AMC Eagle Den Forum

The Shop => Suspension, Steering, Brakes, Wheels & Tires => Topic started by: Nightpath on February 26, 2015, 06:39:32 AM

Title: Shocks
Post by: Nightpath on February 26, 2015, 06:39:32 AM
I'm looking at new shocks for my wagon, and I'm debating on what I should get.

I prefer a semi-firm ride with only a minor amount of bounce (my car feels like a spring board right now with the old shocks).

So what have you bought and whats your review of them?
Title: Re: Shocks
Post by: vangremlin on February 26, 2015, 08:40:22 AM
A lot of folks like the Monroe Sensa-Tracs for the rear of their Eagle.  I have some on my Kammback and they do a great job.  Bought some for my coupe but haven't installed them yet. 

If I recall correctly, someone here had found some that will work on the front, perhaps it was Captspillane.
Title: Re: Shocks
Post by: eaglefreek on February 26, 2015, 09:12:15 AM
I've had a few different brands on my Eagle and like the Napa ones the best so far.
Title: Re: Shocks
Post by: Nightpath on February 26, 2015, 09:47:00 AM
Here's what they sell locally

http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/search-results.html?searchByTerm=true&q=munroe+sensa&=#/?searchByTerm=true;q=monroe;=;nmq=munroe%20sensa
Title: Re: Shocks
Post by: vangremlin on February 26, 2015, 03:48:32 PM
These are the ones I used.  I believe they are available on RockAuto

http://www.monroe.com/en-US/catalog/e-Catalog/58510
Title: Re: Shocks
Post by: casper on February 26, 2015, 11:53:51 PM
NAPA shocks (we are told by our sales manager) are monroe shocks.

the front of my honeybadger sx4 is not lifted. stock height with original springs. the NAPA listed shocks were way to short. Hit a bump that made the suspension move over an inch, and they would max out on extention. HORRIBLE!!! The 5756 Chevy II shocks ride very smooth. Soak up the rough dirt roads very well, but not so soft that they feel like an old Catalina going down the road.
Title: Re: Shocks
Post by: captspillane on February 27, 2015, 06:03:06 AM
Quote from: vangremlin on February 26, 2015, 08:40:22 AM
If I recall correctly, someone here had found some that will work on the front, perhaps it was Captspillane.

I didn't find it out but I have been telling people about it. They are meant for the rear of a Chevy car but are the correct dimensions for the front of an Eagle. The width of the crossbar is about an 1/8" too wide to fit through the hole at the top of the shock tower so some dremel work is needed on the lip. You need to use long bolts and nuts as spacers. It works but it is not an out of the box ready to go solution. The coil-over spring itself is also very light, much lighter than the spring for the rear version, so it isn't powerful enough to make up for bad front coil springs.
Title: Re: Shocks
Post by: JayRamb on February 27, 2015, 02:18:51 PM
Quote from: casper on February 26, 2015, 11:53:51 PM
NAPA shocks (we are told by our sales manager) are monroe shocks.

the front of my honeybadger sx4 is not lifted. stock height with original springs. the NAPA listed shocks were way to short. Hit a bump that made the suspension move over an inch, and they would max out on extention. HORRIBLE!!! The 5756 Chevy II shocks ride very smooth. Soak up the rough dirt roads very well, but not so soft that they feel like an old Catalina going down the road.
I called Napa two weeks ago and Napa told me the shocks are no longer available. I went on the 'bay' and got Gabriel shocks. Right now I have KYG's? on my 87 but it rides too harsh/heavy duty...so I'm going to put the Gabriel's on. I've only had the KYG's? on the Eagle for 5,000 miles. I'll see if anyone has any interest in buying them for  like $20 shipping included.
Title: Re: Shocks
Post by: casper on February 28, 2015, 04:20:47 PM
jayramb, if your talking about the napa shocks being unavailable, who ever told you that is on crack. i can check inventories. there are a BUNCH in napa stores and warehouses. i can have 6 of them monday morning if i needed.
Title: Re: Shocks
Post by: carnuck on March 01, 2015, 03:53:18 PM
Quote from: casper on February 28, 2015, 04:20:47 PM
jayramb, if your talking about the napa shocks being unavailable, who ever told you that is on crack. i can check inventories. there are a BUNCH in napa stores and warehouses. i can have 6 of them monday morning if i needed.

Sounds like a lazy butt employee. My old boss had to fire one like him because he was telling more than 1/2 the people that came in NAPA didn't carry parts for cars older than 1990 and 1/2 what he did sell was the wrong parts. If someone can't get it, ask here and I or someonje else will get you the numbers you need to order. ;)

I bought the shorter shocks before this came out and didn't install them but the boxes got wet so I couldn't take them back (funny part is they were in stock in our store at the time)
Title: Re: Shocks
Post by: Nightpath on March 13, 2015, 09:27:21 AM
I see Rockauto has the Chevy shocks.

How would the Munroe 58510 + 5756 work in a daily driver Eagle with a bit of a lift in the rear and spring spacers in the front? Right now I feel like I'm riding on a sponge. Looking for a firmer ride, but not a jarring one, possibly raise the springs a bit.
Title: Re: Shocks
Post by: Nightpath on March 28, 2015, 07:11:46 AM
I ordered the 58510 and 5756 shocks yesterday, and the half door handles that I need.

Took an hour long ride on the highway Thursday. Car ran fine but you could really tell the shocks are bad, and there was a lot of wind noise.

Can't wait for the car to be a bit stiffer. That sucker bounces around quite badly.
Title: Re: Shocks
Post by: carnuck on March 29, 2015, 08:38:29 PM
Once I put in the new strut pivot bushings I'll get my new shocks in. Too bad the Bilsteins I have now are messed up from the seized old bushings.