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Sat Nov 21, 2009 4:02 pm

GR2=====gas ryder. All kyb shocks are gas filled is what I was led to believe. Also, my situation is probably compounded by the 55 series tires on the front. But the gr2 stands for gas ryder #2 series, I do know that much. Bye, see ya in the morn @ 5 a.m., gonna try shox on the bed. Har, har.. :lol:

Sun Nov 22, 2009 6:04 am

Per KYB's website they are a dual tube GAS hydraulic and when looking further, their Gas adjust shocks use hydraulic fluid and a gas charge, but are of monotube design.

My asumption is for MOST people that are talking about gas shocks on their VWs, they are usually talking about KYBs - at least most of the posts I see about gas shocks are refering to KYBs, with GR2s being used frequently.

So Bruce, who is right? And have you ever riden in or driven a stock height VW with GR2s? I do all the time......

Sun Nov 22, 2009 12:23 pm

There's nothing wrong with KYB GR2 shocks, they work just fine. The evil shock made by KYB is their Gas-A-Just white shocks.

Have a look at this page on KYB's site:

http://www.kyb.com/technical/monotube.php

The GR2 shock is a conventional hydraulic shock. Due to the change in volumes of the chambers above and below the piston, it must have a reservoir, and that reservoir must have an air space. All they have done is to replace the air with LOW pressure nitrogen to reduce aeration. The low pressure nitrogen has no effect on the dampening of the shock.

The Gas-A-Just shock has it's reservoir charged with HIGH pressure nitrogen.

In the lingo of shocks, the GR2 is a simple hydraulic shock since the gas within has no effect on dampening. The Gas-A-Just is called a "gas" shock because the HIGH pressure nitrogen has a significant effect on dampening. If you install the Gas-A-Just shocks, your car will sit 1-2" higher than without.

The white KYB Gas-A-Just shocks are the worst shock you could ever put on a VW. If KYB wanted to improve their reputation in the shock world they should discontinue making this stupid shock. Either that, or redesign it so it works.

Sun Nov 22, 2009 4:00 pm

Running Gas adjusts on the back of the buggy, BUT this is a swing that has been dropped slightly in the rear. Strictly a street car with 295-50/15s. I have set this car up for road handling. They work great in this application, but I would never consider using Gas Adjusts on a stock or near stock car (front or rear). So I guess we agree on something LOL

Mon Nov 23, 2009 2:42 am

I don't really want to change the oil shocks, but i don't know what to do about the springs being very-very stiff (the front doesn't move when an adult person climbs on the bumper). The springs are shorter than stock; they only needed to be compressed about 1/2 inch to be installed on the strut. They are sold as lowering springs for stock struts. The front is about 1and 1/2, maybe 2 inch lower. The stock springs were so soft, that the coils were touching at both ends, making a loud banging noise :).
I put these springs together with a thicker stabiliser bar and a rear stabiliser bar. The front stabiliser is not the one modified for a lowered front, but it fits well. The car handles great in turns at high speed.
The oil shocks feel like they're not able to absorb none of the energy that the springs transmit to the body :). When the front hits even a small bump, the front jumps and this makes the rear (which is a little lower than stock, too, so the bars are "softer") behave like it has no shocks at all and jump repeatedly (at least this is the impression when you drive it). If the bumps repeat (like those caused in the summer by the wheels when the cars wait in line at a stop - of course, if the asphalt is bad; the roads are rather bad roads here...), the whole body resonates and still jumps a few times after the obstacles are finished. This is amplified by the stock seats which contain springs... I won't talk about speed bumps. I have to stop in front of them, otherwise the front JUMPS. I thought about the rubber buffers (present), but these don't seem to be the culprit, it is not lowered so much...
So, if i leave the front as it is, do i put gas shock or Porsche bars in the rear, which one may solve this?

Mon Nov 23, 2009 5:52 pm

Take a look at the tech article on making your VW handle at aircooled.net VERY educational.

Mon Nov 23, 2009 6:00 pm

Now, I'm no expert but if your front suspension doesn't move at all when someone jumps on the front bumper, we have a problem. Are all of your front end parts greased up properly? I just built a narrowed adjustable beam for my 68 and I ran about a day with no grease, bouncy as hell. Greased it up and got all the parts worked in and it rides quit a bit smoother. Still bounces a bit on big bumps but not nearly as bad.

Mon Nov 23, 2009 11:34 pm

Nothing to grease on a "superbeetle" front. It's just that the springs are very hard.
Now, a friend put 924 or 944 front and rear suspensions on his super. The springs are also very hard (engine in front, ok), but he says the bars are...too soft (?), making the rear of the car bounce just like mine? He wants to go back to the vw bars to see if they're stiffer. Are the 924 bars stiffer?