frey51

OK,

I just got my tax return and was planning on buying 4 bilstiens for my Z. My shocks are all stock and two of them are blown from a wonderful offroading adventure while on the highway.

Anyway, Everyone is sold out of the Bilstiens and they are all on backorder with no date in sight. I need to get shocks ASAP, like order them today. What is a good shock to order that will give me similar performance but not cost a crap load more.

Or, if anyone knows a shop who has a set I may be interested. but that is a real long shot.

Any help would be great.

Thanks.

frey51

It looks like the Koni 4/3 is a set that is much better than the bilstiens, but at the same time much more expensive at $770. Is it really worth it, as my car is staying at the stock ride height with stock springs.

z28bryan

iTrader: (7)

I couldn't emphasise enough how worth it it is to have Konis with stock springs or pretty much most of the aftermarket springs out there. Koni's have rebound adjustability and control and really help this car be more comfortable over stock.

frey51

LM Performance has the 12 way adjustable QA1's on sale, http://www.lmperformance.com/19154/1.html

If you had to choose between the two. The koni's are only like $70 more, it is not that much a difference in price but quality and performance are key. I mean the qa1 kit comes with new front springs too. It sure seems like the qa1 is a better deal.

Whadaya Think

frey51

Well, I balled up and order the QA1 12 way adjustable kit from LMPerformance. Pretty good deal considering I get the springs for the front too. Hopefully I can get it installed next week, I will post up the outcome after they are on.

Fry

JD_AMG

Those are drag shocks, so I hope you don't expect good ride/handling.

frey51

Yeah I know they are more for drag, but they seem to be a good all around combination.

Using the 300 rate coilovers gives you pretty good handling from what I have read. If I went with the 275 that would be for all out drag, and 325 was more for street only. The 300 gives a good medium balance of straight line and handling.

* 275# Drag Racing
* 300# Nice Ride & Handling what I went with
* 325# Firm Ride, Great Handling & Cornering

At least thats what I read, and what the sales people told me. Plus my buddy recommended the qa1 over the konis and he knows his **** so I went with his word.


Plus read this article I found on BMR's website, shows how well these shocks and springs really do
Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4

Greggy

There's really no difference between those rate springs. You need to go at least +-50# to be worth the effort to change an F-body front spring.

frey51

So you guys are telling me that the 300 rate springs are too soft?

Why is it that BMR and other sponsers all say to use the 300 rate when you want a good balance of straight line and handling?

Can any sponsers or those with much more experiance please chime in. Did I buy the wrong setup?

z28bryan

iTrader: (7)

Uh oh, impulse buy!

Those are drag shocks. You will be in good shape if you are drag racing and just daily driving. After all sounds like you shocks are completely broken from what you said. I'd be happy if I could just drive.

z28bryan

iTrader: (7)

Actually looks like your a 1/4 mile track, daily driver type of car. So you will probably be fine.

frey51

I have another car, 91 Festiva, which is my daily driver and gas saver. The Z will really be a weekend cruiser more now, some runs on the road, and not to mention heading to the track a few times a year (not every week or anything, just for fun).

Damn you guys freaked me out.

Thanks

z28bryan

iTrader: (7)

Wow I didn't know QA1s were that expensive. Thats like Koni price territory

hpjunky98

iTrader: (3)

should have got the Konis... you'll see

JD_AMG

lol...
Unless all you want to do is dragrace, your buddy doesn't know what hes talking about.

Yes, what they really do for dragracing.
Here is a direct comparison of the street and handing differences:
https://ls1tech.com/forums/showpost....5&postcount=26
I've been in a QA1 car, it rode and handled like a boat.

Websy21

iTrader: (34)

I agree, not from first hand experience but from what I have read. Koni's over Q1A's unless drag only application. I've read of many guys switching from Q1A's to koni's b/c they couldn't stand driving the car anymore, took it to the track and still performed great with the koni's. I'll be mostly street but some strip too so I will be ordering the koni's this spring myself and most likely run the stock springs on lower perch/hose mod.

frey51

Dammit Dammit Dammit.

Why the hell do the people who sell these all say they ride fine. I mean I asked several people if they are a good all around setup and the answer was always yes, but I guess thats wrong.

I guess I have to get with LMPerf to exchange them for the Konis, hope they will work with me.

Dammit

hpjunky98

iTrader: (3)

Best to search first. This has been covered so many times, its hard not to find a thread with good info. Good luck with the exchange.

z28bryan

iTrader: (7)

Just note that you got mostly the opinions of the koni die hards in here. I am a koni die hard, but I try not to make comments on other shocks since I've never driven on them myself. If I had a chance to ride on the QA1s I could give you my perspective of them, but I can't.

Now you take your car to the track, drive on weekends, and currently have some broken shocks right? You aren't really doing any road racing or autocrossing right? I would think you should be fine. The QA1 springs you are getting are about the same spring rate as stock. You won't get crisp handling and turning that you'd get from a koni obviously, but not everyone has a requirement for it. The koni is really nice though and obviously has a lot of potential if you want to change springs in the future.

frey51

I usually do search, but I have been without my car since November so I was a bit anxious to get this done.

I went with my buddies word and the word of different sales people at several different companies, and just figured that since they all said it would be good on the street/strip I would be fine. I guess they all meant that they work fine on the street, but not for aggressive or comfortable driving. I should have been more in depth with my questions. My buddy has a drag racing mindset, so I guess I can understand where he was coming from, but I really should have just searched instead of jumping the gun and getting the kit. Live and Learn,

Waiting for LMPerformance to call me back.