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Shocks for my 1992

  • Thread starter Thread starter ReggieD
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ReggieD

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Who makes a nice set of shocks for a 1992 vette. I am going to change them myself. Who make a very good pair and what are the normal price.
 
I put on a set of replacement Bilsteins. They work nice, and are factory.

The down side is that they are not lasting that long. I have put on 35K mi (+/-) on them in 2 years, and they are losing thier stiffness already.

If you want to firm up your suspension (I have FE1), go with something stiffer than the stock ones. That is what I will be doing.

-Mike
 
Shocks,

I love that new shock drive. Firm and controlled. But I also know it typically doesnt last. I drive at least 500 miles a week to work and around home. After a year the newness seems to go away. So, I went to my local Advance Auto Parts and bought a set of Ryder's best and since they have a lifetime gaurantee at Advance, I replace them every year ?;7)
 
ReggieD,
Check out TPIS. They make a set of replacement shocks that are re-valved for a better ride but work well in turns as well. Price is considerably less than replacement Bilsteins.
I know these shocks will work on the 88 but I am not that familiar with the 93 models. It's probably worth giving them a call.

Check them out on the web at www.tpis.com
 
The Edelbrock shocks are great! They ride a lot better than the Bilsteins. Bilsteins are too hard for my taste.
 
Topless said:
I put on a set of replacement Bilsteins. They work nice, and are factory.

The down side is that they are not lasting that long. I have put on 35K mi (+/-) on them in 2 years, and they are losing thier stiffness already.

If you want to firm up your suspension (I have FE1), go with something stiffer than the stock ones. That is what I will be doing.

-Mike

Hey Mike,
I did just that. Installed the Sport version instead of the HD ones one my FE1 suspension. Given I already had over 90K mi on the original ones I expected an improvement. Sure enough. Firm ride and car doesn't flatten out like it used to. The Sport ones are supposed to be about 20% stiffer than the HD ones. I like them.
Graham
 
Going on the assumption that you have the standard (FE1) suspension and not the FX3 Selective Ride Control option (round knob on the console just in front of the console lid), you have some good options depending on how you want the car to ride.

Bilstien's, Edlebrock IAS, and Koni' shocks are all very good quality sport type shock that will give you bit more stiffness but increased handling. These shocks can run up to around $400 for a set of 4. Another brand that will work very well is KYB Gas-A-Just available from Summit Racing ( www.summitracing.com )for $27 each plus shipping. I've used these on other Vettes and they work vey well.

Shock replacement requires the car to be off the ground so you can remove the wheels for easy access to the suspension. Installation of the front shocks are pretty straight forward with two bolts at the bottom and one nut at the top. The top nut may have some rust on it so be prepared with something like WD-4 or Liquid Wrench to loosen that nut.

The rear shocks require a 18mm socket for the large bottom nut and removal of the rear tire to access the two nuts that hold the upper shock mounting bracket to the body. Remove that bracket and remove the shock from the bracket. Install the new shock in the reverse order.
 
Graham-
Thanks for the info. I will probably be doing this before too long. I have a need for stiffer suspension, but am not to the point of installing new springs yet.
:s

Do you know if Bilstien will rebuild non-FX3 shocks? If so, I could send in my original ones (as they are still sitting around), and not lose any drive time. I wouldn't mind having them rebuilt to "Sport" specs.

-Mike
 
Mike,
Yes Bilstein will rebuild and revalve your original shocks for you.
Search the C4 Tech forum and somewhere in one of the threads was the phone number to call Bilstein and have them do it. I just ended buying a new set from VBP for $300 and the old ones are sitting in boxes incase I get the notion to have them redone.
I hear you on the springs. The Z51 springs will be more than I want to spend right now. I also added poly bushing to the sway bars to take out some of the slop. That helped and it was cheap.
Graham
 
after extensive research i assertained the fe1 bilstein replacement oem shock is the sport model.
seems they are lifetime warrantied too.which to them means when the shocks wore out at 30k miles its lifetimes up.
arg. way to much money for soso shocks good for 25k miles.
imho.
i went with the kyb shocks and like em fine so far (only 1k miles or so-to early to tell).
you get 4 for the price of 1 bilstein.
if money wasnt an object i'd have a set of these babies all the way around :s http://www.penskeshocks.com/adjustab.htm
 
ReggieD said:
Who makes a nice set of shocks for a 1992 vette. I am going to change them myself. Who make a very good pair and what are the normal price.

coil overs from DRM, with bilsteins :D
 
Thanks Graham

I have poly bushings for my sway bar, but i have not installed them yet.

Do you think Bilstein will rebuild them under warranty? The are only about two years old.

If I don't get another vette, I might end up putting in FX3 (rebuilt to stiffer settings) and a stiffer spring. We shall see.

-mike
 

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