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  • November 21, 2024, 08:26:31 PM

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Author Topic: Shocks  (Read 6992 times)

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Offline Nightpath

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Shocks
« 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?

Online vangremlin

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Re: Shocks
« Reply #1 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.
1981 Kammback 258 - "Pepe"
1980 Coupe 258 - "Ginger
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Offline eaglefreek

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Re: Shocks
« Reply #2 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.
1986 AMC Eagle Wagon 4.2L/4.0L head, AW4,NP242, Chrysler 8.25" rear.
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Offline Nightpath

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Online vangremlin

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Re: Shocks
« Reply #4 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
1981 Kammback 258 - "Pepe"
1980 Coupe 258 - "Ginger
1972 Gremlin X 304
1978 Gremlin 4 cyl 121 - sold
1964 TBird 390 - sold

Offline casper

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Re: Shocks
« Reply #5 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.
62 rambler classic 2 door (casper)
63 rambler american 440 (rosie)
79 spirit (drag race car)
82 eagle station wagon (rotty wagon)
82 sx4 (honeybadger)

Offline captspillane

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Re: Shocks
« Reply #6 on: February 27, 2015, 06:03:06 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.
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 JayRamb

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Re: Shocks
« Reply #7 on: February 27, 2015, 02:18:51 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.
Jayson H.
Best HWY Mileage of 87 Eagle:  26.2 MPG

Believer in AMSOIL & Seafoam
1987 Garnet Red Eagle Wagon: 70,500 miles
1967 Rambler Rebel 4 Door 290 V8 (original family car) Marina Aqua 142K miles
1985 Eagle Wagon in Autumn Brown 74,800 miles as my daily driver
SOLD 1984 Black Eagle Limited w/Tach & gauge cluster: 245,100 miles SOLD

Offline casper

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Re: Shocks
« Reply #8 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.
62 rambler classic 2 door (casper)
63 rambler american 440 (rosie)
79 spirit (drag race car)
82 eagle station wagon (rotty wagon)
82 sx4 (honeybadger)

Offline carnuck

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Re: Shocks
« Reply #9 on: March 01, 2015, 03:53:18 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)
AMC/Jeep gauges are for amusement only. Any correlation between them and reality is purely coincidental!

Offline Nightpath

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Re: Shocks
« Reply #10 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.

Offline Nightpath

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Re: Shocks
« Reply #11 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.

Offline carnuck

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Re: Shocks
« Reply #12 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.
AMC/Jeep gauges are for amusement only. Any correlation between them and reality is purely coincidental!

 

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