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KYB shocks supplier

Posted: Mon Jan 10, 05 1:18 pm
by Anonymous
Where`s the best place to buy?

Posted: Mon Jan 10, 05 3:43 pm
by Anonymous
Rather than wait for a UK supplier to properly identify what you need, order them in, add their mark up and post them to you or get you to pick them up I would suggest you just order them directly from Year One in the US. With the current dollar rate you'll probably be ok.

www.yearone.com

Send me a personal email as I may know someone who has a unused set, that could suit you. Let me know car etc ( Just thought of that after I typed that lot ).

Posted: Mon Jan 10, 05 5:18 pm
by Ivor
Don't forget to check out Summit, I got a superb deal on mine. 8)

Posted: Mon Jan 10, 05 6:47 pm
by Dave-R
I ordered mine from PST donkeys years ago but I have to say the rear shocks are borderline too short.

Posted: Mon Jan 10, 05 8:30 pm
by Bryan
http://www.kayaba.co.uk/

e body fronts pt no.-kg4510

e body/b.body rears. pt no.-kg5512

Posted: Mon Jan 10, 05 9:24 pm
by Anonymous
pretty sure Kayaba uk wont sell to public but happy to be proved wrong. many local factors can order them for u though. tried to get shocks for the plymouth through the uK people and they couldnt do it, (doh!)

Posted: Tue Jan 11, 05 10:57 am
by Anonymous
cheers guys, I`ve already contacted KYB UK to see their response and am still waiting for reply. I was wondering if anyone had sourced in UK.

Mancini are cheaper by a few dollars than Year One.

Dave, you say "borderline too short" :shock: Is that anyting to do with you moving the spring mounts?

Gav, got your mail, thanks.

Posted: Tue Jan 11, 05 11:02 am
by Anonymous
Summit cheaper than Mancini :)

Posted: Tue Jan 11, 05 11:40 am
by Dave-R
neil wrote: Dave, you say "borderline too short" :shock: Is that anyting to do with you moving the spring mounts?
Moving the springs inboard makes the shocks stand more vertically. So if anything this has helped the situation. Also my ride height is no higher than stock. In fact it is probably lower. So that is not it either.

I find that when I jack the car up on the chassis the axle does not drop very much because the shocks hold the axle up. Remove the shocks and you can drop the axle further. I don't like that.

How much drop on the axle I actually need for normal suspension movement I don't know. The suspension is pretty stiff. It may be fine as it is.

I might make some measurements and take some photos tonight.

Posted: Wed Jan 12, 05 10:19 pm
by Dave-R
Here is what I was on about. Forget the silver paint. These are KYB shocks I bought about 14 years ago from PST. These were listed as correct for the 440 Challenger R/T. The shocks are about 21 inches long eye-to-eye when fully extended.

In the photos I have the chassis supported on axle stands and the axle has been allowed to hang free.

See that the axle hangs about a 2- 5/8ths lower than the shock can reach.

HOWEVER. Look at how far the wheel is below the arch lip. About 5 inches lower than normal ride height. I am not sure if the suspension would ever want to be in this position if the shock would allow it.

Are these shocks too short? Anyone have an opinion on this?

Posted: Thu Jan 13, 05 9:42 pm
by Dave-R
No one any comments or suggestions on this problem?

Here is the suspension back to the normal ride height (perhaps I should have done it this way to start with?).

As you can see, when the axle is at normal ride height the axle can only move about an inch downward before the shock is at full extension.

I think I need longer shocks. If so has anyone any idea what part number I might need?

Posted: Thu Jan 13, 05 9:45 pm
by MattH
Having worked on other leaf sprung cars, i thought it normal to have to jack the axle up to connect the shock, so they look right to me.
On Triumphs, when you undo and remove the shock, the axle drops down quite a bit.
With the Challenger I cannot see a situation when you would need the full extension downwards as this is when there is no weight on the springs.
Just my view, worst if they are too long and bottom out whilst axle is still trying to move upwards, ie full compression reached whilst axle still has some upwards travel. That would just be like having no shock at all.

Posted: Thu Jan 13, 05 10:02 pm
by Holly
The KYB GR/2 shocks I have for the Shelby are a 1/2" shorter than OEM ones, but they're meant for use with shorter (stronger) springs.

Posted: Thu Jan 13, 05 10:10 pm
by Alex
If that last pic is the static ride height they look to short to me mate, although they will work ok under compresssion I would think but if the car starts to cross axle (one wheel up, the other down) they are going to run out of travel. I agree with Matt that the spring will allow the axle to move further than a shock will travel but we usually aim for 3 inches or so of droop before they bottom. If I get chance I will dig out the KYB and Edelbrock books and see if there is a listing, are you running stock height or are you down? we have to consider compression as well in the travel..

Posted: Thu Jan 13, 05 10:15 pm
by Dave-R
No idea what 'stock' ride height is for the rear Alex. I just eyeballed it and got the springs made locally to suit. I would appreciate some ideas. Ta.