Recommendation about Shock Absorbers for my 74

[ppaavvss]

Good day,

I need to replace my 74 Charger's Shock Absorbers, since this is my first Charger (and restoration), I need your help to know wich brand and kind of Shock Absorbers are the best for my car.

I have bougth some parts at rockauto.com, here are some of the SA that I have seen there:

1. MONROE 32073 Monro-Matic Plus and MONROE 32134 Monro-Matic Plus (rear and front).
2. KYB 343158 GR-2 / Excel-G and KYB 343159 GR-2 / Excel-G (rear and front).
3. MONROE 58577 Load Adjusting (rear)

I would like more stability than comfort for this car (or both if possible),

thank you for your time and your help!

[HPP]

#1 if you are not changing rates on bars or springs and only if you are using it as a cruiser. If you planning any spirited driving or stepping up rates, you should talk to the Firm Feel guys about Bilsteins. $400+ for a set of four, but head and shoulders above Monroe, Gabriel, or KYB.

Shocks are like cams, they determine the effective operating range and performace of the suspension system.

[ppaavvss]

Hi HPP,

I really appreciate your help, I am checking their web site in this momment, I did not know about them, but it is really interesting that they are mopar specialists!

[Nacho-RT74]

KYBs GR2 are somekind of good quality stockish replacement. Unfortunatelly Gas-A-Just series is not available for 73 and lates fronts

Can't tell about the rest

On HiPo world the only real options available are RCD shocks ( with Bilsteins soul ). Around $400 for all 4 corners. Way diff budget for them

[b5blue]

I got 4 Monroe for my 70 for about 60.00 delivered. I don't rally or race and the car rides nice.

[ppaavvss]

Excellent, thanks a lot Nacho and b5blue, I am going to buy a Monroe to test the ride, may be then I will try Bilsteins in near future.

[HPP]

Monroe gas filled units will improve the ride over a set of stock style oil filled units. They have enough resistance to effectively control the stock spring rates, but that's about it. Their Gas Magnum shocks where cutting edge for a street car about 30 years ago. The Monroe Matics are the evolution of those early units so they are still decent replacements but others manufacturers have advanced significantly in that time.

[randy73]

I agree w/HPP, I have KYB in the rear and Monroe's upfront and the difference is night and day between front and rear. If the Bilsteins were a little cheaper, I would go with them, but other than that there is not much choice for the fronts. 

[randy73]

Anyone ever try QA1's for their car?

EDIT: After reading reviews, most seem to think they are just for racing and not to good for street car.

[68CoronetRT]

Bilsteins from PST made a huge difference from the KYB's.

That would be the least expensive shock I'd run. Next would be either QA1 or the Viking shocks.

[alfaitalia]

Just make sure whatever you get are a monotube design and not a cheap twin tube shock. The ride will be better and they will last rather longer. Bilsteins are monos as are most of the top models from most shock manufacturers.

[Nacho-RT74]

Someday will go with the RCD ( BILSTEINS) shocks, but not affordable to me... huge budget difference. I'm running KYBs Excels/GR2s on mine because the were the only availables... paid around $120 for all 4 corners. That was maybe 6-8 years ago? RCDs weren't available yet for 73 and lates. MAYBE on that time I could do it, but not now, definitelly!

I wrotte to KYB maybe 1 year ago about the posibility to have Gas A Just for 73 and lates fronts, and the answer was so stupid that forgot about that!