Replacement Shocks

[Anne2000]

I'm getting ready to replace my stock shocks (78,000 with noise and sqeeks). I really don't have the money for Koni's. What would you suggest?

[LS1DER]

I wouldn't go the cheap way by getting tokico's or kyb's. Get at least some bilstein HD's(I think you can find those for around $350) or revalved bilsteins from strano if you've got around $550 to spend.

[Vega]

Originally Posted by LS1DER

I wouldn't go the cheap way by getting tokico's or kyb's. Get at least some bilstein HD's(I think you can find those for around $350) or revalved bilsteins from strano if you've got around $550 to spend.

Bilsteins cost the same as KYB's.

[Anne2000]

I think I'll give Sam Stano a call. Do you think the revalved one's are worth the extra $200.00. He's got a set of Koni's listed at $740.00. If the Koni's are that much better then the extra $190.00 might be worth it.

[Etown_RS]

They are adjustable, so you won't be stuck with one setting. But, unless you plan to auto-x or road race it (or just want to say it has KONIs) I think the Relvalves would be fine. If ya got the money and want, go for it!! At least if you get KONIs you won't be saying "Maybe I should have gotten them..."

[LS1DER]

I've got the koni's myself and really like them, but I wanted to get the revalved bilsteins and save $200 but at the time he was out and was going to be a while before he got more in so I went with the koni's. In other words, I would just get the revalves

[Anne2000]

I just drive on the street. Very rarely really get on it. It sounds like the revalves would be more that adaquate. I really appreciate the information. We're taking her on a Show and Shine event at the Pebble Beach Concours de Elegence in August. We're really going to show up all those Ferrari's and Lambroginis! LOL

[Etown_RS]

Good choice. You gonna do springs as well?

[Anne2000]

I don't know if we need springs or not. I'll guess I'll just have to trust the guy at our speed shop. Who makes a good set of springs that don't lower the car. It seems Eibach and Bilstein's springs both lower the car and we want it just stock. Any suggestions?

[Etown_RS]

You can get a set of Moog replacements that are what they used stock. They won't lower the car but at least you know tat you are running the correct spring rates.
Why don't you want to lower the car?

[Anne2000]

It seems I bottom out everytime I come out of a driveway or am leaving the store. I just thought that lowering the car would make that worse. Also I talked to my mechanic today and he thinks that some of my noise could be coming from bad bushings on my control arms and swaybar. Is it best to just replace the control arms and bar with the new bushings or just the bushings?

[Etown_RS]

My car is lowered and it tends to drag the air dam in alot of places; with 3rd and 4th gens, the car is longer from the center of the front wheel to the end of the front bumper. That's why they seem to drag alot. (IE, I've seen a Mustang go down a hill into another section of parking lot at school that I wouldn't even try) You just have to learn to drive the car to avoid them. It just takes a little time and attention, but it's not that hard.
As for the sway bar bushings, just replace the bushings, not the whole piece. Which control arms need bushings; front or rear?

[Anne2000]

Most of the creeks and groans are coming from the front so I'm assuming it's the fronts.

[Etown_RS]

Oh. In that case (unless you just want to spend alot of exra money) I'd just replace the bushings. They make some nicer ones (can't remember the name of the company) but they are performance oriented. The Napa or Moogs would be fine, I would think.

[Anne2000]

Thanks for all of the info. I'll let you know what the speed shop says after they test drive it and get it up on the rack.