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Re: bmw-digest V5 #151

I am no expert on shocks/struts but I can tell you what I've heard others
say about some Monroe Shocks. Back in 1988-1990 a friend of my got me started
autocrossing my '85 Firebird in F Stock class.  Brian was an awesome
driver, he had an '85 stock Corvette and no one could beat him in his class.
Brian always made in to divisionals but never was able to make the trip to
Kansas. Anyhow...  Brian was fortunate enough to have an auto parts store 
sponsor him and they provided him with various shocks/struts to try out.
Koni, Bilstein, and Monroe Formula GP, maybe others but I cannot remember.
Time after time he would blow at least one Bilstein. He hated the Konis'
but he fell in love with the Monroe Formula GP's. [He said] they handled 
better, were more predictable and (since most people don't change shocks/struts
after an event,) they were decent on the street. You could say they were a
"progressive" shock. Under normal driving conditions, they were a bit
firmer than stock shocks but no too terrible. But when you pushed them,
they pushed back, this was by design. Brian never used anything else again. 

I decided to get them for my Firebird. I did have one shock develop a leak
and Monroe honored the lifetime warranty with no questions asked. I love
them and have no desire to try anything else.

My husband also has them for his Camaro and no complaints there either.

If I remember correctly Saleen used the adjustable version of the Monroe
Formula GP shocks/struts in their Mustangs.

I realize the Monroe Formula GP is 10 year old technology but Monroe does 
not always make "budget" shocks in my opinion. Back in 1987 the struts
were $200 a pair and the shocks were $100 a pair, and this was a mail
order price. Most auto parts stores ( if they could get them) were almost
twice as expensive.  Not budget pricing for me back then, just out of college.

Please no flames since this is not BMW specific, just sharing some 
(hopefully useful) info.

Regards,

Kim Watters
E34/'95/530i/5-speed 32,000 miles
1985 Pontiac Firebird, plus-1, Monroe Formula GP, Trans-AM springs
BMWCCA

> 
> From: swellen@domain.elided
> Date: Tue, 27 Aug 1996 11:06:41 -0500
> Subject: Monroe Sensimatics
> 
> >From: Richard Cartiledge <richard.cartledge@domain.elided>
> >Date: 27 Aug 96 11:43:13 +0000
> >Subject: Monroe Sensimatic Shocks?
> >
> >I read in the latest copy of BMW Car (UK Magazine) that Monroe now produc=
> >e the 'first intelligent aftermarket shock absorber' the shock absorber i=
> >s said to 'detect changes in road conditions and driving charateristics a=
> >nd adjust the damping accordingly'.=20
> 
> Well this is great marketing speak for a simple, but apparantly succesful,
> modification. Basically the shock is wider in the centre making more room
> for the fluid to pass by. This gives a softer ride in the normal position
> e.g. trundling through town. The rest of the shock is narrower making the
> shock stiffer e.g. at speed. 
> 
> >This is basically all the article said, has anyone any experience of this=
> >?=20
> 
> I have no experience of this but CCC tested them and where impressed but
> this was against worn shocks and against Monroes own ordinary shocks.
> 
> >I always considered Monroe to be at the budget end of the suspension mark=
> >et?
> 
> Well in a recent article in Car (I think) Peugot claimed that part of their
> success was special shocks with three (? hazy memory) different rates under
> differing circumstances.
> 
> I like the Monroe idea, a simple mechanical solution, but am wary that in
> general I wouldn't buy Monroe due to their normal cheapness. When my shocks
> need doing I will consider the Sensimatics though.
> 
> Finally are you aware of Leda? They were selling shocks with a three
> position setting via a stepper motor. They sell in pairs and if I
> remember correctly their shocks have ten settings and you can chose
> any three to be selected by the motor. I don't know if you can change
> the three you select after fitting or whether or not it's a factory
> only job.