Opel Manta Rear Shocks

[smithrjd]

Fronts are easy to find, KYB and others. Rear schocks seem kind of rare. At least for a specific listing. Have heard that KYB for 86-89 Thunderbird will work but am not sure. What are you folks using.

TIA
Ron

[Aardvaark]

I'm just now collecting new shocks for my '75 Manta.
Just bought and received new rear Koni reds for here at
the old price, but see they have since raise it from Dec, 2008:
Opel Rallye & Manta - Rear

As for fronts. I've got new Yellow Koni Sports for a Fiat 124 Spider which are the same except for slight valve tuning to the Manta's Koni Front Sports on order from here and am waiting for delivery.
Fiat > Koni Shock Absorbers - Pro Am - 1-800-847-5712

The Fiat Koni Sport shock are valve slightly softer then the Manta's from what I'm lead to believe after researching.

Any brand Fiat 124 Spider shock should bolt right on the front but the valving might be a bit off for the Manta.

Also, any rear shock for the Chevette or Isuzu I-Mark and Buick/Opel
will fit the back, but again the valving may be off.

Rally Bob also has some others he has used on Manta A's/Ascona A's.

Hope this helps.

[oppositelock]

Rear shocks are actually easier to find since they are the same as the B chassis cars, so you have more choices. You just may have to import something from overseas is all.

[blackonblack89]

Originally Posted by Aardvaark I'm just now collecting new shocks for my '75 Manta. Just bought and received new rear Koni reds for here at the old price, but see they have since raise it from Dec, 2008: Opel Rallye & Manta - Rear As for fronts. I've got new Yellow Koni Sports for a Fiat 124 Spider which are the same except for slight valve tuning to the Manta's Koni Front Sports on order from here and am waiting for delivery. Fiat > Koni Shock Absorbers - Pro Am - 1-800-847-5712 The Fiat Koni Sport shock are valve slightly softer then the Manta's from what I'm lead to believe after researching. Any brand Fiat 124 Spider shock should bolt right on the front but the valving might be a bit off for the Manta. Also, any rear shock for the Chevette or Isuzu I-Mark and Buick/Opel will fit the back, but again the valving may be off. Rally Bob also has some others he has used on Manta A's/Ascona A's.

Thanks for the links. I made post about this and everybody said the koni's are discont'/ super rare.

These are adjustable right? Are the yellow ones for the fiat adj too?

[Dirk]

What about basic replacement nonadjustable shocks?

parts america has basic monroe replacements for like $50 at CSK, Murray's and Advance auto.

[Aardvaark]

Originally Posted by blackonblack89 Thanks for the links. I made post about this and everybody said the koni's are discont'/ super rare. These are adjustable right? Are the yellow ones for the fiat adj too?

I don't know who "everybody" was or what they were referring to, but these I found with very little searching on these forums and Googling. 'Real' Manta Koni fronts may be rare.

Yes these Koni reds and yellows are all adjustable off of the car.
Like I said, I don't know about rarity. I just googled "Koni Opel" and found the rears in stock at this Koni rep.
They may be his older stock, don't know.

The Koni 'Fiat 124' Sports have been used on Manta fronts already by others on the forums. That's were I got the tip.

They are currently listed by Koni USA for Fiat applications and are sold by various Koni dealers. The Fiat specialist probably stock them but I was shooting for best prices. Btw. Some Koni sellers are offering free shipping
on orders over $100 as is the one I ordered from. So these Koni Yellow 'Fiat'
Sports were $110 ea. shipped. The best price I could find for them.

[First opel 1981]

Gabriel Guardian

Part Number: 81753
Weight: 3.9 lbs.
Warranty: LLT


Available at Autozone

[Aardvaark]

Thought I'd post a pic of the Koni shocks for my Manta since the front Koni yellow Fiat Sport shocks arrived today. In case anyone wants to see what they look like.

The Fiat's 3.5" stroke, compressed length and extended length measure the same as the Manta's as do the top and bottom mounts.
The front sport shocks feel slightly stronger in compression then the rear red Koni's when they are adjusted full soft. Rebound feels about the same on all four shocks in softest settings. No surprises from my research.

The RSB is the 3/4" dia Addco for the record.

[blackonblack89]

thanks for the pics

out of curoisity wat springs are u going with??? Stock or something else. I've read the wagon sping will lower it a little. Someone on here also pointed me to this site. I have to look into this alittle(ok alot) more though. http://www.coilsprings.com/

[RallyBob]

Originally Posted by Aardvaark The Fiat's 3.5" stroke, compressed length and extended length measure the same as the Manta's as do the top and bottom mounts.

You might want to check the droop travel compared to stock. Those are pretty short. Stock Manta is closer to 4.8" of front travel.

[RallyBob]

Originally Posted by blackonblack89 thanks for the pics out of curoisity wat springs are u going with??? Stock or something else. I've read the wagon sping will lower it a little. Someone on here also pointed me to this site. I have to look into this alittle(ok alot) more though. Coil Spring Specialties -- individually calibrated coil springs for any suspension need.

Wagon springs are taller than Manta and Ascona springs in fact. But a lot of people use them because they are stiffer, they just cut them down to size.

In general I don't suggest you lower the car a lot unless you are prepared to run a lot stiffer spring rates, shorten the bump stops, and correct the geometry changes that lowering creates.

HTH,
Bob

[Aardvaark]

Originally Posted by blackonblack89 thanks for the pics out of curoisity wat springs are u going with??? Stock or something else. I've read the wagon sping will lower it a little. Someone on here also pointed me to this site. I have to look into this alittle(ok alot) more though. Coil Spring Specialties -- individually calibrated coil springs for any suspension need.

Stock springs.

[Aardvaark]

Originally Posted by RallyBob You might want to check the droop travel compared to stock. Those are pretty short. Stock Manta is closer to 4.8" of front travel.

Curious. Both ACDelco and KYB list the same part numbers for
both the Manta and Fiat 124 Spider.
And the forum member who is using the same Koni Sport for the Fiat
says they work well on his Manta. IDK. Guess I'll be finding out.
Thanks for the note though.

[Phoenix]

I'm guessing you mean Mr Clifton. Sounds like his application is street use, no track.

[Aardvaark]

Originally Posted by Phoenix I'm guessing you mean Mr Clifton. Sounds like his application is street use, no track.

IIRC, yes. Mine will be 99% street use and very rare autocross if at all.
I'm not really concerned about it. If they prove to be to short, I'll just put the stock ones back on the front for the event since my tuning will be soft front shocks and more rear roll stiffness using the Addco and adjusting only the rear shocks tighter if needed to dial out understeer along with tire pressure too.
I really don't drive very hard on the street much anymore........ in my doddery.

[Aardvaark]

I got the Koni yellow Fiat sport front shocks like Mr Clifton used installed on my Manta and thought I'd comment. They fit without issues. Only need to use a couple of 1/8" thick washers on each end of the lower mounting cross tubes since the Fiat parts are about 1/4" shorter on the cross tubes. I reused the old shocks upper mount washers which worked perfect for these spacers.
They are for all practical pourposes the same installed hight and travel as the OE as can be seen in the pictures below.

The new shocks set full soft feel great on the street. A bit firmer then the OE shocks but still maintaining a supple ride. They really improved the steering feedback on my Opel.

I also recommend these for Koni lovers for their Manta's and probably Asconas too.

I'll be installing new Koni red rears which are part numbered for Manta's.

[Phoenix]

Looks like it was overdue to swap out those shocks.

[Aardvaark]

Originally Posted by Phoenix Looks like it was overdue to swap out those shocks.

Actually the OE shocks still seemed ok. Not leaking or anything. 40K+ miles on them though. The reason it looks so bad is that I used the "channel locks thru the spring coils" method to hold and remove the stubborn upper nuts which somewhat crunched the upper tube and scraped paint on the one pictured. It can be straightened out if I ever want to reinstall them. Can't imagin why though.