Suspension Options
We haven't had any trouble with Vikings controlling 550's on our WS6, G-body Monte, or A-Body LeMans. As a matter of fact we haven't been above 14 (out of 19) on the rebound setting.
I really wish someone could produce a dyno sheet for the Koni's so I can see exactly what we're dealing with.
I really wish someone could produce a dyno sheet for the Koni's so I can see exactly what we're dealing with.
So, I was waiting for the Koni sale to come back and here it is...
But now I'm looking at the Viking full-coilover setup from either MWC or UMI with something like the 550/150 spring rate package. Going full coilover is appealing because I have total control over the suspension adjustment with full rebound and compression as well as ride height adjustability.
Pricing-wise, very close.
Performance-wise, I still don't know how Viking will do with those types of spring rates and whether the car will handle well. I know I can adjust the springs and it'll be great for straight-line performance.
But now I'm looking at the Viking full-coilover setup from either MWC or UMI with something like the 550/150 spring rate package. Going full coilover is appealing because I have total control over the suspension adjustment with full rebound and compression as well as ride height adjustability.
Pricing-wise, very close.
Performance-wise, I still don't know how Viking will do with those types of spring rates and whether the car will handle well. I know I can adjust the springs and it'll be great for straight-line performance.
Koni's and Bilsteins are both monotube with a separator piston. The piston holds down on the oil and prevents foaming.
Monotubes have a larger piston than twin tubes and potentially have better feel, better heat dissipation and so on. Twin tubes work great for a majority of our applications as most customers don't run hundreds of laps at any one time. There is a lot of Koni love on here, some Bilstein love (usually when Koni's aren't in the budget) and some people love the Viking/QA1 style.
The term "gas shock" is usually reserved for a monotube but twin tubes have gas also. The gas just happens to be in a baggie. All shocks have a main piston running through oil providing drag, technical term - damping of a spring system.
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 11,258
Likes: 146
From: Pace, FL
Hmm. Still very tempted by Viking coilovers...
The BMR Koni package is 1159 right now with Koni SA Sports, BMR Springs, and their sway bars. vs the Viking coilovers all the way around for just a little more.
Damn lol
The BMR Koni package is 1159 right now with Koni SA Sports, BMR Springs, and their sway bars. vs the Viking coilovers all the way around for just a little more.
Damn lol
IMO, if you're not wanting to lower it very much(1" or less) and decide to go with the Viking coil overs, I'd go with a softer front springs something in the range of 375-450,no need to go with 550's unless you're lowering over 1", and your deside to change your priority to handling. Another option is Bilsteins with BMR front 1" lowering A-arms and BMR rear lowering springs. Then there's Koni SA shocks with stock front springs on lower perch, and BMR rear springs.
Last edited by 99Bluz28; Mar 8, 2014 at 09:25 PM.
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 11,258
Likes: 146
From: Pace, FL
I actually want it to handle decently... I can take pretty harsh springs. I actually hate a car that doesn't feel pinned down. Even if it means I'm not quite as fast in a straight line. I'm not making so much power than the suspension is the difference between a 9.2 and an 8.9 timeslip...
Okay, so it sounds like you'd be happier with a set of Koni shocks over the Vikings then. In that case go with the Koni SA, with either Strano springs or BMR springs, or Koni SA shocks with stock front springs on lower perch, and BMR or Hotchkis rear springs.
This last combo will work better at the track, and still handle good.
This last combo will work better at the track, and still handle good.
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 11,258
Likes: 146
From: Pace, FL
That's what I'm thinking... with a 550/150 type spring combo, I just didn't know how well the Vikings would handle vs the Konis.
Plus, like I said, for the same price, the Koni/BMR combo comes with new sway bars too...
Plus, like I said, for the same price, the Koni/BMR combo comes with new sway bars too...
Regarding your request for a shock dyno, I happen to have it for one of my pair of rear DA's I just received back from Koni warranty. It only includes the min/max on compression/rebound though. I requested the same for the front, but was told two different things by two different people as to why they couldn't; 1) The lower mount on the shock wasn't physically compatible with their dyno. 2) The max rebound on the DA was higher than their shock dyno could measure and in theory could damage their dyno.
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 11,258
Likes: 146
From: Pace, FL
I've always heard the Koni was Twin Tube as well... which is one reason I want it. I have had both monotubes and twins... and twins are better on the street (to me) with all the imperfections they have to deal with. They seem to react quicker.
Another option is the RideTech SA coil-overs, you could get just the front, or the front and rear coil-overs.
BTW, that pinned down feel you want is from good rebound control, not spring rate, so there's really no need to go with a 550 spring rate unless you want a firmer ride, with a mild lowering.
BTW, that pinned down feel you want is from good rebound control, not spring rate, so there's really no need to go with a 550 spring rate unless you want a firmer ride, with a mild lowering.
Last edited by 99Bluz28; Mar 9, 2014 at 08:40 PM.
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Everything I've read state that the Koni Sport Yellow SA's and DA's are twin tube designs. That includes everyone on FRRAX, Unbalanced Engineering, Sam Strano, et al. If I google "8242 1005sp1" (a front DA) all vendors I glanced at list that part number as a twin tube. Why are you defining it differently than others, or are you referring to a different model?
Regarding your request for a shock dyno, I happen to have it for one of my pair of rear DA's I just received back from Koni warranty. It only includes the min/max on compression/rebound though. I requested the same for the front, but was told two different things by two different people as to why they couldn't; 1) The lower mount on the shock wasn't physically compatible with their dyno. 2) The max rebound on the DA was higher than their shock dyno could measure and in theory could damage their dyno.
Regarding your request for a shock dyno, I happen to have it for one of my pair of rear DA's I just received back from Koni warranty. It only includes the min/max on compression/rebound though. I requested the same for the front, but was told two different things by two different people as to why they couldn't; 1) The lower mount on the shock wasn't physically compatible with their dyno. 2) The max rebound on the DA was higher than their shock dyno could measure and in theory could damage their dyno.
Can you share the limited data they gave you?
