Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » What Shocks do you use? (Shock Absorbers - Brands Used)
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| Re: What Shocks do you use? [message #355151 is a reply to message #355132] |
Tue, 26 May 2020 14:39   |
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Matt Colie
Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 7
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Clark,
Some will say that Bilsteins are better, but I have had 3 fail on the rear of my coach and it is now all KYB. Those are the only two manufacturers (I believe) that still make the reverse damping that is needed for the rear four.
Back when I was racing small cars, Bilstein were the only ones that would A-Last, B-Work.
As you might guess, I am no longer impressed. Of the three that leaked, two just leaked and the third started leaking when I jacked up the rear and even with no pressure on the airspring. When they leak fluid, they have alos leaked some of the gas charge.
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
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| Re: [GMCnet] What Shocks do you use? [message #355152 is a reply to message #355151] |
Tue, 26 May 2020 14:52 |
James Hupy
Messages: 6806
Registered: May 2010
Karma: -62
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My experience also. The Bilsteins also have weak welds on the mounting
eyes. KYB's I have used and installed on many coaches. One comeback that I
had, Jim K took care of. No questions asked.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Oregon
On Tue, May 26, 2020, 12:39 PM Matt Colie via Gmclist <
gmclist@list.gmcnet.org> wrote:
> Clark,
>
> Some will say that Bilsteins are better, but I have had 3 fail on the rear
> of my coach and it is now all KYB. Those are the only two manufacturers (I
> believe) that still make the reverse damping that is needed for the rear
> four.
>
> Back when I was racing small cars, Bilstein were the only ones that would
> A-Last, B-Work.
>
> As you might guess, I am no longer impressed. Of the three that leaked,
> two just leaked and the third started leaking when I jacked up the rear and
> even with no pressure on the airspring. When they leak fluid, they have
> alos leaked some of the gas charge.
>
> Matt
> --
> Matt & Mary Colie - '73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
> Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan
> OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
> SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
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| Re: What Shocks do you use? [message #355158 is a reply to message #355132] |
Tue, 26 May 2020 19:18 |
Larry
Messages: 2875
Registered: January 2004
Location: Menomonie, WI
Karma: 10
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When I brought my coach home back in 2002, Up on stands and found 4 of the 6 Billsteins did not work at all. Two of those 4 were broken in two but still attached to the mounts. The other two were in one piece, but all of the fluid had leaked out. The two in front worked but were weak. I replace them with KYB's gas shocks. 17 yrs and some 70K miles later, just two weeks ago, doing some suspension work, I had a chance to check them. All were still working fine. All still had good rebound from the gas that was still in them. The only problems I have had with them is the rubber mounts have all crushed and in several cases actually slipped out of the ring mount. I replaced them with polyurethane bushings and have had no issues since. IMO, go with KYB's. If you do KYB's, I'd put the urethane bushings in right away and be done with it. Just what I'd do.
Larry 
78 Royale w/500 Caddy
Menomonie, WI.
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| Re: What Shocks do you use? [message #360013 is a reply to message #355132] |
Sun, 08 November 2020 18:28 |
JohnL455
Messages: 4447
Registered: October 2006
Location: Woodstock, IL
Karma: 12
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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
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| Re: [GMCnet] What Shocks do you use? [message #360014 is a reply to message #360013] |
Sun, 08 November 2020 18:45 |
James Hupy
Messages: 6806
Registered: May 2010
Karma: -62
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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 <
gmclist@list.gmcnet.org> wrote:
> 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
>
>
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| Re: What Shocks do you use? [message #360015 is a reply to message #355132] |
Sun, 08 November 2020 19:18 |
SpookyEng
Messages: 208
Registered: June 2016
Location: Navarre, FL
Karma: -5
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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
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| Re: What Shocks do you use? [message #360016 is a reply to message #355158] |
Sun, 08 November 2020 21:57 |
dsmithy
Messages: 210
Registered: July 2012
Location: Lincoln Nebraska
Karma: 0
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Larry,
Where did you get the urethane bushings for the KYB's.
Douglas & Virginia Smith,
dsmithy18 at gmail,
Lincoln Nebraska,
’73 “Sequoia” since ‘95: "Wanabizo";
Quadrabag/6 wheel disks/3:70 final/Paterson QuadraJet/Thorley’s/Alloy wheels/Sundry other
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| Re: What Shocks do you use? [message #360020 is a reply to message #360016] |
Mon, 09 November 2020 08:23 |
Larry
Messages: 2875
Registered: January 2004
Location: Menomonie, WI
Karma: 10
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Senior Member |
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dsmithy wrote on Sun, 08 November 2020 21:57Larry,
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.
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| Re: [GMCnet] What Shocks do you use? [message #360033 is a reply to message #360028] |
Mon, 09 November 2020 20:54 |
Keith V
Messages: 2337
Registered: March 2008
Location: Mounds View,MN
Karma: 0
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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@list.gmcnet.org
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
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Keith Vasilakes
Mounds View. MN
75 ex Royale GMC
ask me about MicroLevel
Cell, 763-732-3419
My427v8@hotmail.com
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| Re: What Shocks do you use? [message #360038 is a reply to message #355132] |
Tue, 10 November 2020 07:23 |
jhbridges
Messages: 8412
Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga
Karma: -74
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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
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| Re: [GMCnet] What Shocks do you use? [message #360040 is a reply to message #360038] |
Tue, 10 November 2020 08:22 |
powwerjon
Messages: 849
Registered: March 2013
Karma: -2
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Senior Member |
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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
> On Nov 10, 2020, at 8:23 AM, Johnny Bridges via Gmclist wrote:
>
> 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
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