dludden

Are dealer stuts any better than aftermarkets?

gracer7-rx7

iTrader: (16)

Depends on which after market option. If you are comparing to Koni or Bilstein or Illumina shocks, they are comparable. If you are comparing to some POS Monroe or autozone aftermarket, then the OEM struts are better.

[c]K

^^what he said, you can also find struts of same quality as OEM for way less.

Kentetsu

What year is your car? If you are looking for suspension parts for a 1st gen, then check out www.re-speed.com




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dludden

I have a 1985 GSL-SE but the ride is not good. The back end goes slowly up when pressed down and I was told the front end hits the bump stop. Is this a strut problem or springs? Do stablelizer links help?

DarrenTRS

iTrader: (1)

It's likely a combination of sagging/worn out springs and possibly struts, Tokico Blues are a good 'entry' aftermarket shock and then if you have the coin, the Tokico white Illuminas are 5 way adjustables.
As far as getting new springs, there are a few options but most everyone will agree that Re-Speed coilovers are the best of the best and while they are expensive, are completely worth it. Suspension Techniques and Racing Beat both make spring sets for the first gens but Re-Speed allows you to customize your own spring rates depending on application and as well as ride height adjustment.

Kentetsu

Yeah, since you have a 1st gen, Respeed will have everything you need.

As DarrenTRS mentioned, you have the choice of simply replacing the springs with aftermarket (slightly firmer ride, similar height to stock), or going with coilovers. The cost difference between the two choices really isn't all that much. Coilovers allow you to choose how stiff a spring you want to run, and are adjustable for getting the ride height you want.

By the sound of your description, I would say that you need both shocks and springs. At the very least, shocks.

If you are trying to make the car better than it is (or was), then you should also look into replacing the suspension bushings. This will reduce the clunking noises from the suspension, take the slop out of the handling, and give a "tighter" ride overall.

What are your goals for the car? Daily driver? Show car? Weekend Racer? Let us know, and we can fine tune our advice to suit your ambitions.



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dludden

Thanks all for the advice. My goals? I just compare my 1985 GSL-SE to my 1985 GS and realize my GSL-SE doesn't ride as well as my GS. So I have something I can compare it to. If I can get it to ride as well as my GS I'd be happy. I might just do a little at a time. Do the struts in back first, see what the difference is and go grom there. At least I know not to go with Monroe. What makes the other struts/shocks better technically than Monroe?

Kentetsu

'What makes the other struts/shocks better technically than Monroe?"

Quality and performance. A set of Tokico Blues from Respeed will probably be less expensive than Monroe too.

dludden

I checked out RE-speed and they have cheap Tokico like you said. I also have a Black Dragon Automotive catalogue (ever hear of it?) in Lenexa, KS, and they also have Tokico, I'm assuming Blues and have Illumina, I'm assuming Whites.
To adjust do you have to take off the shocks/struts or do you just reach up and turn a a screw? I'm assuming Tokico is just as good as dealer shocks/struts.
The Black Dragon cost a little more that RE-speed, so I will probably go with RE-speed with back shocks first. I'm noting comment on suspension bushing and will look into that too. Thanks to all.

Kentetsu

Tokico will be far better than what you could get from the dealer.

If you can afford the Illuminas, then those are the ones to get. The adjustability is awesome, you can go from Cadillac soft to race car hard with a twist of the adjuster. I have read that the Blues feel about like the Illuminas on a setting of 2 or so (Illuminas have 5 settings, with 5 being the stiffest).

The adjuster is located at the top of the shock, so for the rears you either remove a few screws and pull the trim back to get to the adjuster, or if you plan to adjust often then some just cut a hole in the cover allowing access to the adjuster.

I'm glad to hear that you will be going with Respeed. Billy from Respeed is a very active member of this forum, offering guidance and new parts that we request. Black Dragon sells parts and makes money, but nothing else. Its the same with about every other vendor you'll find.