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craigman
Samba Member
Joined: March 28, 2004
Posts: 2397
Location: redding
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 Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2018 8:54 pm Post subject: What shocks? |
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Looking for ideas on what shocks I should run.
I have a raised b/j front end with adjusters.
My driving will be a cross of street and mild off road.
Any suggestions would be appreciated!
Craig |
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Bock
Samba Member
Joined: September 18, 2004
Posts: 158
Location: Tennessee
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dustymojave
Samba Member
Joined: January 07, 2007
Posts: 5802
Location: Lake LA, Mojave Desert, SoCal
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| Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2018 10:42 am Post subject: Re: What shocks? |
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I agree. Some like Bilsteins at around 2x the price. KYB provides the best shock for the buck.
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Richard
Offroading VW based cars since 1965
Tech Inspection 1963 - 2012 SCCA/SCORE/HDRA/MORE/MDR +
Retired from building Bajas, Fiberglass Buggies and Rails in the Mojave Desert. Also Sprints & Midgets, Dry Lakes, Road Race cars. All types New and Vintage
SoCalBajas Member
Kicked Cancer's A$$...1st and 2nd round...Fight ain't over yet. |
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pullstart
Samba Member
Joined: August 23, 2016
Posts: 599
Location: Middleville, MI
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| Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2018 7:24 am Post subject: Re: What shocks? |
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Most likely as long as it’s not empi, you’ll be further ahead than most!
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4 seater Appletree buggy, road legal with 002 IRS, 3x3 Appletree kit, 6" over Dan's beam with 10" towers and Fox 2.0 shocks, '00 Subaru EJ25 with KEP stage 3 clutch and KEP adapter plate.
my build page: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=662104&start=0 |
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paranoid56
Samba Member
Joined: March 21, 2018
Posts: 6
Location: San Diego
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| Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2018 7:01 pm Post subject: Re: What shocks? |
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fox shocks  |
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SamT
Samba Member
Joined: April 17, 2009
Posts: 1761
Location: Rule, Tx
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| Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2018 8:23 am Post subject: Re: What shocks? |
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I like the cheap auto zone Gabriel oil shocks for the front its a buggy or Manx, a Baja may be heavy enough to need the better shocks.
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http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=546712 |
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dirtkeeper
Samba Member
Joined: February 19, 2008
Posts: 3200
Location: Left of everywhere
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| Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2018 9:31 am Post subject: Re: What shocks? |
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I used kyb gas adjust on all my vws for years and found them very good.
I must say that after changing to bilstein I notice a considerable difference for the better. Much smoother ride at high speeds on washboard roads. And much better control on whoops and bumps. They are not necessary but I think well worth it. The only negative I noticed was that in long slow sweeping turns on pavement I get more ‘lean’. I believe this is because of the progressive nature of the shock. They react quickly to fast movement. But not as reactive to slow steady pressure. |
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Bock
Samba Member
Joined: September 18, 2004
Posts: 158
Location: Tennessee
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| Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2018 9:53 am Post subject: Re: What shocks? |
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| dirtkeeper wrote: |
I used kyb gas adjust on all my vws for years and found them very good.
I must say that after changing to bilstein I notice a considerable difference for the better. Much smoother ride at high speeds on washboard roads. And much better control on whoops and bumps. They are not necessary but I think well worth it. The only negative I noticed was that in long slow sweeping turns on pavement I get more ‘lean’. I believe this is because of the progressive nature of the shock. They react quickly to fast movement. But not as reactive to slow steady pressure. |
This is good Information, what suspension/travel do you have? |
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craigman
Samba Member
Joined: March 28, 2004
Posts: 2397
Location: redding
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| Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2018 10:19 am Post subject: Re: What shocks? |
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| dirtkeeper wrote: |
I used kyb gas adjust on all my vws for years and found them very good.
I must say that after changing to bilstein I notice a considerable difference for the better. Much smoother ride at high speeds on washboard roads. And much better control on whoops and bumps. They are not necessary but I think well worth it. The only negative I noticed was that in long slow sweeping turns on pavement I get more ‘lean’. I believe this is because of the progressive nature of the shock. They react quickly to fast movement. But not as reactive to slow steady pressure. |
Were the Bilsteins a true bolt on item? If so, do you happen to have the part number?
And thanks everyone for the replies! |
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mr_bill
Samba Member
Joined: February 19, 2006
Posts: 1008
Location: City of Orange, CA
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| Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2018 3:28 pm Post subject: Re: What shocks? |
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F O X !! 
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"Mr Bill"
Dos Perros Motorsports
Orange, CA
1972 Class 11x/Stock Bug
'60's era "vintage" Tunnell-Buggy
"...no one here....get's out ALIVE...."
Motor = electric
Engine = internal combustion
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craigman
Samba Member
Joined: March 28, 2004
Posts: 2397
Location: redding
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| Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2018 9:43 pm Post subject: Re: What shocks? |
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| mr_bill wrote: |
| F O X !! |
Which Fox shocks would you recommend? |
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dirtkeeper
Samba Member
Joined: February 19, 2008
Posts: 3200
Location: Left of everywhere
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| Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2018 10:05 am Post subject: Re: What shocks? |
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I use
Bilstein 6100 Series Shocks: VW Off Road / Class 9 / Class 11 - Ball Joint Front (cut and turned) - 265/70 on the front with a thing spindles and adjusters , i think the adjusters are set for mostly upward from stock adjustment. And i have had them set at just a little above stock height. I think i have about 6" of travel in the front but i have set stops so the shocks dont bottom out in either direction.
My rears are Bilstein 5165 resevoir. I selected these to fit my partioiuclar set up, with 3/4 " notch, empi race type 2 cv's, and the bottom 1.5 " cut off the shock mounts. I forget travel but i think it was about 6.5".
you should measure your actual travel and fit on both sides. turns out the rear 5165 had correct movement on one side, that i had measured out, with a little bit extra shock travel, about 1/2 ", beyond my hard suspension stops. So all is good....
.Except because of variations from one side to the other it turns out the other side did not have the same exact geometry and one shock was bottoming out before my hard stops, Not good. I changed that side trailing arm for another reason and mounted my shock in an uncut bottom shock mount and the travel is free now. Anyway the point is that the available travel in most of the shocks i found made it very critical that
they be measured and installed with care. because of the limited space of the stock rear mounts , finding shocks that fit and had the proper travel in the right spot was a bit of a puzzle .... and i missed it by about 3/8" on one side good luck |
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