seu318

Well - my personal experience is this. I bought the KYB's for my '91 because it looked like the originals were on there when I purchased the car, and I thought it would be a sensible preventative maintenance project. Bilsteins were just too pricey for me at the time (May 2015). Fortunately - I have a very short commute to work, and according to my maintenance Excell sheet, I've put just about 6K miles on them thru today. I'm planning to remove them and just lay out for the Bilsteins in the next couple months. I just find the ride too stiff and somewhat unpleasant. Kind of surprised me as I previously used KYB's on all my Mustang GT's & the Cobra that I had, and always thought they were a decent shock. For some reason - not so on my C4. Honestly I thought the ride was better with the original shocks on it. Likely I will put the KYB's up for sale here when I complete my swap. I'm not bashing KYB's - just relating my own experience. Your experience may differ.

aklim

For a $30 shock? On a common truck or car, someone will be stupid enough to buy it for $10 but I think you will have a hard time selling it. Hard enough that it won't be worth your time. YMMV.

Cjunkie

ANYTHING you replace a 25-33 yr old shock with 100k plus miles is going to be better than what's on the car currently.

hcbph

People will change parts whether springs, shocks etc to make their vehicle handle as they want. Some want one type of ride while others want something else. It's their choice.

There are a number of rebates on multiple brands of shock at this time so it can make some even more affordable.

Choose the ones that match your wants and go for it.

aklim

I think he is looking for whatever fits at the lowest price

Cjunkie

Still say whatever he puts on is better than what's on the car now.

aklim

For a while, yes. Why do you think the Chinese crap sells so well? Same rationale. Payday loans that people get into trouble with? See above.

Need A Vette

My '89 has the bilsteins on it now, And I know fully well it's a sports car, but there is evidence of leaking on 2 of the 4, and I've had great luck with the KYBs in the past on other vehicles, including my daily driver, which isn't a vette, but a Nissan Frontier.

I dont mind spending money on my car, but I do have a hard time forking over $400 for shocks!

D.

aklim

If you have the invoice, send it to Bilstein. I did. I have $200 apiece FX3 shocks and they threw them away and sent me 2 new ones when one of the front was leaking after 10 years. Another Bilstein failed in 6 months but oil from the crankcase was blowing on it. My fault. They replaced it too.

GRIS

+1 You get what you pay for

aklim

You may get what you pay for at best and maybe less but NEVER more

Cjunkie

Chinese stuff sells well because its cheap.
I cant find a connection between shocks and payday loans tho?

Need A Vette

What has this have to do with anything???

aklim

Instant gratification. Save up for the better quality stuff next month vs getting a loan for that big screen TV with a loan and terrible interest rates. Buy cheap junk today and re-do tomorrow.

aklim

It's low pay TODAY but pay more tomorrow.

ToniJ1960

This is so true, and my 84 had Monroe sense tracs when I got it. I bought the kyb shocs because I thought the same way they have to be better than what it had, old wore out monroes.

Now I feel when I drive its an improvement but its kind of obvious its not right the car probably doesn't handle like a Corvette should. When I get rears I will get bilsteins and then redo the fronts. Its fine for the way I drive right now but I would expect trying to drive it like a Corvette would expose their weakness. Just from the `feel` I get when driving now. I don't feel bad that I bought them, Im not ready to drive it crazy.

aklim

If you are going to walk on eggshells or tone it down, why bother?

ToniJ1960

because Im moving and just wanted to get this done for now, if it was just my toy or a race car I would have done it differently but need to get moved to the new house asap. I was hoping it would reduce the cowl shake it might have helped some. Driving back and forth between two states the shaking gets on my nerves. It has to be a workhorse right now later is a different story.

I know you wouldn't use your Corvette to move with but no choice have to do what I have to do

81 Sport Coupe

I have KYB's from RA as well on my 85, I think there stiff however I think for the money you can't go wrong, I like them over the Monroe shocks that were on it. However I never had bilsteins so I can't compare then to the KYB's but I know the Bilsteins have a great review. I wonder if Koni makes a shock for our vettes, friend had them on his Camaro and they were really great shocks, I think they would make all the above shocks mentioned look bad, but konis are really expensive from what I hear.

aklim

I had a Camaro that I drove between 2 states. We moved bit by bit and maximized space by not carrying the wife. Before I changed the seats, I did haul some lumber and other building stuff out the rear hatch so don't be so sure I wouldn't use the C4 to move. I drive the 3rd Gen F-body with 400HP in the snow and my right fibula broken and ligaments torn and learning left foot braking on the same day.