I need to replace the shocks in my 144s. My research/experience so far has me trying to decide on the following:

KYB Gas-A-Just - My experience with these shocks is that they are too stiff. I called IPD and the salesman echoed that, he said they make for a harsh ride where you feel every bump.

KYB GR2 - These are KYB's low pressure gas shock, I have these on my VW Bug and they ride pretty good. The problem is that they only seem to be available for the front of the 140, not the rear.

Boge - Stock (oil?) shocks. I'm sure they ride good, but wouldn't a gas shock perform better?

Bilstein - Everyone says these are the best, but I can't afford them at over $100 a piece.

Does anyone have any experience with these shocks or any others?

I took the old shocks of my 144 to a shock-up place...and got a set of Gabriels Gas Ryder thing... they were cheap...and supposed to be the best they produce, these shocks were measured to fit... looks exactly like the old ones. But the handling is alot better, while it's also quite harsh...(not too harsh...)but I don't care cause I don't sit in the back.

An option for the rear suspension is to fit 240 shocks. KYB gas seem fine. Remove the shock absorber lower mounting "stud" from the trailing arms (keep the spacer tube which fits inside the "U" of the arm) and replace it with a 10mm dia bolt and Nyloc nut of suitable length (about 4.25" from memory). The top mount fits as is. The rebound damping on 240 shocks is stiffer than 140's. For the front Koni are excellent. They're adjustable for rebound and are re-buildable.

> An option for the rear suspension is to fit 240 shocks. KYB gas seem

> fine. Remove the shock absorber lower mounting "stud" from

> the trailing arms (keep the spacer tube which fits inside the

> "U" of the arm) and replace it with a 10mm dia bolt and

> Nyloc nut of suitable length (about 4.25" from memory). The top

> mount fits as is.

So if I'm understanding you correctly, the only difference is the thickness or legnth of the stud coming out of the trailing arm? Can I just insert a spacer or sleeve to make it fit? Tommy

The hole in the bottom eye of a 240 shock is 10mm dia. The original 140 mounting stud is 1/2" dia (slightly larger). Drilling the eye out to fit the stud is not easy as the steel tube will probably spin in the rubber bush and wreck it. Easier just to replace the stud with a suitable sized 10 mm dia bolt. Makes fitting the shock a bit easier too.

I have over the last three or four years bought three sets of 240 rear shocks, extracted the lower studs on the trailing arms as mentioned,drilled the lower mounting pivot out( not difficult at all)and used a 1/2" mounting stud in its place. This has worked out good for me.Just make sure that the stud is of good quality and stays tight.