News: Putting FUN and FRIENDLINESS, FIRST into owning and learning about AMC small bodied cars, primarily Eagles, Spirits and Concords as well as vehicles built in AMC's Mexican subsidiary, VAM.

The AMC Eaglepedia can now be accessed using the buttons found below  This is a comprehensive ever growing archive of information, tips, diagrams, manuals, etc. for the AMC Eagle and other small bodied AMC cars. 

Also a button is now available for our Face Book Group page.


Welcome to the AMC Eagles Nest.  A new site under "old" management -- so welcome to your new home for everything related to AMC Eagles, Spirits and Concords along with opportunities to interact with other AMC'ers.  This site will soon be evolving to look different than it has and we will be incorporating new features we hope you will find useful, entertaining and expand your AMC horizons.

You can now promote your topics at your favorite social media site by clicking on the appropriate icon (top upper right of the page) while viewing the topic you wish to promote.


  • November 21, 2024, 03:47:54 PM

Login with username, password and session length

Author Topic: Shock Recommendations  (Read 16409 times)

0 Members and 2 Guests are viewing this topic.

Offline captspillane

  • The Perkiomen Eagle Sanctuary
  • Eagle Sundaancer
  • ******
  • Posts: 1097
  • Thumbs Up 137
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

  • Eagle DL
  • ***
  • Posts: 249
  • Thumbs Up 4
Re: Shock Recommendations
« Reply #16 on: September 15, 2014, 08:19:07 PM »

Offline Nightpath

  • Eagle Limited
  • *****
  • Posts: 685
  • Thumbs Up 17
Re: Shock Recommendations
« Reply #17 on: September 16, 2014, 09:51:11 AM »
What is the model number on those coil overs?

Offline Mernsy

  • Eagle DL
  • ***
  • Posts: 248
  • Thumbs Up 13
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

  • The Perkiomen Eagle Sanctuary
  • Eagle Sundaancer
  • ******
  • Posts: 1097
  • Thumbs Up 137
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

  • Guest
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

  • Having a 727 means never re-doing the trans again
  • AMC Eagles Den Addicted
  • ********
  • Posts: 3451
  • Thumbs Up 89
  • Near Seattle
    • Virtual Jeep
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

  • Eagle Limited
  • *****
  • Posts: 685
  • Thumbs Up 17
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

  • Having a 727 means never re-doing the trans again
  • AMC Eagles Den Addicted
  • ********
  • Posts: 3451
  • Thumbs Up 89
  • Near Seattle
    • Virtual Jeep
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

  • Eagle Limited
  • *****
  • Posts: 685
  • Thumbs Up 17
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

  • Having a 727 means never re-doing the trans again
  • AMC Eagles Den Addicted
  • ********
  • Posts: 3451
  • Thumbs Up 89
  • Near Seattle
    • Virtual Jeep
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

  • Eagle Limited
  • *****
  • Posts: 526
  • Thumbs Up 31
  • Limerick, PA
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

  • Eagle Limited
  • *****
  • Posts: 685
  • Thumbs Up 17
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

  • Having a 727 means never re-doing the trans again
  • AMC Eagles Den Addicted
  • ********
  • Posts: 3451
  • Thumbs Up 89
  • Near Seattle
    • Virtual Jeep
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

  • Eagle Limited
  • *****
  • Posts: 526
  • Thumbs Up 31
  • Limerick, PA
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/

 

SMF spam blocked by CleanTalk