

Once the Bilsteins are installed, make sure that you have a competant alignment technician correctly adjust your settings to GM specifications.

So, take it to a dealer, then? What all will need to be matched to specs? Realignment of all 4 wheels? What?

Also, can you comment on the issue of whether or not to do the fronts, too?

Thanks for the info!
Fred

 

[Copdogcorvettes]

Personally I would do all four since it sounds like they haven't been replaced. I like the KYB's myself. I don't know your area, so the dealership is always a good choice. It can be spendy. Good luck.

 

[c4c5specialist]

Hi there,
A 4 shock replacement on c5 takes me 2 hours to correctly do.
A 4 wheel alignment is critical as to how the vehicle handles after.
As for pricing, there are many good aftermarket suppliers out there.
All Bilstein sports are the same, no matter who you buy them from.
Allthebest, c4c5

 

[fhturner]

Thanks for the info, guys! I went ahead and ordered a set of 4 Bilstein Sports from eShock.com last night. With free ground shipping, the total was $299. I'll soon be in business!

On the other hand, I went by Ivan Leonard Chevrolet today to inquire about pricing for simply installing the shocks. I nearly puked when the service manager told me it would be $374, plus another $70 if I wanted the 4-wheel alignment. I know dealerships can be pricey, but Good Lord! $444?!?! c4c5, you say it takes you 2 hours to do it right, then I guess you can charge over $200/hr if you want, based on these rates.

Okay, before I get too far off on a "rangent" (rant + tangent = ...), let me ask: Is it me, or is $444 just a wee bit expensive for a shock absorber replacement w/ wheel alignment? Can one of you guys tell me what should I be expecting to pay here?

Thanks,
FT

 

[c4c5specialist]

Hi there,
Per labor time guides, this is about normal. As I said, I charge 2 hours, @ $80.
$160 plus $150 for the alignment.
If you follow Alldata, or Mitchell, then your pricing is about correct.
Allthebest, c4c5

 

[fhturner]

That's more like it!

Just wanted to post, for reference, a follow up with more information that I found out about having my shocks replaced.

After the horrifying news from Ivan Leonard Chevrolet yesterday that replacement of 4 shocks on my Vette would cost $374, I talked to a couple of other places today, and got pricing that was much more palatable. Serra Chevrolet said it would be 1hr on the front and 1hr on the rear @ $66/hr. So, $132 there. The alignment would be $80.

I also called Saab Tire & Automotive (all of these places are in the Birmingham, AL area), and they said 1.1hr on the front, 0.7hr on the rear, total of $99, plus another $99 for alignment. Now, that's more like it!

Don't get me wrong-- I want the job done right, but I find it hard to believe that Ivan Leonard would do 3x better of a job than the other 2 places. That's just crazy! Very strange that there's such a huge jump between 2 Chevy dealerships in the same metro area! And, BTW, yes, I did specifically say that the shock replacement was for a Corvette when I checked on these prices. I guess at some places, that means that the prices get multiplied by 3!

Anyway, thanks again to everybody for the info and advice. I'll update again once I get the shocks on and the alignment done. Hopefully, no more sideways "hopping" when encountering bumps during cornering!