What Shocks do you use?

john r. lebetski

New member
Dec 20, 2006
4,659
1
0
6 Bilsteins.
I might try KYB front for more damping. I can use up and exceed the Bilstein damping ability if multiple road dips are additive. Bilsteins are fine
in back as 2 per side.
--
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
 
I have seen a fair number of failures on the rear of GMC motorhomes on
Bilsteins. Several of them broke the top ring mount completely off. Their
welds leave something to be desired, in my opinion. Perhaps, they were all
too short for the coach, and were not the correct for this application.
Some of them were different part numbers, though. So, I kinda ruled that
out as a cause. I have never seen a KYB top ring broken, though I have seen
a number of rubber bushings fail. Ez fix. Also, Bilstein warranties suck.
KYB, replacements, never had a problem.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Oregon

On Sun, Nov 8, 2020, 4:29 PM John R. Lebetski via Gmclist <

> 6 Bilsteins.
> I might try KYB front for more damping. I can use up and exceed the
> Bilstein damping ability if multiple road dips are additive. Bilsteins are
> fine
> in back as 2 per side.
> --
> John Lebetski
> Woodstock, IL
> 77 Eleganza II
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
 
KYBs, They work well and I’ve had no issues with them in three years.
--
JD Lisenby- USAF Ret
1978 Royale-455
MacDash, Manny Tranny, FI-tech, 3.70 etc etc

Navarre, FL
 
Larry,
Where did you get the urethane bushings for the KYB's.
--
Douglas & Virginia Smith
dsmithy18 at gmail
Lincoln Nebraska
’73 “Canyonlands” since ‘95: "Wanabizo";
Quadrabag/6 wheel disks/3:70 final/Paterson QuadraJet/Thorley’s/Alloy wheels(finally!)/Sundry other
 
Doug,
If you cannot find the gromet, we have them.

On Sun, Nov 8, 2020 at 7:57 PM Douglas Smith via Gmclist <

> Larry,
> Where did you get the urethane bushings for the KYB's.
> --
> Douglas & Virginia Smith
> dsmithy18 at gmail
> Lincoln Nebraska
> ’73 “Canyonlands” since ‘95: "Wanabizo";
> Quadrabag/6 wheel disks/3:70 final/Paterson QuadraJet/Thorley’s/Alloy
> wheels(finally!)/Sundry other
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>

--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
jimk
http://www.gmcrvparts.com
1-800-752-7502
 
Got KYB's from Jim K 17 years ago. Had a very small issue with one. Called Jim. He solved the problem the next day. Been very happy with KYB's. I just buy everything I need from Jim. Bob Dunahugh
 
> Larry,
> Where did you get the urethane bushings for the KYB's.

Doug,
Here is a copy/paste of a post I did a while back on this issue. HTH.

In 2002 I brought my coach home from Houston. Among other things, I checked the shocks, and found all Bilstiens. Two were broken at the top ring. Two
were intact, but all of the oil had leaked out, so were nonfunctional. The last two were functional but near dead. On the advice of others on the net,
I bought kyb's. I have about 65K miles on them now and my only complaint is that the bushings in the mounting rings are too soft for the application,
especially the uppers. The rubber di-forms and actually squashes out of the ring; I have replaced all of the bushings with "Energy Suspension" 3/4"
Polyurethane hourglass shaped bushings, Part #9.8108. These bushings have held up for 6 or 8 years now without degrading. Unless kyb has responded to
other complaints relative to the bushings and corrected it with a harder material, I personally would put those Polyurethane bushing in new kyb's and
avoid this problem later. Other than that issue, the kyb's have preformed well for me and I'd buy them again. JMHO

--
Larry
78 Royale w/500 Caddy
Menomonie, WI.
 
I have used KYBs exclusively on all my vehicles (well except for Monroe rear air shocks on my ElCaminos) for over 40 years with no problems. I first
started using them on my off-road trucks and quickly started using them on my other vehicles.
--
Patti & Jerry Burt Fresno, CA.
73 Gmc 26' Canyon Lands
77 Palm Beach - Parts Coach - SOLD
Members: FMCA - GMCMI - GMCWS
A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.
 
Chaumière came to us with a little over 100K on her and all Bilstein. Over the next 70k+/- they failed either by leaking when the rear was lifted or
loosing their damping. I did not have any actually break. I just bought KYBs two at a time and I am very pleased with them.

Back in my racing days, it was either Bilstein or Koni. Needless to say, none of those vehicles when very many miles or years for that matter.

Matt
--
Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
 
II just drove my coach, I have fairly new bilstiens, I think one is failing as it's bounding funny.
I'll pay for KYB's before I take free bullstiens
________________________________
From: Gmclist on behalf of Matt Colie via Gmclist
Sent: Monday, November 9, 2020 4:05 PM
To: gmclist
Cc: Matt Colie
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] What Shocks do you use?

Chaumière came to us with a little over 100K on her and all Bilstein. Over the next 70k+/- they failed either by leaking when the rear was lifted or
loosing their damping. I did not have any actually break. I just bought KYBs two at a time and I am very pleased with them.

Back in my racing days, it was either Bilstein or Koni. Needless to say, none of those vehicles when very many miles or years for that matter.

Matt
--
Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit

_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
 
Two makes, so no vote.

--johnny
--
Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
 
I have run both the Bilstein and KYB and have had much better service out of the KYB shocks. The first coach we had did have Bilsteins and they were dead players (all Positions). Have run KYB on all my 3 coaches since that date with out problems and they still have good action.

J.R. Wright
GMC Great Laker MHC
GMCGL Tech Editor
GMC Eastern States Charter Member
GMCMI
78 GMC Buskirk 29.5’ Stretch
75 GMC Avion (Under Reconstruction)
Michigan

>
> Two makes, so no vote.
>
> --johnny
> --
> Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
> Braselton, Ga.
> I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org