Re: [Chrysler300] Need shocks for 1957 300C

[John Lazenby <french_fryguy@xxxxxxxxx>]

I guess I should get into this.  I've sold Koni, Bilstein for 40 years and KYB and Tokico for the past 20.  Before I go any further I'm no longer offering any of these so you need to find your own source.
 
Koni and Bilsteins are the far superior of the four brands.  My opinion from personal use is Koni is the best choice for street and road driving.  The adjustment factor that Gil mentioned is actually for wear and if memory serves me there are about six settings.  The way this is accomplished is compress the shock and turn it 180o and then extend it to stiffen to the next level.  Koni shocks are rebuild-able and I think would last several lifetimes on our cars for the amount of driving they actually see.
 
Bilstein is a gas shock and is self adjusting.  You can actually contact Bilstein in the San Diego area and if you can get to an engineer you can have them valve shocks to your needs.  I've never done this but know some who have.
 
My experience with them has been in the off road market where they seem to do their best.  Highway application compared to Koni is a bit more harsh and because the valving is predetermined you live with it.
 
Tokico is a good product that I would personally rate a step down from Bilstein but that is a big step.  They are gas shocks and work on the same principle as the Bilstein.  A few years ago Chrysler was using this brand from the factory but I don't know if that continues today.
 
KYB offers gas shocks and would be yet another step down.  They tend to offer somewhat of a harsh ride especially in lighter cars.  Both KYB and Tokico come from Japan, Bilstein is German and Koni from Holland.
 
Some of my Chryslers use KYB because of cost and the limited amount of use they get.  They are an improvement over the originals but if I was willing to step up to the Bilstein or Koni I'm sure the difference would be noticeable.
 
Both of my VW sedans run Koni.  My pretty much stock '63 offers a firm and controlled ride.  The '60 Hot Rod (200HP) also runs Koni but the fronts have been modified for the front end being lowered and less rebound for weight transfer on those hard launches.
 
It all comes down to how much do you want to spend and what results you are after.  Hope this will be of some assistance in deciding what is best for your need.
 
John Lazenby
 

________________________________
 From: "lettercars@xxxxxxx" <lettercars@xxxxxxx>
To: rfmelton@xxxxxxx; chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
Sent: Friday, March 15, 2013 9:22 AM
Subject: Re: [Chrysler300] Need shocks for 1957 300C
   
   
 
All:
Way back in the day ('60s) I put a set on Konis on my 300C.  They were 
adjustable and I set them at about 1/3 stiffness.  I was very happy with  them. 
Haven't driven the car in about 40 years, so can't say how they  would 
have held up.
However, I have been pleased with the KYBs on my F and H.  I think, 
however, I am now detecting a little "loosening" of control in the 300F  after 
10,000 or so miles.
300ly, Gil Cunningham
Tallahassee, FL


In a message dated 3/14/2013 11:19:14 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, 
mailto:rfmelton%40msn.com writes:

Hello  Group -

I am restoring my late father's 1957 Chrysler 300C, and  am currently 
working
on the suspension.  Although the shocks on the  car seem to work OK, I know
they are not original (fronts are blue Monroes,  rear are no-name black
ones), so while the front end is apart and shocks  are easily accessible,  I
would like to replace them with modern  gas-charged shocks that are
appropriately valved for the stiffer suspension  on the 300C, rather than 
for
the supposedly softer spring rates on the New  Yorker, for example.  Andy
Bernbaum has gas-charged shocks, but admits  that they are not really
anything different for the 300C; they are merely  applicable all across the
line.

I recall (but can't find)  previous correspondence on this subject, talking
about gas-charged KYB  shocks.  Can anyone please refer me to a current
source (and  applicable FT/RR part numbers, if available) for the Heavy-Duty
shocks (any  brand) for my car?

Thanks,

Ray Melton

Las  Cruces, NM

1957 Chrysler 300C convertible  white/Gauguin  S/N  3N572517

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