The search function shows plenty of threads about shocks, but didn't really give me a definate answer, what i am after is some good shocks for the front of my TH wagon, it's on lovells superlows i think, they came with the car, front couldn't really get any lower, it's on 17" and they nearly rub...

Anyway, the ride over bumpy roads or during hard cornering is rubbish, bouncy and not controlled, i am after a firm shock that will give good control, not really fussed about comfort, i've always preffered a stiff car that thuds over bumps to one that bottoms out or wallows all over the place.

So basically i'd like the stiffest strut insert we can get, what's available? i've seen people mention kyb and koni red and yellow, but i have no idea of which is the firmest.

Budget is up to $200 a side, plus fitting, so no point saying go coil overs or something as that is out of my price range.

Then there's the rear, I believe the wagon runs different shocks to the sedans? anyone got any specs on these? ie open and closed lenghts, how long and what pitch is the thread at the top, and eyelet size at the bottom, with these figures i can probably match up some decent adjustable dampers off another vehicle to suit as i doubt there's much in the way of performance shocks for the wagon?

where abouts are you located?

KYB shicks with adjustable damper maybe?.....you can adjsut stiffness with damper cant you? i always get confused.

You cant have stiff shocks that arnt matched to your springs.

For example, you could get a set of shocks valved to handle a spring rate of 500nm, but, if your not running stiff enough springs, then basically, the shock is doing the work of the spring, leading to worse handling, and a worse ride.

you can hide a not so great spring, with good shocks.. but you can't hide bad shocks with good springs..

thats the way i always think of it.. there isn't much off the shelf i don't think for the magna's as no body really gets into motor sport..

i don't know if the pedders 'sports ryder' shock are actually a heavier valving or just painted red and turned the shaft down to give it a shorter stroke..

but if your in brisbane.. i know of a place that MIGHT be able to help..

worst case scenario.. coilovers.. heaps of settings in a decent set.. don't automatically think rock hard track car coilovers.. alot of spring rates are available..

If get a set of Konis (either red, or yellow) you can get them revalved to me much stiffer. However, the stock rate of the Koni Yellows are fine up to a spring rate of about 350. Kings springs have a spring rate about half of that.

I'm in melbourne and the car is on Lovells i think, it's a blue spring and was on the car when i got it so I can't be sure. spring rate is definately not very high. stiffer than stock, but not as stiff as a car this low should be.

Not much choice for a wagon I don't think. Certainly not Konis, as far as I can tell. (Not for the rear anyway)

KYBs all round is prob the best choice out of the cheaper lot - KYBs, Monroes, Pedders etc. It's what I put on my wagon along with Kings, which I believe are firmer than Lovells.

Whereabouts in Melbourne are you located?

nothing really out there for wagons, kybs are stiffer but nowhere near as much as koni's. koni dont make a back shock for the wagons and the same with coilovers. Ideally if you are wanting stiffer, go a King SP low with KYB/Pedders shocks, Should be semi alright, but being that you are running Superlows thats 85% of your problem they are a show spring not a handling spring.

The rear isn't an issue, the shocks that are in it seem ok for now, and as long as i get some measuments for them i will be able to make something from another vehicle fit, those kind of shocks are alot more generic than struts are.

For the front then i might go for some Konis, i know the springs aren't the best, but it'll have to do for now as the current shocks have had it and i can't afford to replace everything at once. there's a guy here in melbourne that said he can custom make springs for $150odd at any height and weight i want, so i'll be giving him a call later on down the track.

there's a guy here in melbourne that said he can custom make springs for $150odd at any height and weight i want, so i'll be giving him a call later on down the track.

Thats for a pair, right? Wanna PM me some details, please?

I have Pedders Sports Ryder pack and changed the shocks to KYB recently. Unfortunately, costly mistake. Those KYBs are bit softer than the Pedders shocks were. With hard driving on soft, grippy tyres they just can't keep up and wobble a bit.
Dunno if Monroe GTs for Magna were better. I used them in my Cortina and they were nice and firm.