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| KYB Front Shock Install - Bushings https://slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7471 |
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| Author: | killin5 [ Sat Nov 08, 2003 6:02 pm ] |
| Post subject: | KYB Front Shock Install - Bushings |
I am in the process of installing a set of KYB front shocks in my 63 Valiant. I have removed one. I am curious about the top bushing. The one on my car appears to be a one piece (top and bottom) and has a metal sleeve in it. The ones that came with the KYB shocks are two piece. One for the top of the fender and one for the underside in the wheel well. These are sandwiched between two large washers like the original ones. Should I leave the old bushing with the metal sleeve in? Or does it matter? I am thinking that it would be best to cut the old ones out and use the ones that came with the shocks. But then, do I need that metal sleeve? Any opinions would be appreciated. I will continue the swap tomorrow. Thanks, John |
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| Author: | mighty mouse 63 [ Sat Nov 08, 2003 6:16 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
I just used the supplied rubber bushings with a washer under the bolt and double nutted it, as my vintage roadmaster did not have a steel bushing. Of course after installing the rubber bushings, found the poly ones I bought and stashed away 10 years ago! |
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| Author: | Dart270 [ Mon Nov 10, 2003 6:23 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
The factory bushings with the metal sleeve are probably a slightly better design, but they are probably pretty mushy and the later 2-piece ones are fine too. Unless those originals look very good, just cut them out and use the KYB bushings - no sleeve required. I have these on both my Darts and have had no troubles and excellent handling. Lou |
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| Author: | killin5 [ Mon Nov 10, 2003 7:02 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
I installed them last night. I used the bushings supplied with the shocks. I must say it made a huge improvement in the handling. The shocks I replaced basically were shot. John |
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| Author: | Dart270 [ Tue Nov 11, 2003 7:18 am ] |
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That's great! I found when I bought my '68 Dart from my parents in 1988 that the biggest handling improvements were good gas shocks and wide 14" tires, followed by a front sway bar. Lou |
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| Author: | mpgFanatic [ Sat Nov 15, 2003 10:49 am ] |
| Post subject: | do KYBs provide smooth ride and good handling? |
Quote: I found when I bought my '68 Dart from my parents in 1988 that the biggest handling improvements were good gas shocks and wide 14" tires, followed by a front sway bar.
Lou, your comments seem right on target. I'd love to know more about your experience with KYB shocks. Following is an excerpt of a letter posted to our EarlyValiant/EarlyCuda mailing list about a year ago, by a member who races Autocross. I'm VERY impressed that this guy can drive a car around a course once, and describe exactly how to dial in the suspension for "neutral" handling. (Sure, I can tune most of a drivetrain by listening, but when it comes to suspension, I'm not very experienced.) Anyway, here is his viewpoint:Quote: I WILL say that I do NOT like the KYBs. [...]they about rattled my teeth out of my head [...] I have also heard that they have been improved since my experience with them (about 10 years ago now), but at the time I found they had WAY too much comression damping and not enough rebound damping to control anything beyond the stock springs. The net result was a ride that was buckboard stiff and boingy at the same time. About the only improvement I noticed was better transient responce on quick lane changes and the like. The bumpier the surface the worse they worked. If there were rippels in the pavement in a corner the car would sort of skitter to the outside of the turn (it always seemed to be a competition between the corner and the suspension as to weather the corner the road would end first). =8^O
At the same time I post this, I'm sending him a letter to confirm that perhaps these shocks would be effective if they were trying to control nothing "beyond the stock springs". All I'm looking for is a smooth ride on various kinds of road surfaces, and a predictable amount of control on cloverleaf entrance ramps (or a sudden swerve to dodge road hazards.) I have no idea if I want stiffer compression damping, stiffer rebound damping, or what. I'm not even sure how I would roadtest a shock, to find out. But I do know that the description of "buckboard stiff and boingy" is NOT what I'm looking for.All that being said they ARE cheap and available, and MAYBE they HAVE been improved... I'll stick with my Spax shocks, listing at $85.00 front and $95.00 rear each they ride VERY well, control the suspension REALLY well, and with 14 (new ones have 28 ) adjustments they can be tuned for almost any taste, suspension set-up, or driving condition. IMHO you can't do better for less than $150.00 a corner. At the moment, the suspension is stock 6-cyl, no sway bars, (and the old dead shocks are nearly totally ineffective, so it's time to do something.) Ultimately, I'd like to add a front sway bar at the very least, and perhaps a rear to keep it balanced. I *might* increase to a slightly stiffer spring, maybe from a 6-cyl to V8 level, but I don't plan to go more than that because I enjoy the marshmallow-sprung cruising comfort I've got now. Can you (or anyone) elaborate more on your experience with different types of shocks on different A-body applications, and your impressions of ride quality vs. handling for what you've tried? Thanks! - Erik |
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| Author: | Matt Cramer [ Sun Nov 16, 2003 11:10 am ] |
| Post subject: | Stock suspension KYB's |
My impression of the KYB's on a car with near-stock springs is that they don't really feel unduly harsh. My Dart's suspension has KYB Gas-A-Justs, 0.870" torsion bars, an Addco front sway bar, Energy Suspension bushings, and 5-leaf (stock HD) rear springs. It doesn't seem to ride any harsher than stock - if there is anything I don't like about this package, it's that the mounting tabs for the sway bar hang down too low. |
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| Author: | Dart270 [ Mon Nov 17, 2003 8:28 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
Erik, I admit I've only had experience with KYBs and various Monroe and Gabriel gas shocks, and the KYBs gave better handling and transient response with a little reduction in ride quality, but not much. I may check out these Spax shocks, and I didn't know they made units for A-bodies. Based on your comments, I would say you should get a 1" or 1 1/8" front sway bar and no rear sway bar. Make sure your rear springs are at least up to stock stiffness, and get KYBs all around. This will transform your car's handling, but shouldn't hurt ride quality much. Also, if you're still running 13s, get some wider 14s or 15s (215s maybe) and that will make a huge difference in handling. Addco sway bars have really crappy mounts, but I've heard Quickor and PST bars have much better mounts. I have a Quickor on the way for my '66 V100 ("Project V"), so I'll know about that soon enough. Lou Lou |
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| Author: | Mike Andreas [ Sun Nov 23, 2003 3:51 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Quickor Awaybar Mount Bracket! |
I converted to the Quickor brackets a year ago. I haven't thought about it since. I think the Brackets were cheap. I did have to "Tweak" them a bit in a vice to get them aligned just right. I haven't touched them since. They really helped. I used to prang them on anything. Driveways, Parking stops, curbs. The brackets tucked the bar up about as far a they can go. With the Quickor Bracket http://homepage.mac.com/mandreas/MyVehi ... bum30.html My old ADDCO brackets and a picture of Dart270's welded mounts http://homepage.mac.com/mandreas/Front%20Swaybar.html Mike |
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