OK, I'm looking to upgrade the suspension on my 97 f-body and I think I may have come to a decision. I think I will buy the eibach prokit and KYB shocks. Now heres where I hit a snag. I can buy the KYB AGX adjustable gas shocks or the KYB gas-a-just shocks. the AGK is much more expensive than the gas-a-just but is almost the same shock. The only difference between the two is that the AGX is manually adjustable and the gas-a-just is auto-adapting depending on road condition.

Now, Auto-x is something I'd like tog et into eventually and I was wondering what you guys think about these shocks. I will be doing some research ont hem but I thought I might as well post a question up here to see if anyone had used them yet.

 

Whoa there big guy...... First, the Gas-A-Just and the AGX are NOT near the same shock. Not even the same design (mono-tube vs. twin-tube). If you are dead set on one of those two, pick the AGX. The Gas-A-Just is close to as bad as a stock DeCarbon. AGX's look cool, and do get you adjustment for little money. But, you don't get IMHO, good adjustment. The lower settings lack damping, the upper settings just get so stiff they crash pretty hard into road imperfections.

I use a lot of KYB's GR-2 here in my shop as stock replacements on normal folk's car. I tried using the AGX in performance applications when they first came out, and just never liked them. If you want the best quality, and ride or ride/handling compromise you want to stick with some version of Bilstein HD's, Revalved Bilstein's, or Koni's. IMHO.

 

Well coming from someone that owned some AGX shocks. They aren't very good. Especially for autocross. I used to run them at full stiff on the street just so I wouldn't bottom out in dips in the road. Personally spend a little extra on shocks, and buy some Bilstiens or Koni. I bought Koni SA for my WS6, and I probably will never buy another brand shock. I know they are a bit more expensive, but they are awesome.

 

OK Sam, thanks for setting me straight on that one

Anyways. I jumped onto your page and I saw you had a special for both the Bilstein/koni setup or the Bilstein only setup. The bilsteins are considerably cheeper so I'm leaning towards those since I still need to get springs and get them isntalled. But my question is which of the Bilstein shocks do you sell, that way I can compare prices a bit. And finally whats the rid difference between the bilstein/koni setup and the bilstein setup?

thank you.

 

HD's or we Revalve them for more sporting use or use with heavier rate springs. commonly known as "Strano Revalves"

A Koni/Bilstien setup is a performance setup similar to Revalves, but with the ability to adjust the front damping on your own, and if you want the Koni's can also lower the car slightly without the use of stiffer and lower springs (alternate perch height).

 

OK, thanks for the info sam. I found out that Autozone carries Bilsteins for $99.99 but they only carry the front shocks. At this point I am really swinging between the Bilsteins and the AGX because the price on both are good and they are both supposed to be pretty decent shocks for the money they each cost.

I lean towards the Bilsteins because I know most, if not all, the euro tuners use them because they have been a while and are well known springs.

I lean towards the AGX because they are cheaper and have, what seems to be, a decent reputation. And I have heard a lot of people complainging that these shocks wont last more than a year. But that was due to the fact that they lowered their cars further than is safe with the AGX (1.8"+ I believe is what's unsafe for the shocks).

Finally, I was going to buy Eibach pro-kit springs but I ahve heard some good stuff about MAC. Is this all unsubstatiated rumor or are MAC shocks really that good? LS1 Speed seems to think they are at least.

 

....I've got the KYB gas adjusts on my '94 Firebird and it rides like a TRUCK! Although it seems to corner well I'll probably change 'em when money isn't so tight.... Also Eibach springs {1 3/4" lower} and 9.5 x 17 Vette rims, 275x40x17 Khumo's.... Bill...

 

Phrozen,

step back a second and take a look at what you are doing.

You ask for advice on a public forum. when you get advice from a person with experience, knowledge, and a business....

you accept the experience and knowledge, then shop around to save a few pennies.

Even if Sam's price is $40 more than what you get with all your shopping around, what is the wisdom that saves you the cost of doing the job twice worth?

The PO of my car put in all top notch parts. too bad the sum of the parts is less than the whole. Too bad he didnt have the knowledge and advice you are getting here for free.

I'll sell you my Doug Rippie revalved bilsteins for half what they sell for, then confirm the rate of the springs in my car buy what sam recommends from him. then i will have close to a balanced suspension