Shocks

vdubrookie · Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2021 6:17 pm Post subject: Shocks

Quick question ;Are Koni 80 1350 Special D shocks worth the $15.00 difference in price versus Bilsein B6 rear shocks. Not a racer but just trying to get the best bang for my buck on shocks for sand rail.

Vanapplebomb · Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2021 8:05 pm Post subject: Re: Shocks

I would say no.

My honest opinion… unless you are really hammering it or racing, just about any gas over oil shock is fine. I haven’t noticed any real advantage to more expensive units for trail driving short of coil-overs. I have always used Gabriel shocks. Inexpensive and good warranty. If you blow one, bring it back and get a new one.

By the way, did you go to the US131 Bug Run today?
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vdubrookie · Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2021 2:37 am Post subject: Re: Shocks

No. I really wanted to go but Wife got home from hospital Friday evening from double back surgeries so life got in the way of that,lol.

earthquake · Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2021 5:19 pm Post subject: Re: Shocks

Those are more of a performance street/Auto-X shock then a off road shock, they would probably over heat pretty quick.

eQ
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Multi69s · Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2021 11:22 pm Post subject: Re: Shocks

Type 1 based rail? What torsion bars are you running.
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dustymojave · Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2021 1:07 pm Post subject: Re: Shocks

I put about 300K miles on my '58 Baja with Sears Heavy Duty Lifetime Warranty shocks. They were made by Gabriel. Folks at Sears only had to replace 2 of them. 1 was for a rock ding on the lower part of the body, and the other was for a bent shaft. Mind you...the car got used quite hard for all that time. 90 miles a day back and forth across LA as a daily driver, + many thousands of miles of offroad adventures, including Jeep trails in the Sierras up to nearly 10K' altitude, skipping from the top of one desert whoop to the top of the next in places like Dove Springs/Redrock Canyon/Jawbone Canyon, and pre-running offroad race courses.

Then the car got KYB Gas-A-Just shocks for the rest of its Swing Axle life and much more of the same use. Then when it was changed to IRS, it got longer travel KYBs. My wife has NEVER complained about the ride in it in any of those configurations.

Koni builds shocks for use on paved roads, and they're quite good for that. But they're not durable for offroad use, nor valved for it.
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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
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vdubrookie · Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2021 5:54 pm Post subject: Re: Shocks

OK, thanks for the heads up. What about KYB vs Bilsein? I understand that but she has had Mon & Wed her 6th & 7th back surgeries so you can see why I am wanting to give her the best ride possible. It is either that or sell the buggy & sit in our rocking chairs the rest of our lives & I for one aren't ready to do that. She loves to ride.

dustymojave · Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2021 11:22 pm Post subject: Re: Shocks

Way back when, I tried Bilstein shocks on my Hi Jumper you see to the left in my avatar. At that time, what Bilstein offered was very harsh compared to the KYBs. But they have come a LONG way in what they offer now.

Honestly, probably the single MOST important factor in making the ride comfy for your wife with back troubles, is to go for as much wheel travel as you can afford to put on the car. Also a longer wheelbase offers a smoother ride and so do larger diameter tires. But tires that are too large get to be heavy and hard, so they give again, a rough ride. More sidewall is better, so no low profile tires.

The MOST IMPORTANT ITEM!!! Make VERY CERTAIN that her shoulder belt(s) do not anchor low down. They MUST be mounted so the shoulder belt does NOT pull down at ALL!!!! ONLY the lap belt should pull down on the hips, and not into the belly. With competition style belts, the lap belt must ALWAYS be snugged before the shoulder belts.
_________________
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.

dirtkeeper · Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2021 7:10 pm Post subject: Re: Shocks

vdubrookie · Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2021 11:09 am Post subject: Re: Shocks

Thanks, dirtkeeper & thanks Dusty

vdubrookie · Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2021 2:54 pm Post subject: Re: Shocks

Multi69s, I believe they are stock, 21 3/4". Yes, Type 1 rail

carlos_magnum · Samba Member Joined: April 21, 2009 Posts: 591

I want a firmer ride so I ended up getting the bilstein shocks. Worth the cost.


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