Shock Choice

[Doctorslicer]

Hi All,

I have a 72 Cutlass Supreme 455 thats getting some suspension upgrades: Sway bars, bushings and 1" lower springs. I was going to get the KYB Gas Shocks but I am not so sure now. Is there a better choice at a reasonable price for my car?

Thanks,

[deuce_454]

Alston Chassisworks shocks are a really good product. and if you want to get somthing above bilstein or kyb it is the only reasonable priced product that is worth a damn (IMHO)... QA1´s just arent good enough, and they dont adjust equally.. one click on one isnt equal to one click on another.. and they dont revert to the same degree of damping when returned to previous setting....

i personally prefer bilstein, but KYB's are just as good, just alittle harsher when cruising... (or so they seem)

[dipren443]

Koni's are a good alternative.

I would actually rate Koni's on par with Bilstein, with KYB being several notches below these. If you want adjustables, I would go after Koni's. If you just a want a good shock that you don't have to fiddle with, Bilstein HD's are the way to go. If you are lowered, you may need to go with Bilstein Sports.

[Blown353]

KYB's are not in the same league as Koni or Bilstein IMO. They are pretty bargain-bin shocks, rebound control is weak, and they lose their effectiveness VERY quickly. They are fairly stiff in compression which gives you the impression of a "performance" ride... but they are far from that in my experience. I used to run a set and was very, very dissatisfied with them.

If you buy springs in the 550# / 150# range the Hotchkis revalved Bilsteins are probably the best thing going for less than $100 per shock and were valved to work well with springs in that range.

Deuce_454 is also correct about the QA1's... inconsistent adjustments and they drift around a lot when they get some heat in them. I would avoid them.

I recently was given a set of Varishock QS2's in exchange for some work. I've had road course experience with them and I was pretty impressed given the price. The adjustments were solid and they remained consistent over 20 minute sessions. Once this rain clears up and Alston sends me the couple of missing crossbar hardware pieces (there was a mispacked hardware bag) I'll take my car for a spin...

You can get the single adjustables for about $150/ea and the double adjustables are about $300/ea.

[dipren443]

KYB's are not in the same league as Koni IMO. They are pretty bargain-bin shocks, rebound control is weak, and they lose their effectiveness VERY quickly. They are fairly stiff in compression which gives you the impression of a "performance" ride... but they are far from that in my experience. I used to run a set and was very, very dissatisfied with them.


I don't think anyone was saying KYB's were in the same league as Koni. :cool:

[Blown353]

I don't think anyone was saying KYB's were in the same league as Koni. :cool:

Agreed. I misread an earlier post.

[Doctorslicer]

I am getting the hotchkis sway bars and springs. I found some Bilsteins for $59.95 each. They are not the HPS 1000's that are tuned by Hotchkis but I would assume pretty close.

[dipren443]

I am getting the hotchkis sway bars and springs. I found some Bilsteins for $59.95 each. They are not the HPS 1000's that are tuned by Hotchkis but I would assume pretty close.

Doubtful actually. They are probably the standard Bilstein HD's. I would hesitate to match those with the Hotchkis components.

Forgive me while I step on my soapbox for a minute.

More times than not, when building a suspension, shocks will be regarded as an afterthought. What is not realized is that the shock is going to do just as much, if not more, to contribute to ride and handling than the springs themselves. Springs and shocks should be designed to work together properly. If your shocks are mismatched to your springs, you will most likely end up with poor ride quality characteristics, jittery handling capabilities, and just may end up blowing those shocks prematurely.

[Blown353]

Yep, buy the Hotchkis Bilsteins. They are revalved to match their spring rates.

[Doctorslicer]

Thanks for all the input guys.

[1FstChevy]

Yep, I bought the "HPS 1000" shocks which as previously mentioned are the Hotchkis valved Bilsteins! I wouldn't recommend anything but those yellow and blue German shocks! Especially the quality you get for your dollar!

As I'm sure you know from reading the above that KYBs are worse than OEM so they shouldn't be a consideration for ANYONE!

If yours are anything like mine, the front will be all black and the rears will be the standard light blue upper housing and yellow lower with the HPS 1000 logo on them as well. Hotchkis had their rear shocks made in light blue and black on the bottom for a while but that was only on early runs, which is just as well since I prefer the classic Bilstein colors!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Hotchkis-70010012-HPS-1000-Shock-Olds-Cutlass-1964-72_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33590QQihZ014QQitemZ 330204217330QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWD1VQQtrksidZp1638Q 2em118Q2el1247 <<<---- There's the front shock you'd need for your Cutless but just an example since Summit doesn't have very competitive prices. Personally I'd look up www.gpsuperstore.com since they gave me a deal on mine during the end of year sale.

[Doctorslicer]

Thanks for the tip on the Shock colors.

Just called Hotchkis and they said they wouldn't sell me the big block spring kit. They said the ride height isn't what people are looking for. He said to get the small block spring kit. So now I'm not sure about the springs.

Any ideas? Should I go with the small block. I would assume that it will just ride a little lower.

[rocketman]

Koni no other shock compares to a Koni. 2nd would be a Bilstien.

[dipren443]

Thanks for the tip on the Shock colors.

Just called Hotchkis and they said they wouldn't sell me the big block spring kit. They said the ride height isn't what people are looking for. He said to get the small block spring kit. So now I'm not sure about the springs.

Any ideas? Should I go with the small block. I would assume that it will just ride a little lower.

The difference in spring rates is minimal. Rears are the same rate (135 lb/in). Fronts are 520 lb/in for BB and 500 lb/in for SB. Lengths may vary slightly. The other thing to think about is there technically isn't an Olds Small block... Same block, diff internals. I think you would be fine with the small block springs.