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boulderdrop Samba Member
Joined: February 06, 2008 Posts: 481 Location: Seattle, WA
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Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 5:44 pm Post subject: Rear Shock Purchase: OEM, Bilstein, KYB, Koni... |
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Hey Guys, I'm doing my rear wheel-bearings and bushings and figured I should replace the tired original rear-shocks on my 84-westy-4sp with 177k.
Looks like there's several options. I'd really like to go with shocks that don't need any modification and will bolt-on. Other than that, I don't really care... other than to have some good ones. Here's what's available, price may vary, I just like VC's bag of cookies with my order...
OEM: $69
Bilstein HD: $85
KYB Gas-Adjust: $45
Koni: $115
Price from Van Cafe:
http://www.van-cafe.com/home/van/smartlist_323/shocks.html
They vary pretty wildly on price. I hear that gas-shocks aren't as good as oil, but that's about all I know. Thoughts? |
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presslab Samba Member
Joined: September 29, 2008 Posts: 1730 Location: Sonoma County
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Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 9:18 pm Post subject: |
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Bilstein HDs aren't stiff enough in my opinion, tried 'em and too soft. I have Koni on mine and love it, the best thing is that they have adjustable rebound.
Gas-charged shocks have oil in them too. The gas keeps the oil from aerating on washboard bumps, etc. They are technically better but I still take the plain oil Konis over the gas Bilstein. _________________ 1986 Vanagon Westfalia EJ25
1988 Subaru GL-10 EJ20G --- 2000 Honda XR650L
2010 Titus El Guapo --- 2011 On-One 456 Ti |
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r39o Samba Polizei
Joined: May 18, 2005 Posts: 9800 Location: San Diego
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Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 9:23 pm Post subject: |
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KYBs are (cheap) crap, IMHO.
They do not seem to last very long, to me. _________________ "Use the SEARCH, Luke" But first visit the Vanagon FAQ!
1990 Multivan EJ 22, Rancho trans 0.82 4th, Small Car front AC, CLKs w/ 215/65-16, homemade big brakes 303mm, Konis, Recaros, etc....
Click to see my ads for Cup holders, Subaru clutch fix and CLK wheels (no wheels currently) |
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PDXWesty Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2006 Posts: 6234 Location: Portland OR
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Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 10:43 pm Post subject: |
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Ask 10 people and you'll get 10 differing opinions regarding shocks. _________________ 89 Westy 2.1 Auto |
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r39o Samba Polizei
Joined: May 18, 2005 Posts: 9800 Location: San Diego
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Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 10:47 pm Post subject: |
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PDXWesty wrote: |
Ask 10 people and you'll get 10 differing opinions regarding shocks. |
Opinions are like xxxxxxxx and everybody has one. _________________ "Use the SEARCH, Luke" But first visit the Vanagon FAQ!
1990 Multivan EJ 22, Rancho trans 0.82 4th, Small Car front AC, CLKs w/ 215/65-16, homemade big brakes 303mm, Konis, Recaros, etc....
Click to see my ads for Cup holders, Subaru clutch fix and CLK wheels (no wheels currently) |
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1621 Samba Member
Joined: May 15, 2006 Posts: 2174
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Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 11:01 pm Post subject: |
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r39o wrote: |
PDXWesty wrote: |
Ask 10 people and you'll get 10 differing opinions regarding shocks. |
Opinions are like xxxxxxxx and everybody has one. |
My xxxxxxxx says go for the Bilstein HDs or Konis, both are high quality shocks. _________________ '85 Westy |
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syncrodoka Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2005 Posts: 11997 Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 11:04 pm Post subject: |
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I wouldn't pay $4.50 for KYB's. They suck. Worst shock I have ever had on any of my vanagons. |
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chimivee Samba Member
Joined: September 23, 2009 Posts: 741 Location: Orange, CA
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Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 11:11 pm Post subject: |
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presslab wrote: |
Bilstein HDs aren't stiff enough in my opinion, tried 'em and too soft. |
Many like the HDs, but they aren't stiff enough for me either. I do not notice a significant difference over stock or even the Bilstein TC in that respect.
That said, I may well be the only person in the vana-world that like's cheap-ass "harsh" KYBs. Bring 'em! The horror! _________________ -James
86 Syncro Westy, etc |
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presslab Samba Member
Joined: September 29, 2008 Posts: 1730 Location: Sonoma County
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Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 6:59 am Post subject: |
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KYBs do wear out pretty quick. They start out nice and firm though! I think for a light vehicle KYBs are ok but a heavy vehicle like the Vanagon they won't last... But they are really cheap!
If you want stock-like ride get Bilstein HD, for something adjustable get the Koni. I have a set of hardly used HDs for the front if anyone is interested. _________________ 1986 Vanagon Westfalia EJ25
1988 Subaru GL-10 EJ20G --- 2000 Honda XR650L
2010 Titus El Guapo --- 2011 On-One 456 Ti |
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speedygeorge Samba Member
Joined: November 28, 2009 Posts: 235 Location: Victoria, BC
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Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 7:28 am Post subject: |
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[quote="presslab"]KYBs do wear out pretty quick. They start out nice and firm though! I think for a light vehicle KYBs are ok but a heavy vehicle like the Vanagon they won't last... But they are really cheap!
I had KYBs installed in my van when I first bought it (I did not know any better) 5 years and 30K miles ago. I have been fairly happy with the stiffness of the shocks but the front end seems to ride very harsh, like a bam, bam on small bumps or slight drops in road, do you think the HDs or Koni's would eliminate this to some degree. |
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wasserbox Samba Member
Joined: April 08, 2008 Posts: 533 Location: Durango, CO
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Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 8:04 am Post subject: |
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speedygeorge wrote: |
do you think the HDs or Koni's would eliminate this to some degree. |
yes. |
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boulderdrop Samba Member
Joined: February 06, 2008 Posts: 481 Location: Seattle, WA
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Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 1:10 pm Post subject: |
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... ordered a pair of Koni shocks from VC. They matched the BD price, so more garage cookies! |
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wasserbox Samba Member
Joined: April 08, 2008 Posts: 533 Location: Durango, CO
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Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 2:59 pm Post subject: |
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boulderdrop wrote: |
... ordered a pair of Koni shocks from VC. They matched the BD price, so more garage cookies! |
Nice. I installed my Koni's towards the end of last year. I had been running KYB's for about 10 years... Never knew the van could ride so nicely. |
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speedygeorge Samba Member
Joined: November 28, 2009 Posts: 235 Location: Victoria, BC
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Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 4:23 pm Post subject: |
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wasserbox wrote: |
boulderdrop wrote: |
... ordered a pair of Koni shocks from VC. They matched the BD price, so more garage cookies! |
Nice. I installed my Koni's towards the end of last year. I had been running KYB's for about 10 years... Never knew the van could ride so nicely. |
What were the biggest changes that you noticed. |
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VwMomofthree Samba Member
Joined: November 15, 2006 Posts: 195 Location: Colorado
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Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 5:44 pm Post subject: |
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boulderdrop wrote: |
... ordered a pair of Koni shocks from VC. They matched the BD price, so more garage cookies! |
What was the BD price they matched? |
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boulderdrop Samba Member
Joined: February 06, 2008 Posts: 481 Location: Seattle, WA
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Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 6:04 pm Post subject: |
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just the one on the bd website |
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Mundopacheco Samba Member
Joined: November 14, 2006 Posts: 439 Location: Durango, Colorado
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Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 6:11 pm Post subject: |
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What? So they matched their own price? Brilliant! |
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Mundopacheco Samba Member
Joined: November 14, 2006 Posts: 439 Location: Durango, Colorado
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Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 6:12 pm Post subject: |
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No really, that's great these vendors respond the way they do! |
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VwMomofthree Samba Member
Joined: November 15, 2006 Posts: 195 Location: Colorado
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Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 6:18 pm Post subject: |
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Peter has helped me out at VC on other stuff before I like there customer service!
So did you buy from VC just for the cookies?
I would!!! |
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boulderdrop Samba Member
Joined: February 06, 2008 Posts: 481 Location: Seattle, WA
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Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 6:34 pm Post subject: |
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Ya totally. VC is nice, they send cookies. Personally, I can't stand BD's website. VC's website has been really good for me to see and get descriptions on items. Sorry, I didn't mean for this thread to be a big plug for a vendor. But in the end, they offered the same good, for the same price; I like that.
I'll post back on how the Koni's do. Right now I'm mangling the sh*t out of an axle nut, trying to get it off. Good thing I ordered a new set from VC too. |
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