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  • May 12, 2024, 02:43:14 AM

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Author Topic: Shock Recommendations  (Read 15480 times)

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Offline captspillane

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Re: Shock Recommendations
« Reply #15 on: September 15, 2014, 02:56:03 PM »
I only use Monroe Sensatrac coil over rear shocks. They work great. There is also a version available for the front but they are tricky to install.
Currently Inspected and Insured as of Jan 2013:
-1985 Eagle Station Wagon 258 T5 Stickshift
-1980 Eagle Station Wagon 258 Auto Fuel-injected with GM TBI

Minor Repairs Underway:
-1982 Eagle SX4 258 T5
-1981 Kammback 2.5L Iron Duke T5

Restoration Efforts Near Completion:
-1982 SX4- 401 NV3550
-1983 SX4- 4.5 MPI NSG370 (6 Speed)

Restoration Efforts Underway:
-1985 SW- 4.0 MPI AX15
-1982 SX4- 4.0 AW4
-1981 SX4- SD33T NV4500 (Turbodiesel 5 speed)

Future Rescue Efforts- '85 Maroon SW, '87 Limited SW, '84 Limited SW, '87 4 door Sedan, '81 2 door Sedan, '88 White SW, '77 4 door Hornet, '74 2 door Hornet, '79 Spirit AMX, '81 Kammback.

RIP- Red '81 SX4, '84 4dr Sedan, '84 SW, '81 SW, '80 Spirit, '83 SW, '83 4dr Sedan

Offline AMCLOVER258

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Re: Shock Recommendations
« Reply #16 on: September 15, 2014, 08:19:07 PM »

Offline Nightpath

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Re: Shock Recommendations
« Reply #17 on: September 16, 2014, 09:51:11 AM »
What is the model number on those coil overs?

Offline Mernsy

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Re: Shock Recommendations
« Reply #18 on: September 16, 2014, 11:25:25 AM »
I think this is them.

MONROE Part # 58510        Sensa-Trac Load Adjusting Shock

Offline captspillane

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Re: Shock Recommendations
« Reply #19 on: September 16, 2014, 11:37:26 AM »
For the rear they are Monroe 58510. I paid $60 for the pair last time at Rockauto. They work extremely well to compensate for worn rear leaf springs and work well with new leaf springs and a rear sway bar to be perfectly stiff the way I like it, which is a little less stiff than a Jeep Cherokee but still great for towing and utility.

For the front it is Monroe 58270. They are intended for the rear of a Chevy car so you just need to put that part number into the search bar at Rockauto and it will come right up. I paid $50 for a pair of those. The coil over spring is pretty light and it is will not compensate for bad coil springs. I put long bolts on the bottom with nuts as spacers and it works well to attach to the lower perch. They don't quite fit through the hole and I had to run a drill bit against the hole and enlarge it by just a little bit to make them fit through.
« Last Edit: September 16, 2014, 11:38:14 AM by captspillane »
Currently Inspected and Insured as of Jan 2013:
-1985 Eagle Station Wagon 258 T5 Stickshift
-1980 Eagle Station Wagon 258 Auto Fuel-injected with GM TBI

Minor Repairs Underway:
-1982 Eagle SX4 258 T5
-1981 Kammback 2.5L Iron Duke T5

Restoration Efforts Near Completion:
-1982 SX4- 401 NV3550
-1983 SX4- 4.5 MPI NSG370 (6 Speed)

Restoration Efforts Underway:
-1985 SW- 4.0 MPI AX15
-1982 SX4- 4.0 AW4
-1981 SX4- SD33T NV4500 (Turbodiesel 5 speed)

Future Rescue Efforts- '85 Maroon SW, '87 Limited SW, '84 Limited SW, '87 4 door Sedan, '81 2 door Sedan, '88 White SW, '77 4 door Hornet, '74 2 door Hornet, '79 Spirit AMX, '81 Kammback.

RIP- Red '81 SX4, '84 4dr Sedan, '84 SW, '81 SW, '80 Spirit, '83 SW, '83 4dr Sedan

AB-SX4

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Re: Shock Recommendations
« Reply #20 on: September 18, 2014, 06:06:22 PM »
On our SX/4 we installed KYB Gas Adjust in the front and they work very well and are well made. Our SX/4 has a tendency to not want to keep the tires on the road when you hit wavy pavement and the KYBs are the first shocks that do a good job. Went through 3 sets of Monroes in no time. So I second that Monroe is not a great shock. Made the same bad experience with Monroe on our Dodge Pick-up.
It would be nice if Bilsteins were available for the Eagle!

On the rear we put in Sachs shocks, which I bought from RockAuto as well. Nice, well made shocks.

Offline carnuck

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Re: Shock Recommendations
« Reply #21 on: September 19, 2014, 08:27:41 PM »
If you go with the commercial Monroes (like Napa's Regal Ride) they are fine, but the Sensatracs don't seem to last more than a year anymore (made in China most of the time) when used offroad.
AMC/Jeep gauges are for amusement only. Any correlation between them and reality is purely coincidental!

Offline Nightpath

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Re: Shock Recommendations
« Reply #22 on: September 23, 2014, 11:17:07 AM »
So which would be the best bang for the buck shocks for someone looking for a stiffer yet soft ride that doesn't bounce?

Offline carnuck

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Re: Shock Recommendations
« Reply #23 on: September 23, 2014, 11:29:29 AM »
Stock height or lifted?
AMC/Jeep gauges are for amusement only. Any correlation between them and reality is purely coincidental!

Offline Nightpath

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Re: Shock Recommendations
« Reply #24 on: September 23, 2014, 11:34:05 AM »
Maybe an inch above stock height...or that could just be refreshed since it's sagging a tad.

Offline carnuck

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Re: Shock Recommendations
« Reply #25 on: September 23, 2014, 12:06:10 PM »
Stock shocks would work then. I got three years daily driving out of my Napa commercial shocks. I have a pair of new front ones I bought and I think they were only $20 each. I have new Sensatrac rears that I planned to change out because I lifted. Still need to put the shock mounts on my wagon's 8.25 rear though. The original Air rides are long gone, but they replaced them with Napa air shocks (they have a slow leak someplace)
AMC/Jeep gauges are for amusement only. Any correlation between them and reality is purely coincidental!

Offline Baskinator

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Re: Shock Recommendations
« Reply #26 on: September 23, 2014, 01:05:11 PM »
My Sensatracks have lasted the past two years and are still quite stiff. They did a nice job lifting up the rear end and would have been excellent for towing.

However, they give a very stiff ride and tend to make the rear clunk when going over bumps. I just took them off and put on KYB Excel-G shocks and it no longer rides like a truck. I'll save the Sensatracks for when I can tow, but the KYBs didn't seem to sacrifice handling and it has a much smoother ride. The only complaint I have is that the rear sits slightly lower now.

For better handling, I'd go with the KYB Gas-A-Just. Keep in mind, your ride quality will only be as good as your rubber suspension bushings.
1982 AMC Eagle SX/4 (Work In Progress)

Photobucket Album: http://s1237.photobucket.com/albums/ff479/Baskinator/

Offline Nightpath

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Re: Shock Recommendations
« Reply #27 on: September 23, 2014, 01:31:23 PM »
After I do my overhaul of the drivetrain I plan on doing the whole suspension.

Old bird rides like a soup sandwich right now. Drifty and flighty. I am sliding in the main leaf from the XJ (eyes cut off) when I do the swap. That ought to bring it up a bit and stiffen the rear a snort.

The rear shocks are gas adjust, look pretty old. My 10 year old can push the rear down quite easily so I know they're shot. The front doesn't seem too bad right now...but in for a penny in for a pound ;D

Offline carnuck

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Re: Shock Recommendations
« Reply #28 on: September 23, 2014, 01:44:30 PM »
Were those Sensatracks coilovers?
AMC/Jeep gauges are for amusement only. Any correlation between them and reality is purely coincidental!

Offline Baskinator

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Re: Shock Recommendations
« Reply #29 on: September 23, 2014, 09:36:04 PM »
Yes, they were coilovers. I intended to use them for towing, but two years later and I still haven't installed my hitch. They did help a lot before I got new leaf springs though.
1982 AMC Eagle SX/4 (Work In Progress)

Photobucket Album: http://s1237.photobucket.com/albums/ff479/Baskinator/

 

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