STRIKER911

iTrader: (1)

bought the set off ebay for my 89 rs. the old shocks where so bad that they didnt even work. Got the rears on today. Seem very good for the price.

navyCM

iTrader: (3)

i have them. not the best but give a nice ride.

HawkZ28

iTrader: (2)

^X2 for stock springs/ride height.

Not very good in a lowered car, IMHO.

STRIKER911

iTrader: (1)

Ya your right on that one. The price was right. Honest, anything would have been better then what I had. The old shocks where harder to pull then push, so they where just along for the ride. At any rate I love the new shocks.

Thanks for the info. I dont think I will ever lower the car. My old rs with the v6 rubbed over speed bumps so bad that the exhaust broke, & it was stock ride height. I'm just stoked that I got to spend some money on the car for once. Its been sitting since i got it 3 years ago.

HawkZ28

iTrader: (2)

I have 2.25-2.5" Intrax drop springs, and 8k miles and 10 years later now that they've settled it's closer to 3.25-3.5". My floor jacks won't even fit under the car- seriously- but she corners like she's on a rail! Running those shocks, highway isn't too bad, but around town you feel every speck of sand. My buddy had the same shocks w/ an Eibach kit (1.5 I think it was), and it rode VERY nice. Never tried either set of springs out w/ stock wore out shocks, though.

Next go around I'm seriously thinking the AGX, Tockico, or Konis.

STRIKER911

iTrader: (1)

Sounds like its a fun car to drive. Looks good too from the small picture. My car is all junked out right now. Its been painted red in the last few years, but the clear is pealing.

HawkZ28

iTrader: (2)

Junked out is a subjective term! Just keep sight of your vision- the POTENTIAL! This car has definately taught me P A T I E N C E....both in budget, and time! And we all know, they are never "done" . Long as the wife understands, it's a good day!

STRIKER911

iTrader: (1)

ya lol she does understand. I was worried cause our first baby is on the way. I was like k well I cant sell the Camaro. She wont sell her Mustang so she knows. I also have come to terms that my car is going to be a life long project. Just cant wait to get into the motor. Its only got 4k on it so I left it alone for now.

HawkZ28

iTrader: (2)

CONGRATS!!! We're in the same boat! I sold my 83 due to us moving in together last year and needing storage space, but fortunately I'm far enough along on the car that I have little 'piddly' projects to keep me busy without blowng the 'baby budget' money, dog proof the backyard money, and whatever other home improvement/baby fund is going LOL! I have her sold on a 1st or a early 2nd gen Camaro, just not the purchase price! When are you guys due? May 25th here!

jb3829

iTrader: (1)

I have kyb gr2's up front and gas-a-just in the rear(it came with them) and I think they're decent. I have them on 3 of my vehicles(97 pathy, 2000quest, 91 RS). I will upgrade to the koni's when I get the money since they're recommended by alot of members.

STRIKER911

iTrader: (1)

I have yet to get the fronts on. Has still been too cold here, & the garage is packed. I have a lot to do to this car. New parts all over the house. Yet no time to put anything on the car. Took me three weeks to get the lower weather striping on. Been driving it with none. I still have to wait to finish the parts list now since my polk momo 6x9's came with one that was broken. Just got that set today.

So I have a question that may be a dumb one. My friend has an 86 with new shocks and struts on it. yet when he goes over bumps it still hits way to hard. He needs springs too right?

HawkZ28

iTrader: (2)

If they're high mileage and sagged out, it could be riding on the bump stops.

STRIKER911

iTrader: (1)

I bet that's what it is. What else could it be right. Even if he got some bad struts it shouldn't hit hard.

customblackbird

iTrader: (15)

had GR2s on the front and gas-a just in the rear with sportlines.... was a huge diff over the stock stuff. road like it was on rails.
had them on a year and it was a daily driver... struts and shocks are fine and im keeping them on with my cut moog 5664 and 5665s.

STRIKER911

iTrader: (1)

That's what I wanted to hear. Cant wait to get the front ones on. I am in the process of starting my own business, so working on the car is hard right now. I did buy another 89 rs today for dirt cheep. I will be parting that for the next couple of days, unless I get a bite on the couple of jobs im bidding tomorrow. I assume an alignment has to be done right? Any one know any tricks to get this right without having to take it to a shop?

customblackbird

iTrader: (15)

still i dont think i will keep them on for long(bought originally due to budget constraints). thats on my list to upgrade whenever i get the chance or find a good deal. prob go with KYB AGXs. im not saying the GR2s are the best and they arent designed for lowered cars... really if u want the struts to last u go with tokio/AGX/blisten/koni. i doubt i'll get another yr outa the Gr2s with these moster hacked 5664s lol.

try to keep the tie rods etc from moving or shortening them to get them out etc... keep them the way they are... i did this when i upgraded my stock stuff to moog replacement and edelbrock performance tie rod adjusters... alignment shop said i was basically within spec... that was after a sportline swap from the original WS6 springs.

u can put them on now... but expect to change them out relatively soon... say 1-1.5yrs depending on the drop. GR2s are designed for stock ride height. i just picked up GR2 struts and shocks from summit for my 86.

STRIKER911

iTrader: (1)

1.5 years? Why are they so bad. My car is at stock ride height. The factory ones have been on the car for 20 years.

customblackbird

iTrader: (15)

oh sry... though u were lowering it. they should last a good bit on a stock ride height. if they do go i think they have a lifetime warrenty

yea i have my stock factory ones on my 86 they have been on for 23yrs and they are squirting fluid all over my spindle lol... i just orderd a set of 4 Gr2s for that

STRIKER911

iTrader: (1)

Lmao. poor spindles. Got me lol on that one. Mine too.

BlueIroc-Z

iTrader: (6)

Mine's got the same setup. I bought it that way too, lol. And, I can definitely say it rides way better than my dad's '85 with stock susp.

1ADan

iTrader: (4)

I had bought these along with the Eibachs for my 89 but never got around to installing them. However, I am very satisfied for the money when I did the same setup on my Grand Prix. I know there's better out there, but for the price they are hard to beat.

KITT1983

iTrader: (3)

I have both KYB GR2 struts (Front) & shocks (Rear)

KITT rides great and better than stock. You can't beat the price

STRIKER911

iTrader: (1)

K guys. I got only one strut o the front of the car today, before the wife came outside wanting me to go get dinner. Cant find anything to cook, with a house full of food lol. Dam microwaves.

Anyways, the install went pretty good, but the side I changed out looks to have too much camber now. Does anyone know if the front struts are, right, or left specific? First time changing struts. I looked at the box, & it did not say left or right any place. Only thing was that the KYB sticker was on the inside, Where it can not be seen. Does it matter?

HawkZ28

iTrader: (2)

No, it shouldn't matter.

Maybe you just have some things binding from when the car was in the air, and a quick roll down the driveway and back will settle it out.

STRIKER911

iTrader: (1)

You where right. I drove it today to get my tint fixed, & at first the steering wheel was off, but its fine now. Going to pull it in the garage for the other strut. Need my air tools. The two bigger bolts sucked to turn with hand tools. Not feeling to young today lol.

HawkZ28

iTrader: (2)

Glad to hear! Just use some WD40 and a cheater bar....I often use one of my jack handles- one of them the handle comes off, and works great as a cheater bar, pry bar, BFH, etc.

You are only as old as you thnk you are

STRIKER911

iTrader: (1)

Lol. I used my impact. Its done now, but needs an alignment. Tried to get it close, it didn't work. Oh well. The shop I go to is real close, & is only $35.

Ill be putting four more struts on our Honda tomorrow. Ya I know, Its Honda day tomorrow. Its the car my wife drives, so I cant slack on it. Never cared about it, till her daily driver blew up. Now she has mine . If I ever get to it, I will rebuild her motor. Has to be a rod bearing. Its a long shot, but I think ill try rolling in new bearings first.

KITT1983

iTrader: (3)

Is your 89 Camaro RS going to be a daily driver?

HawkZ28

iTrader: (2)

HOLY SHNZZLE! $35 for an alignment!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That is cheap compared to here.....in fact, that's less than 1/2 of what I've ever paid!

STRIKER911

iTrader: (1)

It will be during the summer months, now that the interior is coming together. Its been 3 years since I started working on it. I didn't go too crazy, but I have been in a financial slump for a while.

So since I got the car I have driven it about 1,200 miles. The motor, and trans was rebuilt right before I got it. I guess a big reason I didn't put it together faster was the gas prices, & the need for speed, that the stock 305 just does not quench vs the gas spent. My 74 dodge van gets better MPG. Sad I know (slant 6).

KITT1983

iTrader: (3)

this recession has hit me hard as well

STRIKER911

iTrader: (1)

LOL ya it's cheap for here too. It's a place called "Mr Tires".
They are real a holes when it comes to tires though. Bought one tire and they want $10 for every balance, their after. I just took their tire to walmart, and paid $7.50 for the life of the tire.

So no more tires from "Mr Tire". I go to the junk yard for most of my tires. I change them myself, but have no way to balance, but it sucks cause walmart is kinda far away. Put two, like new tires on the back of the Camaro for $35 total.

musclecar70sfan

iTrader: (1)

sorry about reviving an old thread but I'm looking to get the KYB GR2s for my 91 Trans Am WS6 'vert since my shocks and struts and shot as well. You guys seem to give them strong reviews so I guess I might get them. My car is gonna almost be a DD in the warm months (except for maybe stormy days and such). But its no race car lol

customblackbird

iTrader: (15)

as long as its a stock ride height, and your looking for a stock riding car (well a new stock riding car) they are fine. pretty good id say for the price... i had them on my dads 86TA and it was fine. cant touch my formula 383 tho

i dnt bother with sensatracs etc

Thirdgen6.6l

What is good price on spring that go with these shock and struts .

KITT1983

iTrader: (3)

I have KYB GR2's on my 1983 T/A D500 on the front and rear. my KARR rides much better. I drive my KARR through potholes and you basic bad Boston streets.

a great ride

musclecar70sfan

iTrader: (1)

Sweet, thanks! Yeah for now I'm just looking for a stock handling car. It handles OK with the crap that's on it now but it feels a little floaty on less than perfect roads and the shocks and struts have rust flaking off of them. I think my struts are original and my rear shocks might be gabriels, considering that they're bright red (wherever they're not rusty lol).

customblackbird

iTrader: (15)

i wouldnt throw anything at GR2 shocks/struts but stock springs. any high rate or lowered spring will destroy them quickly. i had GR2s on with sportlines for less than a yr and they were pretty worn.

springs depending on your car, if its WS6 then u would go with moog stock replacement front spings, aka 5662s (decent handling spring). if your want alittle higher rate you could go with moog 5664s. 5662=700lb/in, 5664=750lb/in. if you want alittle softer ride you could go with the 5660=650lbin.

rear springs are moog 5665s, and they are the only ones available for all years, they had a cargo coil available it was alittle higher rate and it was progressive, it was used in cars that carried heavier loads in the rear. the moog 5665s are fine, 5665=107lbin.

throwing the front moog 5662s, and the 5665s rear with the GR2 struts/shocks will make your car much better, it will ride alittle better than when it was new. however your stock springs are saggin prob alittle more than an inch! so replacing the springs with new moogs will actually raise the car back to its original height AKA 4x4. they will settle tho after some driving. or your could cut some coils for a dropped car. this negates the use of GR2s tho.

as far as prices go, i got moog 5664s from amazon for 50$ with free shipping, they were brand new in moog box. someone bought me the rear 5665s from summit and they were like 67$ plus handling so like 80$. it all depends on where u shop, u can get some good deals.

for watever its worth im running the moog 5664s with 1 full coil cut, 1.5" drop and a 900ish spring rate. KYB AGX adjustable struts, J&M caster camber plates, UMI tie rod adjusters, all new moog tie rods, reinforced Aarms with poly bushings, TDS wonder bar, custom 3pt STB. rear is moog 5665s with 1 full coil cut, rubber spacer deleted, KYB gas-a-just shocks, UMI offset dual rod end LCAs, custom LCARBS, custom adjustable shorty TQ arm, UMI double rod end PHB. also have 2 diff sets of custom SFC and an 8pt roll bar. I can woop many cars, including mercedes AMGs, BMWs, vettes, and every import ive come up against. your biggest and most important suspension choice will be struts/shocks, tires and springs. so if you plan on doing anything besides DD then u mite as well go for it now. Btw i hated driving a WS6 86TA with GR2 struts/shocks when i couldnt drive my car in the winter. just saying u might as well get alittle more performance while ur buying stuff.

Zepher

iTrader: (1)

I have the GR2 Struts and Gas-a-just shocks with Sportlines and I guess I got lucky since my setup still works after 6 years and 80K miles. I did look up the cost of the GR2 Struts and was surprised that they are now $67ea at Advance or Autozone. I think I paid $25 ea when I bought them 6 years ago.

I daily drive my car and auto-x it.

HawkZ28

iTrader: (2)

I have to 2nd KYB on stock only springs....I have them on mine right now, and they could be a LOT better. They could be as bad as the Sensatracs that were on before I lowered it, but they aren't THAT bad, but there's a LOT of room for improvement.

I'm running Intrax springs, PST polygraphite bushings, Edelbrock STB, OEM wonderbar, Moog and TRW steering components, PST swaybars, and Lakewood adjustable panhard bar.

My 2005 4x4 Z85 Colorado w/ a towing package suspension and 90k on the OEM springs, shocks, and torsion bars rides smoother.

Thirdgen6.6l

that is nice info, what do you recomment combo for 87 z28

Lucid

iTrader: (4)

I have GR-2s in the front and the Gas-Ajust monotubes in the rear since 2002 and they work really well. I also upgraded to IROC springs at the same time because my stock Z28 springs were mushy. The car is still really stiff after all these years and I do not baby the car on corners at all.

I found a car in the junkyard with KYB's all around and pulled them and installed them on my IROC (still had worn out factory Bilsteins on it) and think that people really underrate the quality of these shocks.

If you go to any of the parts stores and compare prices with Monroes or Gabriels, you will see they are competitively priced but offer much better dampening. I would never buy any other brand in this price range, KYB struts and shocks are just superior in that regards.

customblackbird

iTrader: (15)

honestly depends on what u want to do with the car. and how ruff a ride u can stand

customblackbird

iTrader: (15)

i didnt mind the GR2s on my sportlines since it felt really good, but of course this was switching from a stock suspension all original with over 100,000 on it. but compared to what i have now it was childsplay. i still have the GR2s and they still work but they dnt rebound much at all and they compress with little force lol. im still running the gas-a-justs in the rear that i had with my sportlines and that was over 2 yrs ago.

25$ each for front GR2 struts! wow. i paid like 50$ each off summit. still prices have shot up in the last 2 yrs. my headman headers have gone up 30$ or so in 3yrs.

Rayzor32

iTrader: (1)

I have the Gt2 struts and the gas-a-just shocks in the '89, no complaints.

Zepher

iTrader: (1)

I installed a set of GR2 shocks and struts on friends 86 7 or 8 years ago and the entire set was under $100 locally.

Tobias05

yeah i spent about 100 on gr2's and 100 on moog iroc springs 3 yrs ago or so.

...its a good budget setup. but i like the bilsteins on my z28 much better.

Zepher

iTrader: (1)

I want Bilsteins, but Bilsteins are over $560 for just the struts!!!

Thirdgen6.6l

I bought a bilsten 4 gen kit for 5-600 I think, include shock/strut/and spring. Back when I was own a 4 gen z28.

Tobias05

i saw they're alot more expensive for 3rd gens. might as well go with some DA konis for that price...