installed gabriel vst shocks 91 300 sel - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

will · #1 10-21-2006, 05:45 PM

after reading a post a while ago about these shocks i thought i would try them. bought them at autozone for 84.00 for all 4, plus they had a buy 4 get 1 free rebate. well they work damn good so far. made the old 91 300 sel handle like a different car. it use to float like a boat now the cornering has improved dramatically. they were well worth the money. i will see how long they last, but they have a lifetime warranty and i installed myself in about 1.5 hours start to finish.

Johnhef · #2 10-22-2006, 11:03 AM

I've been thinking about getting these for my 124 as well, as soon as I get the time I will.

jhodg5ck · #3 10-22-2006, 12:17 PM

I believe you will find that in 10,000 or so miles these shocks will be shadows of their former selves. The top of the line KYB (a better shock the Gabriel) lasts that long.

For something that you 'feel' every day you drive your car cheaping out on shocks doesn't make much sense IMHO. Bilsteins provide excellent/even damping which is suited to our cars and does so for a Very long time. Why mess with what's Known to work?

Jonathan

will · #4 10-22-2006, 12:50 PM

well, i've been wrong before, and it i'm sure it won't be the last time.

gmercoleza · #5 10-22-2006, 02:18 PM

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=164678

psfred · #6 10-22-2006, 04:14 PM

I put Gabriels on my 220D, big mistake. Rides VERY hard, and handling isn't that much better.

A new set of Bilstiens would surprise you. They are very soft on wheel rise -- this is to absorb bumps. They are quite stiff on extension, though, and with the substatial anti-roll bars these cars have front and rear, you get a quiet ride with superb handling. Not sports car, but unless your's were so far gone the nitrogen was out of them (not likely) you didn't have a floaty ride. Bilstiens usually knock and bang when the rod piston hits the compensator piston rising up from the bottom (to keep air out of the shock as the oil leaks out) giving a harsh ride. Very rare for them to go mushy.

Don't confuse the ability to smoothy ride over bumps with a wallowy ride. The suspension doesn't have to be harsh to handle well.

My German friend recommends you leave the worn out Blistiens on if you want to use aftermarket shocks -- unless totally crapped out and non-working, they ride less harshly that the aftermarkets!

Now, if you REALLY want a rough ride, get some 20" wheels with 1" tires....

Peter

STORMINORMAN · #7 01-18-2007, 01:27 PM

4 Road Ryder Gas Supreme (aka Gabriel) installed for $175 on the '88 with a lifetime parts & labor replacement warranty @ Les Schwab.

Big difference, as I expected, since the shocks may have been the OE's...

I don't believe I'm going to worry about how long they last, although I have had Gabriel shocks on other vehicles for years with no problems nor any need for replacement.

Just my $0.02's

Cheers!

jhodg5ck · #8 01-18-2007, 01:45 PM

Someone brought a 123 in recently for a PPI, it had brand new Gabriels on it and I made a deduction of 700 off the price to replace them w/ something proper.

If you guys had the chance to drive your car back to back w/ Bilsteins you wouldn't think twice about spending the extra $$. Suspension is one of the items where one absolutely pays for what one gets..no exception.

Jonathan

STORMINORMAN · #9 01-18-2007, 02:04 PM

No problem: a very clear case of "somebody else's" $700 vs. my $0.02!

STORMINORMAN · #10 10-13-2010, 11:43 AM

Installed another set all around of these same Gabriel Gas Supreme shocks on the 1991 420SEL: this is three years+ after putting a set on the '88.

The installed (with the Les Schwab LIFETIME GUARANTEE!) shocks were $7 each more, the labor was $4 each more for a net increa$e of approximately 25% ($219 vs. $175 in '07).

Immediate and noticable ride improvement.

The shocks on the '88 are still good, ride quality is unchanged.

Estimate on KYB's were almost three times as expensive...

Now it's my $0.04 worth...

Cheers!

compu_85 · #11 10-13-2010, 12:38 PM

I'm very unhappy with the Bilstein TC shocks I put on my 99 Jetta. They are hard as a rock and every small bump gets transmitted into the car. They have held up though, 110,000 miles later they are still too firm

A friend had Monroe shocks on his 98 Jetta, I liked the way it rode much, much better. I will probably put a set of Monroes in the rear of my SDL soon...

-Jason

jhodg5ck · #12 10-13-2010, 12:47 PM

too firm? haven't had that problem before :-P

MattBelliveau · #13 10-13-2010, 12:53 PM

I bought Gabriels for my w123 a long time ago. I ended up giving them away/selling them (I can't remember). I figured shocks are something that will affect the ride of ANY car more than just bouncing, and that I should go top of the line in that aspect. Ended up doing the Bielstiens all around.

jhodg5ck · #14 10-13-2010, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattBelliveau

I bought Gabriels for my w123 a long time ago. I ended up giving them away/selling them (I can't remember). I figured shocks are something that will affect the ride of ANY car more than just bouncing, and that I should go top of the line in that aspect. Ended up doing the Bielstiens all around.

Yup.

gmercoleza · #15 10-14-2010, 11:18 AM

I think it depends on the car. On my W126 I installed the cheapies. But on the W210 I went with OEM Sachs. They were only $335 with lifetime warranty, and the car rides like new. Bilsteins were about the same price, but I figured the first set of Sachs lasted 180,000 miles, so why mess with what works.