What type of shock would you prefer

and why?

72 Ranchero has very tired shocks, needs new, will be carrying heavy bumper, etc, is not a race car at all, heavyweight cruiser that gets flogged.

HYB gas adjust shocks or

Monroe shocks with a helper spring

I just pondered the exact same question for the Javelin and bought the KYB's. They're sitting in the garage waiting for the control arms with the newly pressed in bushings to arrive.

My concern is the extra weight of the Ranchero with all my add ons and keeping it tough enough for the style I have penned.

KYB's any day over a Monroe

I prefer working.... But my currently "working", put them on maybe 10k miles ago, yellow cheapie Monroes suck donkey butt. I have no other options that I would like to use, unless they are drag shocks.

But these seem to be more than crappy Monroes

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MONROE-58568-Rear-Shock-Absorber-/320818275880?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Year%3A1972|Model%3ARanchero&hash=item4ab2426628&vxp=mtr

Nope, still crappy.

Air shocks might be another option though.

Ok so these still suck, NP KYB will do the job.

The old ones on the rear are air shocks, but with some towing on the future I am not really a fan of those either. they become a fulcrum if used with a trailer.

Rancho?

Gas magnums or Gas-Adjusts. Not the GR2's. Spend the bucks and get Bilstiens?

I'll go with "won the lotto!" over "Preggo!"

oh, right.

Rancho!

The KYB GAJs are typically pretty well priced and have a good reputation. I'd grab those in a heartbeat. If you hate them or they wear out in 10k miles(unlikely), you're out what, $200 max?

The KYB shocks simply work well.

Monroe shocks are usually leaking badly within a month of installation.

My only experience with Rancho shocks was many years ago when I replaced the rear shocks on my '89 Frod Ranger V6 with a pair. They were only on 2 days before I took them off and re-installed the OEM shocks. Waaaaay to stiff! I almost hit my head on the roof of the cab when I went over a frost heave that on the OEM shocks was just a bump!

In reply to aussiesmg:

After trying everything else, Koni Sports. Oh, I do have a set of Monroes on my truck, a set of Ranchos on my other truck, and they are okay. Every set of KYB's I've ever experienced were junk. For something like your Ranchero, I'd probably go with Monroes if you didn't want to spend the green on Koni's.

aussiesmg wrote: and why? 72 Ranchero has very tired shocks, needs new, will be carrying heavy bumper, etc, is not a race car at all, heavyweight cruiser that gets flogged. HYB gas adjust shocks or Monroe shocks with a helper spring

Got KYBs on my Dart. Not great performance shocks but they've held up fairly well.

foxtrapper wrote: The KYB shocks simply work well for me. Monroe shocks are usually leaking badly within a month of installation for me.

There fixed that for ya! I've never had or experienced a set of KYB's what was anything better than crude. And not that it's representative of the whole, but the Monroes on my truck are 2 years old and fine. The same model shock on my BIL's truck have over 100k on them and they are still fine.

I ran air shocks on the back of the Impala I had so I could compensate for the occaisional heavy load of roadtrip luggage. They worked well for me on a large hoontastic car. But make sure to run separate air lines. Running a common line is an easy way to balance pressures - until you turn a corner. The body roll is amazing as the air pressure transferes to the unloaded shock!

I'm sure KYB GR-2s are pretty junky, but they do hold up okay. The old ones on my Saturn seem pretty overdamped--like they ride better after swapping out stock springs for ones 2x firmer. I have Koni Sports on my 325i and I wouldn't say they are far superior to the GR-2s other than their adjustably (they also seem overdamped.) They are both low pressure twin-tube designs. I'd avoid anything claiming sportiness.

I have KYB Gas-a-Justs on the rear of my Sienna and so far they are okay. I'd look into Bilstein HDs, but the KYB Gas-a-Justs (or MonoMaxes) probably wouldn't be a horrible monotube alternative.

I should have added, I am changing out the worn out old 40 year old springs for some new P71 springs, so my rate should go up a little and the vehicle should sit higher than those crushed originals.

However this is my beater parts hauler that has a fun theme, nothing sporty about it just a tough old tru...ca... cruck?

I would love the Koni or Bilsteins but short of finding a used set the lowest cost is $400 shipped on ebay for Bilsteins. But pending what they consensus is I may still go that way.

bluej wrote: I'll go with "won the lotto!" over "Preggo!" oh, right.

Oh now I get it..... ha ha

No complaints about the Monroe shocks with helper springs I've got on the Disastro. They were about $100 for both, too.

I put kyb gas-a-justs on the rear of my 4wd MPV when replacing the non functioning load leveling system with air shocks. Also replaced the rear springs with the standard 4wd springs (for some reason they used softer springs with the tow package and leveling shocks, wtf..)

I like em, they ride nice. not very pricey either.