Best riding shocks for an early A-Body

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highwaystar

highwaystar

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Well, I just sold my last B-body and I'm all in on A-bodies again. What I noticed most is the rough ride on my 65 Cuda vs. The smooth rides of B-bodies. What are some of the best shocks and Mods that you guys have done to get these cars to ride better without too extreme changes.
Gas shocks vs coil over shocks vs. Longer shocks? Any changes to leaf springs help
Thanks for any good info.
Highwaystar
 
Good 'ol Gabriel Red Ryders or Monroe gas-matics are my favorite. Had the Gabriels on the 63 Valiant.Not a fan of KYB, Harsh for me had them on my 64 Belvedere. Longer depends on ride height. Leaf springs, the stiffer the harsher the ride.
 
An A body's shorter wheelbase is necessarily going to give a bit choppier ride than a B body. That said, what suspension do you have now? Factory soft, factory HD, aftermarket? Kinda hard to recommend without that info.

Roads make a difference, too. I never had a problem with the way my 65 Barracuda rode until I drove it to the Mopar Nats a few years back, then visited family in and around Eaton, Ohio. Holy s---t, on those frost heaved back country roads, bounce, bounce, bounce. Doesn't do that down here.
 
Personally I like my 65 dart with Bilsteins and 1.03 PST torsion bars. I like a stiffer ride but I love the way it handles. Dustin
 
65 Cuda 340 said:
An A body's shorter wheelbase is necessarily going to give a bit choppier ride than a B body. That said, what suspension do you have now? Factory soft, factory HD, aftermarket? Kinda hard to recommend without that info.

Roads make a difference, too. I never had a problem with the way my 65 Barracuda rode until I drove it to the Mopar Nats a few years back, then visited family in and around Eaton, Ohio. Holy s---t, on those frost heaved back country roads, bounce, bounce, bounce. Doesn't do that down here.
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This is a bone stock 65 Plymouth 273 2 barrel, auto car, with worn shocks. Looking for the best route to go with new shocks, and anything else I can do for a better ride. Handling I am not concerned with. This is a driver car.
 
they had soft suspension when new and the shock rate was equally soft for your smooth ride. Try the stock rates offered by Monroe or Gabriel. Bigger torsion rods is not what your after as you said HANDLING is not an issue. Check your bar numbers. Maybe someone put some oval track bars in there back in the day they were available......
 
66fs said:
I like Bilsteins best, but for your application, see post #2.
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Yes, try a set of new shocks and see how they do.

Not sure what you could do in addition to make the ride smoother. For me, I like a smooth ride, but don't care for the wallow the stock 2-barrel suspension allows. So on my 65, I run .89 torsion bars, stock HD rear springs, factory front sway bar, Addco rear sway bar and KYB gas shocks. Plus 15x7 wheels with 225/60/15 radials. For me, it rides more smoothly than the really big torsion bars, the factory front sway bar give less understeer and a crisper steering response than a big aftermarket front bar, and the KYBs work fine on the relatively smooth and flat roads we have in this area (and are half the price of Bilsteins).

Just my opinion, of course, and I'd guess that most would disagree with my combo.

By the way, I have Bilsteins on my 04 Ram 2500 diesel. It rode rough with the stock shocks, and it rides rough now. :(
 
For what you are doing, slap a set of Monroe's on.

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Went with the Monroe. Got the back on this evening. One of them was shot, likely cause of all the problems. Doing the front tomorrow and ill test drive, and I'll report back in.
 
highwaystar said:
Went with the Monroe. Got the back on this evening. One of them was shot, likely cause of all the problems. Doing the front tomorrow and ill test drive, and I'll report back in.
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Any updates? I'm thinking Bilstein too, but want all the feedback I can get. Thx.
 
I have KYB gas-adjusts on mine. I like the ride, but then I'm partial to a more firmer suspension. I also replaced my rear springs which helped a bit too.
 
Tires and shocks make a big difference in the ride and handling .

Back in the day the 7.00x13 BF Goodrich Silvertown 2 ply bias ply tires rode nice and made the /6 easy to do peg leg burnouts . But handed like poo compaired to today’s radials .
Good luck on finding 13” tires today 14’s and 15’s are hard enough but Cooper makes them .

As for shocks Monroe-Matic would be a good choice for a soft ride .
 
TJman said:
Any updates? I'm thinking Bilstein too, but want all the feedback I can get. Thx.
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Yes. Pretty happy with the Monroe shocks. Its what I was looking for. Rides nice along with the new BFG radial tires. Absorbs the pot holes pretty good here in PA. It was definitely a cheap fix.
Highwaystar
 
highwaystar said:
Yes. Pretty happy with the Monroe shocks. Its what I was looking for. Rides nice along with the new BFG radial tires. Absorbs the pot holes pretty good here in PA. It was definitely a cheap fix.
Highwaystar
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Would you please provide a link or part numbers of the shocks you used.
Thanks
 
65 Cuda 340 said:
Yes, try a set of new shocks and see how they do.

Not sure what you could do in addition to make the ride smoother. For me, I like a smooth ride, but don't care for the wallow the stock 2-barrel suspension allows. So on my 65, I run .89 torsion bars, stock HD rear springs, factory front sway bar, Addco rear sway bar and KYB gas shocks. Plus 15x7 wheels with 225/60/15 radials. For me, it rides more smoothly than the really big torsion bars, the factory front sway bar give less understeer and a crisper steering response than a big aftermarket front bar, and the KYBs work fine on the relatively smooth and flat roads we have in this area (and are half the price of Bilsteins).

Just my opinion, of course, and I'd guess that most would disagree with my combo.

By the way, I have Bilsteins on my 04 Ram 2500 diesel. It rode rough with the stock shocks, and it rides rough now. :(
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My 2011 Ram 2500 diesel has Bilsteins and can shake you pretty good on a bumpy road. I did recently put some overpressurized KYBs in my dri er and was happy with the ride. That said softer torsion bars make a big difference.
 
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