What Shocks do you use?

Matt Colie

Well-known member
Aug 15, 2008
11,101
807
113
South East Michigan near DTW
Clark,

Some will say that Bilsteins are better, but I have had 3 fail on the rear of my coach and it is now all KYB. Those are the only two manufacturers (I
believe) that still make the reverse damping that is needed for the rear four.

Back when I was racing small cars, Bilstein were the only ones that would A-Last, B-Work.

As you might guess, I am no longer impressed. Of the three that leaked, two just leaked and the third started leaking when I jacked up the rear and
even with no pressure on the airspring. When they leak fluid, they have alos leaked some of the gas charge.

Matt
--
Matt & Mary Colie - '73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan
OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit
 
My experience also. The Bilsteins also have weak welds on the mounting
eyes. KYB's I have used and installed on many coaches. One comeback that I
had, Jim K took care of. No questions asked.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Oregon

On Tue, May 26, 2020, 12:39 PM Matt Colie via Gmclist <

> Clark,
>
> Some will say that Bilsteins are better, but I have had 3 fail on the rear
> of my coach and it is now all KYB. Those are the only two manufacturers (I
> believe) that still make the reverse damping that is needed for the rear
> four.
>
> Back when I was racing small cars, Bilstein were the only ones that would
> A-Last, B-Work.
>
> As you might guess, I am no longer impressed. Of the three that leaked,
> two just leaked and the third started leaking when I jacked up the rear and
> even with no pressure on the airspring. When they leak fluid, they have
> alos leaked some of the gas charge.
>
> Matt
> --
> Matt & Mary Colie - '73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
> Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan
> OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
> SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
 
When I brought my coach home back in 2002, Up on stands and found 4 of the 6 Billsteins did not work at all. Two of those 4 were broken in two but
still attached to the mounts. The other two were in one piece, but all of the fluid had leaked out. The two in front worked but were weak. I
replace them with KYB's gas shocks. 17 yrs and some 70K miles later, just two weeks ago, doing some suspension work, I had a chance to check them. All
were still working fine. All still had good rebound from the gas that was still in them. The only problems I have had with them is the rubber mounts
have all crushed and in several cases actually slipped out of the ring mount. I replaced them with polyurethane bushings and have had no issues since.
IMO, go with KYB's. If you do KYB's, I'd put the urethane bushings in right away and be done with it. Just what I'd do.
--
Larry
78 Royale w/500 Caddy
Menomonie, WI.