Any Opinions on KYB's?

[Tonyrodz]

Found a good deal on a full set of KYB's, G-Force I think. Looking to put these on my 03 Tahoe. Was gonna do Bilstein 4600's, but these are much more reasonable in price. Anyone have any experience with these? Good or bad? Thx.

 

[08HoeCD]

No experience with Gforce, but I do like KYB Gas-A-Just and have run them on two full size vehicles, including current Tahoe, with great results.

In any event, Bilsteins are so broadly favored on here that I'm inclined to believe that they're worth the extra $$$.

 

[Merc1973]

I had the gas a just on my 01 Grand Marquis and loved them. Much better handling and not harsh or too firm. Perfect balance.

 

[ScottyBoy]

I have had KYB shocks on several vehicles now. But I would probably avoid the G-Force shocks if possible. in had the Excel-G (the old name for the G-Force shocks) on my wifes 05 Altima and I wasn't too impressed with them. I thought they would be an upgrade over stock, but they were basically equivalent to the stock shocks.
On my Burban, I have the KYB Monomax shocks and I like them a lot. I searched high and low for the best deal and it's roughly the same at Rock auto, and Kyboutlet.com
Well, depending on how much you order. If you are getting all 4, then the shipping adds up at Rockauto, but at Kyboutlet, they usually have free shipping or 99¢ shipping for orders over $100. The Monomax are about $55-$60 each if I remember correctly.

 

[BigDaddy13440]

I have had KYB shocks on several vehicles now. But I would probably avoid the G-Force shocks if possible. in had the Excel-G (the old name for the G-Force shocks) on my wifes 05 Altima and I wasn't too impressed with them. I thought they would be an upgrade over stock, but they were basically equivalent to the stock shocks.
On my Burban, I have the KYB Monomax shocks and I like them a lot. I searched high and low for the best deal and it's roughly the same at Rock auto, and Kyboutlet.com
Well, depending on how much you order. If you are getting all 4, then the shipping adds up at Rockauto, but at Kyboutlet, they usually have free shipping or 99¢ shipping for orders over $100. The Monomax are about $55-$60 each if I remember correctly.

Also have them on my Yukon XL, firm ride without being harsh.

 

[Tonyrodz]

OK, after swapping out the stock zw7 shocks with the kyb's it rides like crap. Bought new bump stops but haven't put them in yet. When hitting a small dip or pot hole the rear feels like it's going side to side a little. A forum member said I'd probably have to swap out the rear springs, which I think I'm going to have to do. But, I plan on lowering it, nothing crazy, maybe 2-3 drop. I don't want to buy rear springs twice, so what rear springs do you guys recommend since I do plan on lowering it? It looks to have settled a little in the rear.

 

[ScottyBoy]

OK, after swapping out the stock zw7 shocks with the kyb's it rides like crap. Bought new bump stops but haven't put them in yet. When hitting a small dip or pot hole the rear feels like it's going side to side a little. A forum member said I'd probably have to swap out the rear springs, which I think I'm going to have to do. But, I plan on lowering it, nothing crazy, maybe 2-3 drop. I don't want to buy rear springs twice, so what rear springs do you guys recommend since I do plan on lowering it? It looks to have settled a little in the rear.

If you had the Nivomat shocks, then yes you WILL need to get new springs. The Nivomat shocks are self leveling shocks, but completely self contained and not connected to air hoses or anything. They are easily identified by their size, they are HUGE. They are about twice as thick as normal shocks.

 

[Tonyrodz]

If you had the Nivomat shocks, then yes you WILL need to get new springs. The Nivomat shocks are self leveling shocks, but completely self contained and not connected to air hoses or anything. They are easily identified by their size, they are HUGE. They are about twice as thick as normal shocks.

Yup, huge compared to the new shocks.

 

[TheAutumnWind]

Those "G" KYB shocks are their bottom of the barrel versions. If you plan to keep the thing awhile spend the coin on the 4600's...

I've personally installed in my own vehicles: KYB monomax's (monotube shocks), bilstein 4600's, bilstein 5100's, bilstein 5125's, Gabriel max control monotubes (hated them, and replace with bilsteins), and some ok edelbrocks.

I don't plan to run anything less than a bilstein in the future.

BTW Gas a just's are also monotubes, I see those were mentioned in this thread.

 

[Tonyrodz]

Those "G" KYB shocks are their bottom of the barrel versions. If you plan to keep the thing awhile spend the coin on the 4600's...

I've personally installed in my own vehicles: KYB monomax's (monotube shocks), bilstein 4600's, bilstein 5100's, bilstein 5125's, Gabriel max control monotubes (hated them, and replace with bilsteins), and some ok edelbrocks.

I don't plan to run anything less than a bilstein in the future.

BTW Gas a just's are also monotubes, I see those were mentioned in this thread.

We'll that sux! Are 4600's OK on a lowered ride?

 

[ScottyBoy]

Yup, huge compared to the new shocks. View attachment 72118

Yep, that's the Nivomat self adjusting load leveling shocks. The springs are really soft with those shocks, so you will have to get stock springs or Z71 springs. But you mentioned lowering..
I've heard decent things about Ground Force lowering springs. They are a cheaper spring but a good bang for the buck. A guy I know on another forum had a 01 Tahoe that he put Ground Force lowering springs on, and then he added Firestone helper bags (which fit INSIDE the springs) to help with towing since he towed a huge boat. He bragged about how good they rode. He also used Ground Force shocks if I remember correctly. But they only lowered it about 3 inches, if you want more than that check out other brands as well.

 

[TheAutumnWind]

We'll that sux! Are 4600's OK on a lowered ride?

Yes. Be sure to get a shock relocation bracket and trim the bumpstops atleast. McGaughy's makes a good spring IIRC. Ideally you should do the free travel mod.

 

[Tonyrodz]

Yep, that's the Nivomat self adjusting load leveling shocks. The springs are really soft with those shocks, so you will have to get stock springs or Z71 springs. But you mentioned lowering..
I've heard decent things about Ground Force lowering springs. They are a cheaper spring but a good bang for the buck. A guy I know on another forum had a 01 Tahoe that he put Ground Force lowering springs on, and then he added Firestone helper bags (which fit INSIDE the springs) to help with towing since he towed a huge boat. He bragged about how good they rode. He also used Ground Force shocks if I remember correctly. But they only lowered it about 3 inches, if you want more than that check out other brands as well.

I'm only looking to do a 2-3 drop. I'm going to look those up. I don't want to do the job twice or buy parts twice either. Thx.

 

[BigDaddy13440]

FWIW, the Z71 springs are supposedly able to handle about 800lbs more payload than a standard spring, but I'm not sure if the springs in a truck with Nivomat's are even rated as "standard". Not to mention, the Z71 springs are supposed to give from 1/4" to 1" of lift, depending on how worn the original springs are.

You can always check in with a local custom spring shop. They can most likely set you up with some load-adjusting springs (variable spring rate, depending on how much of a load you have), and they could make them for whatever lift/drop you want. It'd be sick to have some 4" drop springs with another 1200 lbs for a load rating vs a typical Tahoe/Yukon/Escalade...

 

[TheAutumnWind]

FWIW, the Z71 springs are supposedly able to handle about 800lbs more payload than a standard spring, but I'm not sure if the springs in a truck with Nivomat's are even rated as "standard". Not to mention, the Z71 springs are supposed to give from 1/4" to 1" of lift, depending on how worn the original springs are.

You can always check in with a local custom spring shop. They can most likely set you up with some load-adjusting springs (variable spring rate, depending on how much of a load you have), and they could make them for whatever lift/drop you want. It'd be sick to have some 4" drop springs with another 1200 lbs for a load rating vs a typical Tahoe/Yukon/Escalade...

That is what air ride air helper springs are for. I planned to run em before my nali got totalled.

 

[ScottyBoy]

That is what air ride air helper springs are for. I planned to run em before my nali got totalled.

Exactly. You can lower your truck and use the Air-Ride helper bags to increase payload and towing capacity. Like I mentioned above, someone put 3inch lowering springs on his Tahoe but then added the Firestone helper bags, so he had ZERO problems towing a 24 foot boat.

 

[dhulsey779]

We'll that sux! Are 4600's OK on a lowered ride?

I placed the 4600's on mine which has the 2/3 drop. Rides very nice in my option.


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