Budget suspension rebuild shock suggestions

[Brian Robichaud]

after 11 years and 207,000 miles it's time to rebuild the suspension on my 1998 Camaro. The front lower control arm bushings are completely worn out and the Monroe Sensatrac shocks I installed at 100k miles were not much better than the worn out originals they replaced.

This is my daily driver, about 200-300 miles every week, so I want a stock ride height and slightly better handling than the original base v6 suspension.

this is what I'm thinking of so far after reading through some of the older posts here
Moog springs front 60114 290 lbs./in.
Moog springs rear CC635 104 lbs./in.
Moog hard rubber suspension bushings
32mm SS front sway bar with urethane bushings
19mm SS rear sway bar with urethane bushings

they only shocks that will fit into my budget will be the KYB shocks (I promise to never use Monroe or Gabriel shocks on a sports car ever again)

I just can't decide between the GR-2 or the Gas-a-Just versions? Which would be the better choice for a daily driver that sees equal time on twisting back roads, and pot holed city streets.

Can anyone provide a comparison between the two shocks or have any other suggestions for my budget suspension build.

thanks
Brian

[cam98aro]

Re: Budget suspension rebuild shock suggestions

moog makes some good stuff, so your list looks pretty good.

the gr2 and the gas adjust shocks are very similar, they just have a different type of valving. the gas adjust are marketed towards a slightly higher performance replacement, and the grt2 is basically a stock replacement.

i have the gas adjust all around, and it is a tiny bit better than stock, handles good.

it really depends on who you talk to. I talked to sam strano before and he told me he likes the GR2's better because they have a different style valving inside of the shock.

I have no experience with the GR2's so i cant exactly comment on them, but i cant imagine them being much different than the gas adjusts. I would go with whatever fits your budget. I would have probably gone with the GR2's if i didnt find my set for really cheap (100 for both front shocks, open box, never used)

[LETZRIDE]

Re: Budget suspension rebuild shock suggestions

I wouldnt go with those shocks...they are really just like stock replacements. You can get the kyb 8way adjustables for around $350 for all 4...thats still a pretty conservative price...enough so that I would hold out on getting something comparable to stock replacements, and just leave the stock ones in until I could afford better ones.

As far as the bushings go...I got a set of moog bushings on my old LCA's from my car if you want them

everything else looks good.

[ssms5411]

Re: Budget suspension rebuild shock suggestions

I wouldnt go with those shocks...they are really just like stock replacements. You can get the kyb 8way adjustables for around $350 for all 4...thats still a pretty conservative price...enough so that I would hold out on getting something comparable to stock replacements, and just leave the stock ones in until I could afford better ones.

As far as the bushings go...I got a set of moog bushings on my old LCA's from my car if you want them

everything else looks good.

X2 on the KYB's if on a budget and want some better than stock shocks.

[Brian Robichaud]

Re: Budget suspension rebuild shock suggestions

after checking prices again I just realized that the front KYB AGX adjustable shocks are only a few dollars more than the Gas-a-just shocks, it's the rear shocks where the AGX gets expensive. I think I might go ahead and get the AGX for the front, and postpone the rear suspension for a couple of months. Right now there is so much play and movement in the front control arms I don't really feel safe driving it so I want to get the front end done ASAP.

How hard is it to change the settings on the AGX while on the car and what would be a good setting to start with

[ssms5411]

Re: Budget suspension rebuild shock suggestions

That would be good since the front is the hardest so doing KYB adj. for the front and getting it out of the way would be a great idea , the rears are like 20-30 min. job front first time take the weekend because you might need to cut the springs and what not if their rusted up since you have alot of miles. Since you have alot of miles new shock mounts for the front will be needed, plus when you do the front install reg. bolts instead of the torq screws, its alot better if you need to take them back off for any reason or changing them out again.

[Mark42]

Re: Budget suspension rebuild shock suggestions

There is a big difference between the GR2 and the gas adjust shocks.

The GR2 is a twin tube low pressure gas shock same as the OE design, and is slightly firmer than OE. A good standard replacement shock at a moderate price.

The Gas A Just is a mono tube shock (much better than twin tube), with much quicker valve response time, high nitrogen gas (about 300 psi IIRC) that keeps oil from foaming under hard use. This shock is valved toward performance.

The Gas A Just will continue to perform at its maximum level long after the GR2 has foamed and has stopped working until it cools.

For my daily driver I am leaning toward the GR2's for the fronts when the car reaches about 60K miles. I already replaced the OE rear shocks with GR2 at about 30K miles. The GR2 was a real nice improvement. It seemed to better control on the rebound, giving the rear of the car a more confident feel over rough pavement, especially on turns.