Date:         Mon, 13 Jul 1998 11:57:51 -0700
Reply-To:     Ari Ollikainen <Ari@OLTECO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Ari Ollikainen <Ari@OLTECO.COM>
Subject:      Shock(ing) prices
Comments: To: vanagon@vanagon.com
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

        Unhappy with the behavior under "spirited" driving on twisty, bumpy
        roads of the KYBs (installed by DPO) in my 90 Vanagon Camper, I
        did a bit of price research on a set of Bilstein shocks, B46-0820
        (front) and B46-0830 (rear). Here's what I've found so far...

        Kyle @volks-motorsports: "$700.00 Plus Shipping for all 4" !!!

        Ken Beard, Susquehanna MotorSports: $81 each + shipping $20 for all 4

        Mark Anderson @shox.com: $284 SET OF 4. $10 TO SHIP COMPLETE

        Douglas Mahar, Turner Motorsport: $69.95 ea. + $15-19 ship all 4


        Any of the list vendors able to compete with the lowest of these
        prices?

        PS: Considering the number of people on the list convinced that KYBs
        are sufficiently better in performance and price than the stock Boges,
        please don't start a thread on trying to convince my butt that
        the Bilsteins all around won't be better than the silly arrangement
        of KYB GR2 (low pressure) on the front and the KYB Gas-adjust (higher
        pressure) on the rear currently on my camper. I need better control
        of weight transfer under simultaneous braking and cornering and less
        "mush" prior to taking a "set"... And, yes, I'm aware of the effect
        of tire pressures on handling, the 205/70R14 Michelin MXTs are
        carrying 36psi front and 46psi rear which gives a nicely neutral
        feel on decreasing radius on/off ramps, at least when the camper is
        unloaded.

        Come to think of it...perhaps I should be looking to upgrade the
        front sway bar, too?


      OLTECO                         Ari Ollikainen
      P.O. BOX 3688                  Networking Technology and Architecture
      Stanford, CA                   Ari@OLTECO.com
      94309-3688                     415.517.3519