Howdy all:

Wish I had more time to visit the site more often. Got a question here:

I need to replace the shocks on my car. It's a 1991 240 sedan. The front drivers side is clearly leaking oil. I'm in not hurry, but I also know I had to almost destroy another on in the rear when replacing the bushings this summer past.

What do you guys recommend replacing them with? I live in West Virginia, so the roads I'm on range from decent interstate highways to pot hole filled back roads to gravel paths in state forests. I enjoy putting my foot into the corners, but I drive a naturally aspirated 240, so it's not like i'm going to be a track star. I also have plans on lower my car... oh yea, NEVER. That would just be dumb on my type of roads. Or maybe at all... The point is, I'm not looking for a ride that's going to make driving on those roads (fast) a jarring experience.

Looking all over the web, I find lots of positive words about Bilstein HDs. But 1) they are lots of $, and 2) it seems like everyone talks about how well they work with cut springs. I don't care at all about cutting my springs, so the extra $ isn't worth it if thats the thing here. FCP euro has Bilstein HDs, and also the Touring. Touring gets kind of a bad warp around the web (at least on turbobricks) but they are pretty into modifying their cars. They also have Volvo brand shocks, Sachs & KYB and Koni. Well, Koni's pretty much like Bilstein HDs--more $ than I am willing to spend. I am kind of leaning towards Sachs, but thought i'd ask around.

Finally, looking around, some guy talks about how great Gabriel Ultras are. I can get them at the local Autozone, and just for convenience sake, that would be nice.

Anyone got recommendations?

Finally, if anyone wants to venture into theory on this one... A lot of people talk about how thus and so shock made the car ride harsher or these shocks were soft... I get how changing springs would make things stiffer... but I'm not following why different shocks would change that characteristic much. Dampeners (the shocks) dampen the oscillations, right? The springs carry the weight, right? So how does changing the shocks make a ride harsher?

Thanks in advance.

 

yeah, Bilstein HD are for use with sport springs.

I'd suggest sticking with the Boge/Sachs which are the OEM shocks on these cars... they last a LONG time, and offer a perfect balance between comfort and road control.

IMHO, Gabriels are something you put on a pickup truck.

re: damping. shocks slow the springs down, mostly in the 'rebound' direction (they are set so there's more rebound damping than compression damping, so the wheels can go up quickly when you hit a bump, then take a little longer to return), this keeps the car from bouncing after a bump. ideally, the damping (aka shock stiffness) is matched to the spring rate. a shock thats too stiff for the springs definitely makes a car ride harsher, as the suspension is over-damped and not as compliant.

 

Okay, I seem to understand better. In other words, I really need to go with stock shocks, because they are matched to the spring rate of the springs that are already on the car. If I were to go altering the springs or something like that, it would be a different matter, but i'd still try to have to match up the shock rebound rate with the spring rate (which is probably where some guys are missing the boat, i'm guessing...)

I'll likely go with the Sachs, as the price difference between them and Gab's is negligible.

Thanks as always, pierce.

 

I thought I'd return and report back. I was all set to buy the Sachs, but long story short, FCP ran out. Also, the window of opportunity when I would have time to switch the shocks was coming quickly. So, I ended up getting Gabriel Ultras, all around. I've had them on my 240 6-9 months. Here's my report:

As a shock, think they are fine. After putting them in, they definitely damped better--I was right, my old shocks were shot. But, I've has some quality control issues. One of the front struts failed about two weeks after installation. I didn't tighten the collar properly, so I got the whole strut out, and after removal, I noticed that it did not dampen. It is possible I damaged it in my removal--I used an impact wrench to remove the top nut, and there was some debate in some of the websites I've seen as to if that is okay or not. But I wasn't sure, and I got it replaced under warranty. After I got the replacement in, it has been functioning well.

Fast forward to the present: About a month ago, my passenger side rear tire started to make a lot of clunking when I went over bumps. I finally pulled off the tire, wondering, "Could the shock bushing have failed?" Turns out, yes. The rubber is pretty much gone. I don't know how that happens, and you can see the residue, but there is space between my stud and the ring on the shock instead of rubber. So, I'll be seeing about having that fixed. It should be under warranty still, but it is annoying.

Personal verdict? Price will influence me, but I'm less inclined to get the Gab's, and see about the Sachs.

 

Here's my 2 cents. I have a 940 that needed shocks and first I went with Monroe. They we're gas, cheap and had a lifetime warranty. They handled great but we're way too stiff. So I went to Sachs oil shocks(Super Touring) and they we're good shocks but I may go to lowering springs and thought that might be an issue. So finally, I upgraded to Sachs gas shocks(Advantage) and I didn't notice any difference in the ride but they handled better and should be more compatible later, as long as I don't lower too much. The trouble is Sachs is discontinuing the Advantage. I was lucky enough to find matching struts and shocks on Amazon and for a great price. If you look around you may find some somewhere. If not the Super Touring is probably a better fit for you. If the time comes and I have to replace mine and want to stay with gas I'll try Meyle. They're gas, cheap and designed in Germany. They are made in China but Sachs is made in Mexico and Turkey, so I don't worry about that.

 

Meyle is just a parts rebrander/reseller, they don't *make* anything.

 

When I said they're made in China I didn't mean Meyle goes there and builds them, the Chinese do. If it's not theirs whose shock are they reselling?

 

very good question.

 

I did want to get the Sachs Advantage, but that is what FCP no longer had. So, I went with the Gabriels. Anyway, it will be a few years before I am ready to replace these by which point, I'm sure Sachs Advantage will be nowhere to be found.