TheSamba.com :: View topic - Rear Shock Purchase: OEM, Bilstein, KYB, Koni...

Tue Mar 30, 2010 5:44 pm

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. :P 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?

Tue Mar 30, 2010 9:18 pm

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.

Tue Mar 30, 2010 9:23 pm

KYBs are (cheap) crap, IMHO.

They do not seem to last very long, to me.

Tue Mar 30, 2010 10:43 pm

Ask 10 people and you'll get 10 differing opinions regarding shocks.

Tue Mar 30, 2010 10:47 pm

PDXWesty wrote: Ask 10 people and you'll get 10 differing opinions regarding shocks.
Opinions are like xxxxxxxx and everybody has one.

Tue Mar 30, 2010 11:01 pm

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.

Tue Mar 30, 2010 11:04 pm

I wouldn't pay $4.50 for KYB's. They suck. Worst shock I have ever had on any of my vanagons.

Tue Mar 30, 2010 11:11 pm

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! :shock:

Wed Mar 31, 2010 6:59 am

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.

Wed Mar 31, 2010 7:28 am

[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.

Wed Mar 31, 2010 8:04 am

speedygeorge wrote: do you think the HDs or Koni's would eliminate this to some degree.

yes.

Wed Mar 31, 2010 1:10 pm

... ordered a pair of Koni shocks from VC. They matched the BD price, so more garage cookies!

Wed Mar 31, 2010 2:59 pm

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.

Wed Mar 31, 2010 4:23 pm

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.

Wed Mar 31, 2010 5:44 pm

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?

Wed Mar 31, 2010 6:04 pm

just the one on the bd website

Wed Mar 31, 2010 6:11 pm

What? So they matched their own price? Brilliant!

Wed Mar 31, 2010 6:12 pm

No really, that's great these vendors respond the way they do!

Wed Mar 31, 2010 6:18 pm

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!!!

Wed Mar 31, 2010 6:34 pm

Ya totally. VC is nice, they send cookies. :P 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. :P