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Index > Suspension > Thread: looking for a good, comfortable shock
Thread: looking for a good, comfortable shock [' This thread is 2 pages long: (1) 2 ']
brad


Rotorhead
Posts: 1672
posted April 29, 2003 09:31 PM

looking for a good, comfortable shock

Looking for shocks for my 74 that are not rock hard. Something comfortable like the Monroe Sensa-Tracs that I have on my 99 Isuzu Amigo. Those shocks are soft for the first inch or so of travel then *progessively* get stiffer asn there's more and more compression. Nice comfy ride but they get sporty as the car leans.

Anything like a Sensa-Trac available for REPU?
____________
-brad-
74 REPU Lawn Green
81 Rx-7 racecar. 12a J-
Bridge

       
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Jeff20B


Moderator
Posts: 661
posted April 30, 2003 12:15 AM

Anything for a 2 inch lowered REPU?
____________
'74 REPU
'76 Cosmo
'77 MG Midget 13B
'81 RX-7

       
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Klaus43


Rotorhead
Posts: 1259
posted April 30, 2003 10:23 AM

You might want something else, but...

The KYB 'Gas-a-just' shock numbers I posted elsewhere here on the forum will accommodate up to a 3-inch drop... I seem to recall the rears crossed over from a mustang, and the fronts from a monza...(?!) I'll look 'em up again if we can't locate that old post... at the very least, perhaps then you could cross-reference from there...
Tockico gas shocks for non-lowered applications are numbers HE 2609 and HE 2710. These were available direct from Tockico North America on 'closeout' for a substantial discount a while back... they ride real nice to me; don't know if they'd be soft enough for ya there Brad!

       
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brad


Rotorhead
Posts: 1672
posted April 30, 2003 08:37 PM

quote:
The KYB 'Gas-a-just' shock numbers I posted elsewhere here on the forum will accommodate up to a 3-inch drop... I seem to recall the rears crossed over from a mustang, and the fronts from a monza...(?!) I'll look 'em up again if we can't locate that old post... at the very least, perhaps then you could cross-reference from there...
Tockico gas shocks for non-lowered applications are numbers HE 2609 and HE 2710. These were available direct from Tockico North America on 'closeout' for a substantial discount a while back... they ride real nice to me; don't know if they'd be soft enough for ya there Brad!


Thanks Klaus!

Unfortunately the Gas a just are a stiff shock, been there, seen that. The tokico blues are a performance shock too but that is a good price. Didn't some people here say the Tokico blues were a stiff shock?

Gotta do some looking at other vendors....
____________
-brad-
74 REPU Lawn Green
81 Rx-7 racecar. 12a J-
Bridge

       
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Klaus43


Rotorhead
Posts: 1259
posted May 01, 2003 10:49 AM

"I like stiff shocks

...and I cannot lie!"

       
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Jeff20B


Moderator
Posts: 661
posted May 22, 2003 12:08 PM

I'm gonna try some KYBs after I swap engines in my REPU. The Monroes I installed last year were only marginally better than the old stock shocks. Heh, yeah, I think they were truely the stock shocks from '74!
____________
'74 REPU
'76 Cosmo
'77 MG Midget 13B
'81 RX-7

       
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brad


Rotorhead
Posts: 1672
posted May 22, 2003 01:16 PM

which model monroes?

monroe gas magnum is a stiff shock indeed, and really designed and suited for heavy full size trucks and vans

monroe-a-matic is their average low-end shock and supposed to be an OK shock for the buck. Nothing too harsh or soft.

Sensa-trac is what I really want. Actually I found one that will fit the front end only of REPU. I got he part # at home and will post it here.

They don't make a Sensa-trac in the right length for rear of REPU, unfortunately......
____________
-brad-
74 REPU Lawn Green
81 Rx-7 racecar. 12a J-
Bridge

       
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Jeff20B


Moderator
Posts: 661
posted May 22, 2003 10:35 PM

The rear is actually fairly decent on mine. But the fronts have got to go.
____________
'74 REPU
'76 Cosmo
'77 MG Midget 13B
'81 RX-7

       
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Klaus43


Rotorhead
Posts: 1259
posted May 23, 2003 08:42 AM

GM is now advertising...

...their use of Bilsteins as factory-issue equipment... makes me wonder what else might be possible, never mind the price....

       
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rotarypwrd


Revvin Up
Posts: 55
posted June 03, 2003 09:44 AM

brad,

did you get that part # and/or application for the front?
( in reference to your below earlier post)

"Sensa-trac is what I really want. Actually I found one that will fit the front end only of REPU. I got he part # at home and will post it here. "

let us know, rotarypwrd.

       
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brad


Rotorhead
Posts: 1672
posted June 03, 2003 10:32 PM

yep, got part # for front Sensa-Tracs

Turns out 1979 Dodge Ram D-50 has same front shock dimensions as our REPU.

SENSA-TRACŪ TRUCK SHOCK ABSORBERS 37097

is the Sensa Trac speced for that truck. Should work just fine with REPU.

Unfortunately, it's real hard to find a good quality rear shock as the shock length, suspension travel, and mounting methodology of our REPU is not too common. Therefore, after doing an exhaustive search on www.monroe.com, the only shock they have for REPU is:

MONRO-MATIC PLUSŪ SHOCK 31125

Not a great shock, certainly not auto adjusting valving like the Sensa-Trac, but good price!

I'll probablly put the above mentioned Sensa Trac's on the front, since most of the weight is in the front end and can use more dampening, and just put the Monro-matic's on the rear.

Later.


____________
-brad-
74 REPU Lawn Green
81 Rx-7 racecar. 12a J-
Bridge

       
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Jeff20B


Moderator
Posts: 661
posted June 04, 2003 09:12 AM

Let us know how it goes.
____________
'74 REPU
'76 Cosmo
'77 MG Midget 13B
'81 RX-7

       
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rotarypwrd


Revvin Up
Posts: 55
posted June 04, 2003 10:02 AM

brad,

would you recommend going with the MONRO-MATIC PLUSŪ SHOCK 31125 for the rear
Not a great shock, certainly not auto adjusting valving like the Sensa-Trac, but good price!

over the tokico blues part no. HE2709 (rear)?

pros/cons?

by the way send me an email w/ your cellphone#, lost it.

rotarypwrd, tomas

       
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brad


Rotorhead
Posts: 1672
posted June 04, 2003 10:25 AM

tokico blues are a performance shock

not a self-adjusting comfortable shock like sensa-trac.

Tokico blues are stiffer then a monroe sensa-trac so the stiffly sprung rear end will be even stiffer! more oversteer!

if performance shock is wanted go with tokico blues all around. the blues are what the SCCA SPEC7 1st gen racecars must run. I've ridden in one of those with the speced KMC springs and it was a bumpy ride.
____________
-brad-
74 REPU Lawn Green
81 Rx-7 racecar. 12a J-
Bridge

       
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rotarypwrd


Revvin Up
Posts: 55
posted June 04, 2003 12:01 PM

any recommendations?

scenarios:
1) sensatrak front (100lb. stiffer spring/ 1 in. drop)
tokico rear

2) tokico's all around
(front 100lb. stiffer spring/ 1 in. drop)

3) sensatrak front, monro-matic plus shock rear
(front 100lb. stiffer spring/ 1 in. drop)

goal: ride on pillows, handle on rails.
what's the best combo to have as close to both as I can??

please also read new post
re: "need input from all repu susp. guru's"

rotarypwrd, tomas

       
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Tom93R1


Redlining
Posts: 458
posted June 09, 2003 09:32 AM

I just put Tokicos on mine a couple months ago. I have been very impressed with them! I hit some washboard dirt road over the weekend and while I cant say the ride was smooth as glass, I can say I have never before experienced such a nice ride over the washboard roads.

I got mine directly from Tokico, they are an over-stock item. Looks like they still are over-stocked. http://www.tokicogasshocks.com/new.asp#OVER


____________


'74 lawn-green
4-port 13b
Weber 48DCO
Racing Beat Header
Magnaflow
resonator/amplifier
really loud!

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brad


Rotorhead
Posts: 1672
posted July 08, 2003 09:32 PM

Installed the Front Sensa-Tracs

They are nearly identical to the Monroe-Matics I took out. Top threaded portion of Sensa-tracs is mabye 1/4" longer, no clearance issues. Sensa-tracs shock body outside diameter is 1.75". Monroe-Matics is 1.65". REPU lower wishbone inside diameter where the shock slides into is 1.73" So that's why Monroe doesn't list this shock for our beloved REPU.

No problem! Have Dremel Tool, will travel! Put wheel stone in the Dremel, spun her up to 30,000rpms and increased inside diameter of wishbone to 1.79" Took mabye 10 minutes per side. Sprayed with 2 coats epoxy black paint and slid shock right in there. I took pics of the old and new shocks side-by-side and after grinding wishbone and when the film's developed I'll post it on this thread FWIW.

REPU's not drivable but after bouncing front end it behaved like it should. Monroe-Matics are installed in the rear and this truck should ride much better now!
____________
-brad-
74 REPU Lawn Green
81 Rx-7 racecar. 12a J-
Bridge

       
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rotarypwrd


Revvin Up
Posts: 55
posted October 21, 2003 01:59 PM

Brad, have you riden in the REPU w/ the new suspension?

howz the ride and handling?

rotarypwrd

       
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brad


Rotorhead
Posts: 1672
posted October 21, 2003 05:38 PM
Edited By: brad on 21 Oct 2003 17:40

rides pretty friggin good!

quote:
Brad, have you riden in the REPU w/ the new suspension?

howz the ride and handling?

rotarypwrd


Just drove her around the block(s) in Redondo Beach since she's not registered. Up to 50 mph. Some big sewer dips at intersections here.

Very nice difference. much smoother and more bearable. less bouncy-bounce. I'd really reccomend it. Buy a variable speed Dremel, they're reasonably priced and can be used for all kinds of things!



She won't 'handle on rails' but I do have a 1 1/8" front sway bar and just replaced all the front bar's urethane bushings which were completely worn out and the end links were 3" too long! Now there is noticeably less oversteer.

I really need to take her to Willow Springs Raceway and wind it out to test suspension!
____________
-brad-
74 REPU Lawn Green
81 Rx-7 racecar. 12a J-
Bridge

       
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brad


Rotorhead
Posts: 1672
posted November 21, 2003 10:16 AM

I just bought some Gabriel Hi Jacker rear Air Shocks

FYI and they're a nice looking shock. BIG fat shock body. They can hold 200psi each and can support 1100lbs! These shocks look very heavy duty.

Only $35 + shipping on eBay! But I do need to buy two air line kits with fittings so I can fill them up individually. These retail for $15 each on carparts.com but I might just buy one kit and and extra valve for $19.

The nuts supplied to bolt them to REPU are just plain old nuts. Seeing the vibration and loads the shocks handle I will be putting Nylock nuts on there as a jamb nut on top of the nuts supplied. The bushings supplied are simple rubber that I hope are up to the task.

The rubber seal for the air bladder is protected under a metal skirt welded to the upper shock body, unlike the Monroe air shocks where it hangs down and can get damaged by stones or debris. This is a reason by itself to buy the Gabriels over Monroes.

I haven't installed them or plumbed the air lines but these shocks sure have loads of potential. If anything else I can tune the rear suspension by stiffening (adding air) to the rear shocks as needed. Next year I'll try towing the racecar with REPU and let yous folks know how it goes.

Later,
Brad

____________
-brad-
74 REPU Lawn Green
81 Rx-7 racecar. 12a J-
Bridge

       
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