Caprice 77 Sedan 350ci : shocks...

Hello !

I'm in France and I've just bought a 77 caprice with 4 worn shocks.

Here in France, only Monroe Sensa-Track shocks are available for my car, so I'm about to buy on Rockauto. Problem : a lot of brand, a lot of models, prices from 15$ each to 60$


My quest : the best shocks + low-budget.


A question : do the taxi-police car specs shocks fit with my caprice non taxi-police car specs ?

Hope you'll answer.

Thanks.

Feup

 

Feup..............remember that wagons are heavier and shocks are usually rated for the vehicles weight. If you go the cheap route, then that's what you'll get and you will be replacing them in no time.
When you buy stuff like shocks, brakes etc, they have a good-better-best and prices to go with each. if mony is tight ,go with the middle ground and get a brand name like Monroe . Do not purchase no name shocks, you will regret it later.

 

Hello Chopt50 and thank you for the answer.

My caprice is not a SW but a sedan. But, you're right, these cars are heavy (sedan and SW) and I must buy some goods parts.

Rockauto have a large choice, even in the middle ground. KYB, Sachs, Monroe, AC Delco...around 20$ each.

And I really don't know what is the best for my sedan...

Any advice ?

Thanks !

 

I would go with either the Monroe or the AC. The AC delco used to be a branch of general motors I think , so using there shock would be good, But like I said before.............you buy junk, you get junk.

 

So you think that a 20$ shock is inevitabily a bad one ?

 

If it were my car I would put the Monroe Severe Service shocks on it. Good performance and not expensive at all.

I'm not real impressed with AC-Delco products lately. Most of it seems to be repackaged products. It looks like they are selling the name more than anything. I have never tried their shocks though.

 

If they are the middle of the road in price, as long as they are a brand name, you shouldn't have a problem.

 

The Monroe Sensa-Trac works really well on these cars, sedan or wagon. The Delco, if they are anything like I had from the factory on my 84 Delta, are worthless. They were off in less than 20,000 and it was Monroes I installed. KYB is also a good heavy car shock, but I have no experience with them on a G.M., only on a Ford. I was quite happy.

As for price, the Ford gas shocks on my Thunderbird were under $0 a piece, with a lifetime warranty, made by Monroe, and work exceedingly well.

 

Hello and thank you for your replies.

I'll buy Monroe shocks. That's sure.

Now, normal sensa-track or Severe Service ?

My question is : Severe Srvice shocks will fit to my non-taxi non-police caprice ? Mounts are the same ? Bolts are the same ?

Feup

 

They should be the same mounting. They are just valved differently internally.

 

The severe service shocks are more firm than standard.
Which means they can really smooth out driving hard over rough ground, like potholes and curbs. But they are bumpy over the small stuff. And they will last longer.

I have Bilsteins on mine. I got a good deal on them they are awesome.
The Monroe Severe Service is what I would get if I couldn't afford the Bilsteins.
Try shopping around you may find better prices than rockauto, try eshocks.com.

http://eshocks.com/bil_veh.asp?Model_Index=6Q49&Manf=All&SubChar=Q

 

Hello !

I've bought 4 Monroe Sensa-track. Not Severe Service because I love the floatty ride. Delivery next week. This afternoon, I'll spray some WD40 on the bolts. Hope it will be easy...

Feup.

 

I've used coil-over 'helper springs' on quite a few cars that're inexpensive and adjustable!
Bolt-on the shock - increase load capacity, and can bring-up the rear - the reason I like them is you can see farther behind you - they can be sneaky catching up to you!
Even paid to have them put on a Yellow Cab I was assigned to in the early '70's - [Checker w/jumpseats] barely sagged with 7 people in it, and maintained controlability!

 

just what i do, if you are not interested in saving the old shocks, what i do is just snap off the upper stud on the old front shocks. i have found this to be a major time saver on gm cars. and on the rear i remove the bottom stud on the rear first then jack up the car. after that i just lift out the spring to gain a lot of extra clearance to remove the top bolts on the rear shocks. might be a little helpful in getting the job done a lot faster. and like i said its just how i do it.:2_thumbs_up_-_anima

 

Hello !

84Bowtie : thank you.
I know that the upper bolts (front shocks) should be very difficult to loosen. I may use a electrical saw if it resists...