[68droptop]

I'm restoring a 68 GTO. What shocks would you guys use? I plan on driving the car a lot. How do I pick a shock?

[The Champ]

For basic driving and relatively inexpensive decent shocks - Monroes will work. Figure about $100.00 for a set.

A much better shock overall is the Bilstein. The car will handle much better, but these will cost you about $300 - 400.00 for a set.

[68droptop]

I guess this ties into my other question about springs. I'll take a look at the Monroes. Actually, I think that's what I took off the car when I disassembled it.

[yumpy]

I've been using Bilstein shocks and struts since the 70"s.Some sets accumulated 100,000 plus miles and felt as good as the day i installed them.Recently installed a set on my 79 T/A and love them.Great handling and a better ride than the Monroes i removed.
Check out The Shock Warehouse. Free shipping. Bilsteins will run about $268.they have KYB's - set of four - gas performance - $154.58 and some super clearance deals on monroes _ guess it depends on your budget and how much you use your car.

[The Champ]

Originally Posted by yumpy

Check out The Shock Warehouse. Free shipping. Bilsteins will run about $268.

Wish they were that inexpensive for my GTO... You Firebird guys get by cheap...

Add about a $120 at The Shock Warehouse and that's what Bilsteins run for my car there.

eshocks.com has the same Bilsteins for $360.00 shipped.

Either way, Summit will price match it, and they have free shipping on Bilsteins too.

[PMD1969]

RockAuto has Gas-A-Just KYB's for $30 each for a 68 GTO. You can get 5% off if you have a coupon code.

[Mr_GTO]

Originally Posted by PMD1969

RockAuto has Gas-A-Just KYB's for $30 each for a 68 GTO. You can get 5% off if you have a coupon code.

Yea and they suck. That's why they're $30

[The Champ]

I've never used the KYB's - but from what I've read, I'd rather buy the Monroe's for less money.

[hpp]

I've been looking into the Monroes also.

[Nicks67GTO]

I put bilstiens on my 67' GTO. It has a stock suspension and a 1.25" WS6 sway bar in the front. I had monroes that I had bought earlier in the year. I wouldnt even consider going back. The difference is really that big. The monroes are sloppy junk IMO.

[bonneville Joe]

Originally Posted by Nicks67GTO

I put bilstiens on my 67' GTO. It has a stock suspension and a 1.25" WS6 sway bar in the front. I had monroes that I had bought earlier in the year. I wouldnt even consider going back. The difference is really that big. The monroes are sloppy junk IMO.

Agreed, I had Monroes on my 78 T/A and the rears sagged and were squishy. Went to KYB gas adjusts all the way around and the car is stiff but still gives as it should.

[Mr_GTO]

Go ride on some KYB's and then install either Bilsteins or Edelbrock and see which ones you prefer. There is no comparison.

[JimChevy]

I ran the KYB Gas adjusts on my lowered 70' C/10 truck and they were very firm but I felt they were necessary because I had so much drop. The KYB GR-2 are much softer. I'm thinking about going with them on the rear of my 69' for cruising.

[RicksGTO]

some of the online sellers are getting the Koni Classics down in the $360 a set range with shipping for our cars. (these are for '68-'72 GTO)
http://www.ajusa.com/KONI-Special-DC...2746q6447.html
Another one to consider in the range of the Bilstein's and they are adjustable.

[webfoot]

I had the white KYBs on the back of my 70 chevelle and it seemed a little harsh to me, but I also run low-profile tires which would amplify it a bit. Replaced with bilsteins and much better.

I put Monroe sensa-tracs on all 4 corners of the GTO. You can get those from rockauto for under $100/set. No opinion yet since I haven't driven it.

I put KYB GR-2s on all 4 corners of my 71 chev K-20. Nice ride with those too.

[geeteeohguy]

I've been running the same set of KYB gas-a-just shocks on my '67 GTO for 29 years and 125,000 miles. I can't believe they still work, but they work flawlessly. Nice ride, not too firm, and super high quality product. I'd buy another set if these ever wear out.

[The Champ]

Originally Posted by geeteeohguy

I've been running the same set of KYB gas-a-just shocks on my '67 GTO for 29 years and 125,000 miles. I can't believe they still work, but they work flawlessly. Nice ride, not too firm, and super high quality product. I'd buy another set if these ever wear out.

I think you'd be really surprised if you did a side by side comparison.

I've had the opportunity to do the Monroe ride and drive comparison. I am not saying that Monroe's are the best shocks/struts made - but they were the company that allowed me the opportunity to participate.

I drove 2 identical Mercedes sedans with 50,000 miles. Well, identical except for one had the original shocks/struts still in place and the other had new Monroe shocks/struts. First I drove the one with the OE shocks around the handling course. Then I took the one with the new Monroe's.

I felt like Super Man on the second time around the controlled course.

Then I did the same test with a Toyota Sequoia SUV. Same results.

What most people don't realize is that handling degrades very slowly as your shocks wear out. You don't just notice a sudden change. If you replace your 29 year old. 125,000 mile KYB's with new one's - I willing to bet you notice a huge improvement in the ride and handling.

[Nicks67GTO]

Originally Posted by The Champ

I think you'd be really surprised if you did a side by side comparison.

I've had the opportunity to do the Monroe ride and drive comparison. I am not saying that Monroe's are the best shocks/struts made - but they were the company that allowed me the opportunity to participate.

I drove 2 identical Mercedes sedans with 50,000 miles. Well, identical except for one had the original shocks/struts still in place and the other had new Monroe shocks/struts. First I drove the one with the OE shocks around the handling course. Then I took the one with the new Monroe's.

I felt like Super Man on the second time around the controlled course.

Then I did the same test with a Toyota Sequoia SUV. Same results.

What most people don't realize is that handling degrades very slowly as your shocks wear out. You don't just notice a sudden change. If you replace your 29 year old. 125,000 mile KYB's with new one's - I willing to bet you notice a huge improvement in the ride and handling.

I had brand new Monroes on my GTO for 3 months or so before I installed the Bilstiens. The monroes were absolute garbage. They may have a good product for newer cars but I will never buy them for my classics again. Just doing a hand compression test outside the car when I swapped them out made it almost laughable that they even sell them.

[geeteeohguy]

Champ, you probably have something there. I used to install Monroe's where I worked. Great product. The KYB's on my '67 still pass the "bounce" test, and don't leak....and the car handles and rides well. But they've been on there forever, and have high miles. They have to be degraded to a degree! But it's a stocker, so handling is taken with a grain of salt. The thing I did that made the ride harsher was to install wider tires. With the old 215/75/14 radials, it rode like a Caddy. The 225/70's made a noticeable difference: better handling, but more feedback from the road surface.

[paint guy]

I put Bilstiens on my 69 vert and am very pleased with the result. My son has new but inexpensive shocks on his 72 Chevelle, and there is NO comparison.