i put new but real cheap shocks on my car about a year ago. it rides rough. bumps in the road just feel jarring. i have had the uca bushings and ball joints done in the past six months. how big a difference would it make to put in really nice shocks? and could i just put them in in front to save money cuz the back isn't too bad. it has new leaf springs.

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God took you away, then brought you back to me.

I love my KYB Gas-Adjust shocks at all 4 corners. $170~

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67Cuda,FAST EZEFI,340cu,CR=10.25,RollerCam&Rocker (XR268HR,#20-810-9)(#1622-16)(EddyRPM#60779,#7576), (MSD6AL,#6425) A904, GearVendorsOD, 8 1/4,3.55:1, ClassicAir

I gotta second Brennan's choice...

I added a set of Gas A Justs at all four corners after studying the recommendations on this forum a while back. I put on the shocks I changed out in 1977...HUGE difference, day and dark moonless night. No wallow, grabs road yet feel each tire. With springs so relaxed they are recurving!
rock
'64d100

I would think that "cheap" shocks would give a softer ride, unless they've both failed. I guess it's possible, but I'd look elsewhere first.

What wheels/tires are you running? What's your tire pressure?

VM[/i]

KYB's can feel a little harsh at first, but I'm quite happy with mine. Summit sells them for $29.95 each. Not the cheapest solution, but a reasonable one.
The difference I felt in my car was a combination of new shocks, new bushings, heavier "340" torsion bars, 205-60R15 tires vs. the previous worn-out no-name shocks, worn to non-existant bushings, .840 torsion bar, 185-80R13's. At first, I noticed bumps in the road more with the new setup, but that seems to have smoothed out a bit. Finally getting around to installing the rear shocks seemed to help quite a bit!
Cheap shocks can easily go either way on the damping spectrum. The first question is whether they are the right application, or a "one size fits many" replacement.

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"When you find a big kettle of crazy, it's best not to stir it." - Pointy-haired Boss

1964 Valiant V200, 225/Pushbutton 904
BBD, CAI, HEI, LBP, AC, AM/FM/USB, EIEIO

I will also get on board and recommend KYBs as a very high quality, cost-effective shock absorber choice.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

I like my Edelbrock IAS shocks. They are more expensive, but adjust to the conditions of the road to smooth out an otherwise stiff suspensionwithout losing any control or handling ability. The front end of my Dart was brutal until I put these shocks on. Now it's just darned stiff.
Sam

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Dont install them in the front only to save money. DO THE REARS. I had to change my shocks fronts first, rears a week or two later due to not having the parts. Rears made a bigger difference then the fronts. KYB Gas A Just. JUST do it

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64' Valiant Signet 5.9, 64' Dart 170 moredoor 3.7, 67' A100 3.7, 00' Dakota SLT 4.7

i had my mechanic put in the gas adjust shocks, all four, along with new lca and leaf spring bushings so all my rubber on the suspension is a year old or less.

the back end of the car rode like a trampoline, just bouncing up and down anytime i went over anything. i carry tools with me, when i put those in the bouncing was diminished but still noticable.

the biggest problem is steering. especially at highway speed, i have to turn slowly because it feels like the back wheels will spin out if the front ones turn too quick.

it also takes a second for the turn to kick in. i move the wheel, the car keeps moving in the same direction, then it turns, which makes oversteer real easy.

did i add too much spring? when going over 60 it feels like im driving on ice.

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God took you away, then brought you back to me.

You have got serious steering and suspension problems. None of this is as it should be, and none of it is a result of having installed good shock absorbers. I suspect you need a new mechanic -- get one in a hurry, before you hurt or kill yourself or others with your car, which is very dangerous as described.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Jeez, thats not right! Did the new leaf springs you said you put on lift the rear end? High rear+stiff shocks=trouble. Sounds like your steering box may need adjustment as well.

yeah, i think it sounds crazier than it actually is.
the bounce is 90% gone with the weight on the rear, i know it should be solid without weight though
and the steering issues are noticeable at 45 but they really kick in at 60. the dangerous thing is if i needed to steer quickly to avoid something, that concerns me.
but i had heard long ago that a high back end causes steering problems at highway speeds. i have had the leaf springs for over a year and they were great and the steering was solid. i put new shocks on when i installed them but they were the cheapest autozone version. so i thought that extra lift from the gas adjusts might have pushed the back end past a threshold. the leaf springs were built for an extra inch of lift above stock. could that be a part of it? i would think if the steering box is faulty i would have problems at 20 to 30 miles per hour, no?

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God took you away, then brought you back to me.