Is there a big difference in shock brands?

Question

I have a pontiac Trans Am Gt.

I'm looking mostly at a KYB AGX set or Tokiko HP or gabriel, or maybe the standard cheap ones.

Do trans am and firebird use the same shocks?

Answer 1

the kyb agx are a step higher than the tokiko hp which are a step above the gabriel... all will outperform the cheap ones.

trans am and firebird are the same car, so yes.

you could get new springs too, but unless you want to lower the car, you don't need to.

Answer 2

Joel, You can purchase KYB struts from: autopartswarehouse.com. no cost for shipping or sales tax. There's a huge difference between KYB, Gabriel and Monroe. The valving is stiffer in the KYB units. I'm sure you've heard of the Monroe Sensa-Track struts. Inside the strut tube there is a machined slot about 2.5 -3.0 inches long that lets the shock fluid by-pass the strut piston at the installed ride height. This is done so the old woman and men out there get a soft mushy ride over small bumps in the road. Then the piston slides up or down beyond the slot the valving gets stiffer.

The KYB strut has one valve at the bottom of the main piston that allows oil transfer according to the load in either direction during the entire travel of the piston inside. In other words the resistance to travel in both directions is the same, regardless of the position of the slider rod and piston.

They don't cost a dime more than Monroe or Gabriel products.  

Answer 3

go with the good shocks you will be happier, the cheap ones you get what you pay for, yes they take the same shocks, if the springs are not broken they are good don't wory about them

Answer 4

stay away from gabriels, they are junk.trans.am and firebird should be the same, if they did,nt change between years.