I was replacing a ball joint on my '72 El Camino and noticed the shocks seem to be leaking. Compression damping seems low according to squish it with my arm test. They're probably 16 years old and maybe 30-40k miles.
What's a good replacement in these days of race-to-the-bottom cheapening of car parts? Not looking for an aggressive pro-touring suspension, just a good high-quality shock that will last a long time. Willing to spend for the right quality and country of origin.
I've been pretty happy with KYBs for this type of application. I've got the silver gas-a-justs on my '68 Plymouth wagon and the black excels on my '60 El Camino. Just put the wagon shocks on last year but the El Camino shocks have probably been on it 8-10 years. Would probably look at Bilsteins if I was going to spend more money.
I don't have recent knowledge but really enjoyed Konis on my 'Cuda after KYBs. Controlled compliance is very satisfying. I've got bilstseins on the Amazon, 911 and eurovan and like them enough to be looking at the same for the 4runner.
I was happy enough with Bilsteins I had in my B body. I have also had good luck with the Fox shocks that Hotchkis and Ridetech use; they are definitely not pro-touring stiff and I've found the ride quality to be good. Cheap KYBs (I think they were blue) and Monroe Severe Service shocks were pretty disappointing to me and quickly started leaking.
Had good luck with the silver KYB gas a just. Cheap on Rock Auto. After that Koni or Bilstein $$$.
I loved the Bilsteins on my B body as well... 0929 and 1140, right? Funny the random things I remember. The Bilsteins on the Impala SS I ran at the challenge a couple years ago helped us win CAM (we were the only ones in CAM 
)
Having said that, I wouldn't spend the coin on $150 shocks for a noodly-sprung A-body unless you're trying to get it to do something sportsy. Those things have an oscillation frequency of about 2Hz, so the performance aspect won't come from shock valving.
KYB silvers are a good quality shock that does dampy things and won't empty the wallet.
A buddy ran Bilsteins in his, it drove quite nice.
That's a lot of votes for KYB silvers, so the trigger was pulled. Thanks everyone! Yeah, it's stock suspension so I don't want to over-dampen it. I also have the inflatable rear air shocks which seem to be doing fine still. Great for doing truck stuff. I think those are Gabriel brand.
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