Yeah Jack, it handles better. It's not up to MY STANDARDS...but that is all relative to the owner.

There is less lean into corners and "whipping" around traffic circles demonstrates much better handling. I do have a little plowing because of the 2LT anti sway bar, but it is acceptable.

All in all, I find it acceptable....but not race quality!! But it is my daily driver which is used mostly as economy transportation, and not my track car.

 

My factory installed struts were bad somewhere before 50,000, and the rear shocks were bad in the 30's. OK, so mine lived as a rental in Fla. for the first 17K, but yes shocks and struts are still the weakest part and the most exercised part on any car. It is no longer necessarily true that replacement parts are better than the mfg installed, used to be "single action" vs "Heavy Duty Dual Action" was real, now there is only one type of shock.

 

Factory shocks and struts are ZF Sachs, made in USA and they are terrible. Monroe and Gabriel are about the same quality as the OEM, sorry to say. KYB is probably your best cheap alternative or go with Koni which is a lot more work and cost but would probably be the best.

 

If Koni's are really the best, they why won't any one who's installed them ever pop in and say how good they are. I'd have bought them in a heartbeat if I had some assurance they'd work in an SS.

I say would have as I get relieved of duty lat week and have to figure where the next part of my life leads.

http://forum.efilive.com/showthread....ck-fish-tuning

I am the Fish Tuning they're talking about. Any way, I'd probably still buy the shocks but the SS is different and the question's never been answered.

Ira

 

I was looking at my shocks (gonna put coil air bags in) and the bottom of my OEM shocks on my 09 LS say in stamping-----KYB. Very odd. Could they have made them for chevy? I ordered KYBs anyway from Parts Train. $57 and change for 2 to my door.

 

I replaced my rear shocks last year with Monroe and I did not like them. Way too much bounce. I lived with them until I could get some time and nice weather to change them.

I put KYB on this past weekend and the difference is amazing. Smooth, no bounce, and it rides like it should. Better than brand new. I have 39k on my 08 now.

IMO, stay away from Monroe for these cars.

 

I agreed to help a buddy with shocks and he comes over with Monroes. I told him that this will be a waste of time. (mine to be honest). Sure enough, in 1 year they were as bad as the old worn out shock absorbers.

Bilsteins or KYBs for me thank you. The Monroes and Gabriels are just cheap stuff that wastes your weekend.

QR

 

Any rear shock that goes over 50K is a great shock. That is why the mfgs recommend changing them at 50K or less. That goes for the fronts also.

Most of the time people just don't notice them going bad. After you take them off, with no visible leakage etc., try pushing and pulling the plunger. New shocks are almost impossible to push or to pull, worn out shocks only barely slow you down a bit by hand, usually only in one direction.

Thing is, the newer suspensions don't react to bad damping the same way as the older cars did.

 

Unless one is on a race track Koni's are a bit over-priced for every day use, which 99% of HHRs are used for. KYB are the best buy. 160 or less for front KYBs, almost 300 for the Koni's. If 140 is pocket change and you race your HHR everyday, then I guess Koni. It took me all of 10 seconds to decide on KYB.

 

I purchaced a set of 4, KYB's to replace worn out factory pogosticks, that was 53,000 miles ago and still no leaks and they compress and rebound like new, and I will replace them when needed with another set of KYB's