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| Group 3 - Suspension and Steering Front Suspension, Steering Linkage, Rear Suspension, Wheels and Tires |
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#1 (permalink) |
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Laramie, WY
Posts: 137
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Unanswered: inexpensive shocks
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#3 (permalink) |
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Opeling since 1991!
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Syracuse, NY
Posts: 329
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I found a place called Cox Imports that lists the KYB Gas shocks for something like $22 each. And even has the part number for Opel use.
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Excelsior My Opel is your McLaren F1 street car! |
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#4 (permalink) |
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Moderator
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: East Northport, NY
Posts: 244
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I went the KYB Gas-a-Just route, front and back were about $115 total. Very happy with them. The KYB website has quite a bit of info on it. New shocks, added front and rear sway bars...the improvement in handling is like night and day.
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Jimsky '73 GT |
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#5 (permalink) |
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Kansas City, MO
Posts: 174
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www.discountautoparts.com
KYB GR-2: $27 front, $24 rear KYB Gas-adjust: $40 each Monroe: $16 front, $37 rear Their shipping is cheap (pass on their discount), even halfway across the US. |
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#6 (permalink) |
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Moderator
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Pittsburgh PA
Posts: 386
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The FRONT KYB shocks will need an "installation(bushing) kit" that is not included. Most online companies don't show this. It will cost another $15. The lower mounting hole in the KYB is larger than the opel mounting hole & bolt. If the bushing kit isn't used, you will get a "heck" of a noise in the front end. OGTS is the only place I have seen that tells you about the needed bushings. I was able to get the kit from a local import parts place.
As for the Monroe LE10005 rear shocks, these are only Heavy Duty shocks and NOT gas shocks. I wouldn't recommend them. I have the KYB GR-2 series on my 72 GT and like the ride. Tom C |
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#7 (permalink) |
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Kansas City, MO
Posts: 174
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Thanks for the info Tom.
I've used KYB shocks/struts on all my cars/trucks (except the Opel) for the last 10 years. Opel shocks are still OK - No need for new yet. The GR-2 are great. The ride is great. They handle better and never feel harsh. The Gas-A-Just occasionally feel harsh, esp. on rough pavement, but handle/corner better. I have their new SUV shocks (MonoMax) on my Jeep - WOW - they are fantastic but cost $75 each (and worth more). I know money is tight, but when you sit in it every day, buying the right shock is very satisfying. |
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#8 (permalink) |
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Laramie, WY
Posts: 137
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Hey, thanks for all the great info. I didnt know about the bushing kit, I'm going to call around the local stores and find the best price for the gas-a-just, that should make the opel happy.
Jimsky: did you pick up the sway bars from OGTS? |
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#9 (permalink) |
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Moderator
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: East Northport, NY
Posts: 244
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I purchased the anti-sway bars (front and rear) from Addco. They were $99 each, poly bushings and all needed hardware. Addco's rear bar doesn't require a bracket to be welded onto the axle, it uses 4 threaded body bolt holes that are on every GT. No welding needed...so I went that way. Their installation instructions could be better, but you can figure it out. Call Shelly at 800 621-8916 to purchase the bars right from Addco.
I posted about a dozen photos of my front and rear installation at the Yahoo ClassicOpels site. The photos are in the files/technical section. Several people asked about the Addco bars and wanted some photos to help figure the installation. In my opinion a very well spent $200. I did sway bars, new shocks, then new rims with 205/60R13's and the car is now a panic to toss around in the turns!
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Jimsky '73 GT |
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#10 (permalink) |
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Laramie, WY
Posts: 137
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What about the option of a higher price shock, such as a knoi? Yellow ones (sports) can be found around $170 + shipping for all four, do these shocks need adpated such as the kyb's? Is it 'worth it' in your mind? I dont mind a stiff ride. Thanks again for the help.
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#11 (permalink) |
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Opeler
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Toronto
Posts: 57
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Part number for KYB gr-2
Reading this thread and the concensus seems to be that the KYB GR-2 is the best 'bang for the buck' and that the part number is available to everyone but me.
Anybody care to help out? It might just be that the Canadian websites deny the existence of Opel as a car manufacturer. Thanks, Mike |
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#12 (permalink) |
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opel free after 26 years
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: sunderland england
Posts: 4,941
Real Name: barry williams
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they may have dropped them from stock , this is a 4 year old thread
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Copyright © 2003-2009 barry williams All Rights Reserved save praying to God for sunday today we pray to Nike and run like hell |
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#13 (permalink) |
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Opeler
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 154
Real Name: John
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KYB shocks can be found on the partsamerica.com site. They have both the GR-2 and the Gas-A-Just. I think you'll need an installation kit for the fronts as the lower mounting hole is larger than required. I installed the Gas-A-Just shocks on my GT. They've been fine and give a stiffer ride than due to the gas charge. I ended up making a spacer for the lower-front mount from the old shocks.
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#14 (permalink) |
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Dallasmanta
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: dallas texas
Posts: 189
Real Name: Ron
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bought my KYB gas shocks from a parts house in Tulsa and they came with the brass colored spacers. Had to call the KYB distributor in Atlanta to replace one leaking one years later and the replacement came with them. Ask for the opel application Ron
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#15 (permalink) |
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Opeler
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Planet Earth
Posts: 502
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Shocks
Opel retailers carry both versions of the KYB shocks as well as the hardware.
The wholesale cost of KYB's has risen over the past 2 years (with the price of steel). Lower cost options include the Monroe brand. AVOID the yellow Midas Muffler, and the old Sears brands! Koni Red shocks and some Gabriels's are becoming close to obsolete for the GT application. Bilstein's are good, but availability for the GT is a question. |
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#16 (permalink) |
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1000 Post Club
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: League City Texas
Posts: 1,117
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I put my KYB shocks on about 6 months ago, replacing what I am sure were 15 year old shocks and was amazed at the different handeling and overall ride- well worh the $'s
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Texas Opel Preservation Society |
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#18 (permalink) |
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Moderator
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Pittsburgh PA
Posts: 386
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KYB Shocks
Mike,
KYB Shocks --- FRONT ------ REAR ....GR-2........ 344098 ------ 343039 Gas-A-Just .. KG-4613A ------ KG-5552 GABRIEL ....... 82053 ------ 82039 I'm running the GR-2 shocks on my GT. I like the ride. You will need the front install kit as stated or make your own bushings. ~ Tom Last edited by Mach1Tom; 05-29-2007 at 06:33 PM. |
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#20 (permalink) |
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6,000 Post Club
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Imperial Beach, CA South of San Diego
Posts: 6,054
![]() Provided Answers: 6
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Try having them look under "Buick" in their computer. Sometimes that helps, if their computer gos back to the 60s.
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Ron 72 GT 3.4L V-6/T-5/ZF posi - almost done - Just need AC installed. ![]() 75 Chevy monza 5.7L/TH350/Auburn 3.08 posi - Next |
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#21 (permalink) | |
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Mid-West Opeler
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I just bought the above from NAPA.
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Projekt 2009 - Der OPEL GT 1971 Opel GT (Green) 10/28/06 VIN: 77 232 5469 Build date: 10/70 1972 Opel GT ..(Red) .05/11/07 VIN: 77 237 3202 Build date: 11/71 That's not rust, that's Patina. If it don't rain, I'll be there. Other Cars: 2006 Solstice (Aggressive) 2010 Fusion Hybrid (White) LINK to my picture Albums LINK to some short movie clips of car shows. |
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#22 (permalink) |
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Moderator
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Reidsville N.C.
Posts: 2,160
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I installed the KYB Gas adjust that Tom quoted above. The spacers are actually 2 washers, 1 each side, and the hole in the LCA was drilled out to fit the bolts for the shocks. I can't find a picture of the rears right now, but they were a 2 person job where they attach to the body. Enclosed is a picture of the front. Hth, Jarrell
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You lose your dreams, you lose your mind. (The Rolling Stones) Last edited by soybean; 06-01-2007 at 07:37 AM. |
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#23 (permalink) |
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Mid-West Opeler
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Thanks Soybean. I had envisioned a more complicated "bushing".
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Projekt 2009 - Der OPEL GT 1971 Opel GT (Green) 10/28/06 VIN: 77 232 5469 Build date: 10/70 1972 Opel GT ..(Red) .05/11/07 VIN: 77 237 3202 Build date: 11/71 That's not rust, that's Patina. If it don't rain, I'll be there. Other Cars: 2006 Solstice (Aggressive) 2010 Fusion Hybrid (White) LINK to my picture Albums LINK to some short movie clips of car shows. |
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#24 (permalink) |
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6,000 Post Club
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Imperial Beach, CA South of San Diego
Posts: 6,054
![]() Provided Answers: 6
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Jarrell, IIRC almost all shocks I've seen have a square machined at the tip of the piston rod so you can hold the rod with a small pair if vice grips and tightened the nut to the point the rubber spacers just start to compress. At least that's how it was on the rear ones on Willit? Simple one person task.
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Ron 72 GT 3.4L V-6/T-5/ZF posi - almost done - Just need AC installed. ![]() 75 Chevy monza 5.7L/TH350/Auburn 3.08 posi - Next |
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