Shock Absorbers

[John2517]

300C Eibachs springs, 20's. Anyone have any luck with finding non OEM shocks for this car as the ride has degraded drasticly sinced changing the suspension.

[goddardzilla]

But it was fine before the changes?

Springs too stiff?

Zilla

[John2517]

no the ride was acceptable after the switch to the eibachs but 3, 000 miles later it feel as if the shocks are worn out. Example as you are at highway speeds at 60-80 mph and are making a curve and hit an expansion joibt the car jumps in the oposite direction of the curve. I had this situation with my Audi and when brought to shop it was determined that I had two leaking shocks

[goddardzilla]

The Eibachs springs you have fitted are stiffer than the original springs

Very few original shocks have the damping necessary to properly control the stiffer lowering springs. Even if they work reasonably well when first installed, the higher rate springs will cause the factory shocks to wear much faster.

By lowering the car and putting shocks that will control the stiffer springs you have unavoidably bought into a firmer ride. The upside is that the car should have improved cornering power, and sharper handling.

A solution for the front shocks would be to use the Bilstein units from the SRT8
The rear shocks on the SRT8 are Sachs Nivomats - incompatable with Eibach springs.
Check with Bilstein America - to see if they have a listing for the rear of an SRT8, that you can use with lowering springs.

While it is absolutely not permissible to mix types of shocks on the same axle, it is permissible to have different brands of appropriately valved shocks on different axles.

These are the shocks that I would consider (subject to availability for the 300c)- : Bilstein, Koni, Tokico performance, - there are other possible shocks. If you research, and find listings, please post them in thread for the benefit of forum members.

Zilla
(I owned a high performance Tire/Suspension/Accessory shop)

[jhelmuth]

nice reply zilla! good info to have if you are going this route...

[Scarbs]

Yea i just had B/C Lowered and i think i feel a float when i hit a bump. I should replace the front shocks that will fix it? And will it help suspension preformance.

[Randar_462]

There is just one major problem....I have yet to find any other shock/struts than the OEM ones and they are on national back order.

[Mr.DJ]

Originally Posted by John2517

300C Eibachs springs, 20's. Anyone have any luck with finding non OEM shocks for this car as the ride has degraded drasticly sinced changing the suspension.

A shock absorber's main purpose is not to provide/ensure 'ride quality', but is actually designed to ensure that you vehicle's tire remains in contact with the pavement at all times. A worn shock = erratic tire treadwear (cupping). I'm sure that it's the change in suspension (the new shorter/stiffer springs) which is what you're actually experiencing, and your OEM shocks are now not allowed to perform their intended job like they were initially designed to do.

I suggest going with zilla's recommendations.

(Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company - retired)

[obiwan]

Had the same problem on my Magnum, was fine to start then 3000 miles or so and it was a '59 caddy.

Picked up KW coilovers with adjustable height and damping, very nice ride, firm, follows the road and no more float.

[Northern Rider]

I seriously considered stiffer springs and lowering about 1 " for track racing.

However, upon looking at the front end geometry with its Mercede's extreme caster, no aftermarket shocks to go with the springs, and the complete lack of a camber adjustment kit, I decided to leave well enough alone.

I have a standing order with a wrecker buddy that when a wrecked SRT8 shows up in the online inventory - to go ahead and scavenge certain components for me (this is standard racing gearhead procedure).