Lest expensive set of monotube shocks/struts for 94GT?

[DrScientist]

Hi all. I have noticed that once you get into monotubes, the shocks/struts for a 94GT take a pretty good price jump. So I was hoping that someone here had already looked around and for the least expensive set, that is actually worth having. I mean I know you got bilstien, edelbrock, KYB, Koni, and on and on. But is there a decent set that is a little less expensive?

 

[Adam95GT]

Stock Kyb gr2's probably...

You might as well just get a set of lowering springs and then you can get away with fox body shocks and struts.

I got my springs for $90 used and my shocks and struts for $150 used.

The other option is to look for mach 1 oem take off shocks/struts. These are tokico blues...


http://www.stangsuspension.com/Tokico-High-Performance-Mustang-Strut-p/1041.htm

 

[DrScientist]

You're a braver man than I, buying used shocks LOL. I can see the appeal, I just don't think I could bring myself to do it. What if they lied and sold them to you as though they only had 30K miles on them, yet they really had 130K? Guess that's just the risk you take with any used purchase but shocks being a consumable part makes me worry.

But I like to clarify just to be on the safe side. So you'd be comfortable walking into a store that that had the shocks you wanted for sale for a reasonable price, and saying "Yeah let me get those for a 1993 GT." What is different about the cars that makes that work out? I'm no suspension expert... but the fox bodies don't look like they ride any lower...

 

[Adam95GT]

The fox fronts will give a larger range of movement then the sn95 factory struts. However this will only help if your car is lowered enough to get within that area. Im pretty sure they are a little shorter do to the geometry of the front end. There are a few differences in the control arms and other parts. Used shocks and struts are no big deal its obvious when they are blown.

 

[DrScientist]

Thank you sir. You would happen to know how much the car needs to be lowered to get into the normal operating range of the fox shocks, would you? I was thinking of lowering my car 1.75 inches, perhaps 2 inches at most. But probably not 2 inches because I had that before on an 94GT and it was too much of a pain to drive around. It scraped on too much stuff.

 

[revhead347]

Most of the aftermarket springs lower 1" in the front, and 1.25" in the back, which looks fine. You can delete the isolators for about another 1/4".

Kurt

 

[V8SHME8]

If you want a monotube, Bilstein is the only choice. Everything else you listed is a twin tube. I personally have had two sets of Bilsteins on my car. I replaced them with a fresh set when I got coilovers.

Food for thought... if your name is an indication of your profession then hopefully you might like a little tech on the subject before making the decision solely on price. You get less aeration in the oil in a monotube since there is no gas exchange between the the chambers. Furthermore, the tube and strut shaft are more robust. It is really not that much extra money and struts and shocks need to be replaced regularly so it will probably cost you more money in the long run to get the cheap stuff now. If you can dig around, you can try getting 03-04 cobra front bilsteins to save money and then just buy bilstein rears.

By the way, you do not want Fox struts. They have less bump travel. Most SN95 ones have internal bump stops too. Foxbody guys that are serious usually run SN95 shocks and struts. I am pretty sure Maximum Motorsports will not even sell you Fox ones, they just give everyone the SN95 style since they are the same price.

 

[DrScientist]

Thank you sir. But yeah, I had already studied up on the difference between monotube and twintube, and that is what made me want monotubes heh. Only thing is, they say monotubes are a bit stiffer and you might notice a ride quality change. Did you ever notice this?

 

[V8SHME8]

The only real factor that makes a shock or strut stiffer is the valving. Keep in mind that everything I say should be taken with a grain of salt because my daily driver car has 400 lb front coilovers so my idea of streetable is might be different from yours.

My car had blown shocks and struts when I bought it so when I put Bilsteins and H&R race springs with 390lb torque arm springs on in the rear, I thought the ride improved. I think the 03 cobra stuff is too soft for me. I honestly find the budget stuff like KYB GR2's rides like total crap because it they feel underdamped and the car feels bouncy or bottom the struts out on hard bumps.

I would base this decision on what springs you want to buy. I usually do not post on these boards because I generally have an opinion well outside the consensus, but I would really only recommend two setups that run conventional springs. For guys that want a soft ride 1:Bullitt suspension and are the next step up 2: H&R race springs with Bilsteins. Neither of those options will really lower the car as much as it sounds like you want so it is up to you.

 

[DrScientist]

Thanks for the help. Yeah I'm thinkin' I want a 1.5" drop in the front, and 1.75" in the rear. Help get rid of some of the rake that the car has from front to rear, from the factory. Actually I'd like to take pretty much all the rake out of it, like the 94-98 saleens had. I think that looks awesome.