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Thu May 27, 2004 6:29 pm

Should I get gas or oil shocks and struts for my beetle? Whats the difference? Is one more fun to drive with? I know gas shocks make the ride a little more rough but are they more fun?

Thu May 27, 2004 8:30 pm

you dont have a choice on struts. i believe they are all gas. the rears would ride a little smoother with oil shocks and the gas will provide better response (even though it is the rear)

Sun May 30, 2004 11:47 pm

There are both gas and oil shocks and gas and oil struts available for the Super Beetles, it depends upon the kind of driving and roads you come across as to which you would need. Give some more info and we'll put you on the right track. The gas shocks will be a little stiffer for road hugging and the oils are a little softer for comfort. I am currently running oil filled struts in front and gas charged shocks in the rear, with 7/8"sway bar up front and 3/4" in back, traction bar, wider tires and some other performance mods and the car handles like a go-kart, easily doubles on/off ramp speeds (sticks to corners better than rice!) I have led many cars to near doom trying to follow me thru high speed corners, I only hear the screeching of tires as the following car slows to avoid collision with barrier rails. :oops: Supers are great cars!

Mon May 31, 2004 12:06 pm

everything suspension so far is stock and I am not looking at different sway bars or anything. Mostly she is a daily driver but I like how standards feel kinda like go-karts. So any advice on how to do this?

Mon May 31, 2004 12:35 pm

Will these shocks work on the rear of my early 73 super?
http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=KYB%2D343144

Mon May 31, 2004 12:40 pm

I don't think you can get a Super to drive like a standard, the front suspension setup is better and the weight balance on the Super is different too so the handling will be different. You need to make sure all the bushings, tie rods, steering box , strut cartridges, shocks and idler arm bushing are in good shape. A lower profile tire will help. Lowering the car a little will help. There is not just one thing that will greatly improve the handling, it is a combination of things. If the front end is tight then IMO the single best performance mod for cornering is wider lower profile tires. All the other mods help to reduce the body roll and keep those tires planted on the road.

Brett

Mon May 31, 2004 12:59 pm

I was thinking about getting new sway bars as well when I get the money but will gas shocks make any difference if I dont do anything else, or should I just get oil shocks?

-My rear shocks need replaced either way. Mine are starting to clunk.

Mon May 31, 2004 3:56 pm

They make GR2 shocks for the rear of a Super and they also make them for the front. The one in your post is for a standard beetle and will not fit the front of a Super. I did a search of the CIP site and they do not have them. Do a search for 'kyb gr2 strut cartridge for vw' on Google.com and you will find many places to buy the gr2's that you need. This was one of the first ones that came up when I did it.

http://www.importrp.com/index.php?opt=year&id=273&type=273&model=Volkswagen&type1=Super+Beetle

Brett

Mon May 31, 2004 4:04 pm

Yes I know they will not work for the front. I was asking about the back.

Mon May 31, 2004 4:04 pm

Im doing gas shocks and stock struts

Mon May 31, 2004 6:23 pm

Gas Shocks (like KYB) are Ones that use a gas pressure to keep the oil from aireating (air Bubles in the oil) The air bubbles in the oil only happen when the shock is worked super hard like very rough off road racing. The gas bag sits on top of the oil.
Not to be confused with air shocks or air bags.
Parts Book w/Break-Down Schematics and VW part numbers ** Check out the new Index at -> http://www.1800vw.bizhosting.com/page_index.htm --*

Tue Jun 01, 2004 11:14 am

I have the same on mine, gas in back and oil in front.

Brett

Tue Jun 01, 2004 11:35 am

so are stock struts gas?

Tue Jun 01, 2004 11:56 am

Nope, they are oil.

Brett

Sun Mar 18, 2018 12:36 pm

Hello for the guys that are running gas on rear and oil on front of there Supers..

How much do the gas shocks on the rear raise the car if any?

Thanks for your time and info, nice thread.. RB

Sun Mar 18, 2018 11:26 pm

RailBoy wrote: Hello for the guys that are running gas on rear and oil on front of there Supers..
How much do the gas shocks on the rear raise the car if any?
Bilstein R raised the rear about 0.8 inches on my Bug.

Mon Mar 19, 2018 1:44 am

Anyone lately running a mix of Oil(F) and Gas(R)? Wonder how the car performs, chatter bumps and all? RB

Mon Mar 19, 2018 5:12 am

KYB Excel or GR2 have not changed the ride height BUT KYB Air Adjust WILL raise the front of a standard beetle and ride like shit. I run air adjust and GR2/excels on the rear several of our own cars and both work well. I run GR2/Excels on the fronts except for one car that has oils.

I am pulling gas shocks (from Airkelwd) off the front of a ground up customer 63 bug later this week. I can bounce on the front and it doesnt move.

Pretty sure the struts that I have got from Topline for Supers have been oil and they ride well.

Mon Mar 19, 2018 3:13 pm

vicsvw wrote: Gas Shocks (like KYB) are Ones that use a gas pressure to keep the oil from aireating (air Bubles in the oil) The air bubbles in the oil only happen when the shock is worked super hard like very rough off road racing. The gas bag sits on top of the oil.
Not to be confused with air shocks or air bags.
Parts Book w/Break-Down Schematics and VW part numbers ** Check out the new Index at -> http://www.1800vw.bizhosting.com/page_index.htm --*

Obviously, nobody wants to know the difference between gas and oil shocks. They want to believe that a gas shock has just gas in it and an oil shock just has oil in it. I gave up trying to explain it years ago.

Mon Mar 19, 2018 3:27 pm

runamoc wrote: vicsvw wrote: Gas Shocks (like KYB) are Ones that use a gas pressure to keep the oil from aireating (air Bubles in the oil) The air bubbles in the oil only happen when the shock is worked super hard like very rough off road racing. The gas bag sits on top of the oil.
Not to be confused with air shocks or air bags.
Parts Book w/Break-Down Schematics and VW part numbers ** Check out the new Index at -> http://www.1800vw.bizhosting.com/page_index.htm --*

Obviously, nobody wants to know the difference between gas and oil shocks. They want to believe that a gas shock has just gas in it and an oil shock just has oil in it. I gave up trying to explain it years ago.

And all "gas" shocks are not the same....Which is why the KYB Gas adjust and Excels behave very differently.....