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STEADIRIC Shocks

Ok Guys,

	Here's the review that at least a couple of you were waiting 
for.  I just test drove my neighbour's '86 5KCSTQ with Eric's shocks and 
the stock springs (with that long socket, the front shocks are a piece of 
cake to install!).  The car has MSW 15x7 wheels with fairly new D60A2s 
in a 215/60-15.  It has about 60,000 miles so the suspension bushings are 
still pretty good.  As a reference, my car has the same shocks, but 
stiffer and lower springs, my Father's 5KCSTQ has Konis with Eibach 
springs, and I spent a couple hours last night in a brand new '97 WMB 
740iL, which has superb handling, especially for a large sedan.

	The short answer is that this combination of shocks/springs is 
fantastic.  The ride is smoother than stock, the control is much better 
than stock, and nearly rivals the big beemer.  The really impressive part 
is the impact harshness.  Expansion joints, rough pavemnent, broken 
pavement, and other such impacts are soaked up as well as any new 
Cadillac (up 'til about '98 :-) and almost as good as the big Beemer.  I 
would highly recommend these, and although I hate pussyfooting, I will 
say that I have nothing to gain here except maybe some goodwill with Eric.

	My own car is not nearly as well controlled as this car, possibly
because the springs are too stiff for the dampers.  I am not convinced
that this is the trouble though, because they don't feel that stiff.  The
next thing I am going to try is to raise the rear ride height by about a
half inch, and see what that does for me.  I will also increase the rear
damper rebound stiffness a little and I will take another careful look
at all of my bushings to see if I have something loose. 

	Anyone who wants a ride can call on me and I'll be glad to oblige.

Later, ---------------------------------------------------------- 
Graydon D. Stuckey 	'85 Mazda RX7 GS, no toys 
graydon@apollo.gmi.edu 	'86 Audi 5000 CS Turbo Quattro, has toys
Flint, Michigan USA	'89 Thunderbird SC, lotsa toys