LarryDolphins Posted September 5, 2023 Share Posted September 5, 2023 I need to replace my front shocks on my 1968 Riviera GS. Front end is too bouncy, especially when I make turns. I gave the front end a good bounce yesterday and it kept on bouncing. Does any one know a part number or recommend a good pair of shocks? Hopefully it is only the shocks that I need and not the coil springs also. I would like to keep it at the same height is now. Any advice is appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted September 5, 2023 Share Posted September 5, 2023 Rockauto shows some OE replacement Monroe shocks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryDolphins Posted September 5, 2023 Author Share Posted September 5, 2023 I just seen those, price isn't to bad either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmTee Posted September 6, 2023 Share Posted September 6, 2023 Also check the condition of the front sway bar links. I just replaced a well-worn set on my '67 (probably original) and it eliminated an intermittent 'click' I was hearing when turning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arnulfo de l.a. Posted September 6, 2023 Share Posted September 6, 2023 I had the monroes on my 65 and they were not good. Have bilsteins on front now 100% better Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arnulfo de l.a. Posted September 6, 2023 Share Posted September 6, 2023 Beautiful car! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dr914 Posted September 6, 2023 Share Posted September 6, 2023 I would install Bilstein gas, what a difference!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seafoam65 Posted September 6, 2023 Share Posted September 6, 2023 Bad springs will not cause the car to bounce too much, only shocks can cause that. The symptom of bad springs is incorrect ride height. Agree on the Bilsteins......the only way to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted September 7, 2023 Share Posted September 7, 2023 I looked at the Bilstein’s website and entered the info 1968.1969, then for grins, 1964. Each entry came back with nothing. Shocks for what year, make, and model can be substituted for both 1st and 2nd generation Rivieras? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seafoam65 Posted September 7, 2023 Share Posted September 7, 2023 There is a guy who advertises in the Riview magazine that claims he had Bilsteins made that fit early Rivieras and that he sells them.....they are pricey as I recall. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
telriv Posted September 7, 2023 Share Posted September 7, 2023 Pricy, BUT GOOD!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryDolphins Posted September 7, 2023 Author Share Posted September 7, 2023 Thanks for the tips guys, I also went to the bilsteins website and they do not have an option for 1968 Rivieras. Anyone have a part# ? EmTee thanks for the tip on the sway bar links, I have a new sway bar the previous owner gave me when I bought the car. I plan on changing that at the same time I change the shocks. Looks like Rockauto has some links in stock. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dr914 Posted September 7, 2023 Share Posted September 7, 2023 I had bilstein make them for me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryDolphins Posted September 7, 2023 Author Share Posted September 7, 2023 Would they know the correct size Dr914 ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BulldogDriver Posted September 7, 2023 Share Posted September 7, 2023 These guys have them listed for front and rear. Looks like there is a number that might be the Bilstein part number listed. https://www.performanceonline.com/1963-65-Buick-Riviera-Rear-Bilstein-Shock-Absorbers-55-R410/ Ray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryDolphins Posted September 7, 2023 Author Share Posted September 7, 2023 My car is a 1968 and I am looking for the front shocks. The website for performance does not show they have 1968 Riviera shocks. I tried the Bilstein website to look for the nearest dealer and the website doesn't even work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BulldogDriver Posted September 7, 2023 Share Posted September 7, 2023 Oops sorry Ray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted September 7, 2023 Share Posted September 7, 2023 If you’re good buddies with the manager of your local parts jobber, he might let you search through his Monroe shock catalog. Find ALL the dimensions of the shock you need then look over the Bilstein shocks and find one that works. In the early years of the ROA, there were alternative shocks listed for the first generation (in the early days, the ROA 😁was for 63 - 65 only). The ones I (think) remember are Dodge pickup shocks for the fronts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryDolphins Posted September 7, 2023 Author Share Posted September 7, 2023 I just ordered the OE replacement Monroe shocks from RockAuto. I will give these a try. If I am not satisfied I will maybe change over to Bilsteins. Kind of disappointed they did not have the shocks on their Bilsteins website and the website not working when I tried to find a nearby dealer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
telriv Posted September 7, 2023 Share Posted September 7, 2023 Like dr914 said he had Bilstein make them up for him so he is really the ONLY supplier. You WON'T find them listed anyplace else or cheaper IF your looking for less costly. Just my thoughts. Tom T. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NTX5467 Posted September 7, 2023 Share Posted September 7, 2023 After spending several hours going through the Automotive History Preservation Society website (of which I am a paid member), I finally found the Buick Parts Manual for front suspension illustrations. After going into RockAuto to first look around at their specs and illustrations. According to the Rock Auto "buyers guide list", it's not just Rivieras, but ALL '66-'70 Buick full-size cars on the fronts and similar on the rears. '65-'76 Cadillacs on the fronts, too. After looking at the front suspension parts illustrations, the real issue is the tube on the bottom of the shock, which the one bolt goes through the control arm. Compared to what the Gen I cars were, with the more normal flanged tube on the bottom side. To me, it looks like a less expensive way to do things, needing only the big bolt and nut, considering the tube on the end would cost the same as the prior flanged tube. Maybe some engineering-related side issues in the mix, too? Interesting that only Gabriel (in RA) still had both the front and rear shocks. As did Performance Ride Technologies, which has an interesting website. Also found some interesting Gen I Riviera ads, too. Take care, NTX5467 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barney Eaton Posted September 8, 2023 Share Posted September 8, 2023 (edited) Just happened to have a 1992 Monroe Master Catalog. 1966-1970 Riviera all used the same front shock ....Monroe # 5815 The same part number was also used on all full size Buicks 65-70 as well as 65 -76 Cadillac Calais & Deville. The 5815 had a stud at the top and a Bushing and Sleeve (LS19) at the bottom (see attached pages) The compressed dimension was 8 3/4 and extended 13 3/8 Looking further I found that 5840 had the same dimensions but the bottom mount was XP4 There is a possibility that the lower 2 bolt mount could be cut and discarded ... the sleeve from the old shock could be pressed into the bushing and this could be an workable solution. The BIG advantage to the 5840 is it was used on lots of GM cars...see attached sheet. In a 1991 Delco catalog the part number is 560-25 for Gas Charged Performer and 550-25 for Gas Cushioned Performer ...they indicate 1967 -71 Delco says the collapsed dimension is 9 inches and the extended is 14 1/2 Edited September 9, 2023 by Barney Eaton (see edit history) 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwedeDownUnderR63 Posted September 8, 2023 Share Posted September 8, 2023 How about this? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barney Eaton Posted September 9, 2023 Share Posted September 9, 2023 Update.... I made some additions to the original post hoping to make it clearer. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmTee Posted September 10, 2023 Share Posted September 10, 2023 On 9/7/2023 at 8:38 PM, Barney Eaton said: There is a possibility that the lower 2 bolt mount could be cut and discarded ... the sleeve from the old shock could be pressed into the bushing and this could be an workable solution. This ^^^ is what I think I would try... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barney Eaton Posted September 10, 2023 Share Posted September 10, 2023 (edited) After more searching in the Monroe catalog........ this may be another alternate. Dodge and Plymouth products in the late '70 - early '80's used a similar shock The compress dimension is 8 inches (compared to 8 3/4) extended is 12 1/4 compared to 13 3/8 The bottom mount is LS18 which you will notice is the same hole size but the width is 2 3/16 compared to 3 3/16 meaning a 1/2 inch spacer on each side would be the only modification needed. Looking on Rock Auto and using 1974 Plymouth Road Runner and 1980 Dodge St Regis as the car..... Rock auto has a good selection (even a KYB for the Road Runner) for very good prices. For reference the 1992 Monroe part numbers were 2134 for their Monro-Matic and 5824 for the Gas-Matic and 32134 for Monro-matic + for those cars. Edited September 10, 2023 by Barney Eaton (see edit history) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryDolphins Posted September 19, 2023 Author Share Posted September 19, 2023 I received the Monroe # 5815 front shocks last week, put them over the weekend. For a sec I thought they might not fit because the body diameter was 1/8" bigger. It was kind of a tight fit but they fit. The ride is much better now! Definitely need to change the sway bar links, they look very worn. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NTX5467 Posted September 20, 2023 Share Posted September 20, 2023 For the sway bar link bushings, go polyurethane for those. It will make the bar act like it's about 20% bigger. Many sources, many in colors. NTX5467 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryDolphins Posted September 20, 2023 Author Share Posted September 20, 2023 Thanks for the tip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
telriv Posted September 20, 2023 Share Posted September 20, 2023 AND, don't relie on the locking nuts to stay put. They need to be double nutted especially when using Poly. Tom T. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryDolphins Posted September 21, 2023 Author Share Posted September 21, 2023 Again thanks for the advice, will be sure to put double nuts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted September 22, 2023 Share Posted September 22, 2023 6 hours ago, LarryDolphins said: Again thanks for the advice, will be sure to put double nuts. Be sure to “lock” them together. 😁 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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