chupr0kabra

iTrader: (10)

For the past three days, I have fallen in love with driving my car all over again, and it's all thanks to my new Koni SA's. Without changing anything else on the car (aside from polishing my calipers a little), I installed a set of 4th gen front and rear Koni SA shocks, and the difference is night and day. These replaced a set of KYB GasAJust shocks, which I knew were too soft for the Hotchkis springs, but I had no idea just how much better the Koni's would be.

What are the specific differences?

• Smaller bumps make an impact on the tires, but I don't feel them anywhere beyond that
• I feel larger bumps ONCE, instead of two or three times
• Bumps and valleys that used to cause my nose or exhaust to scrape no longer do so, simply because the shocks are now controlling the car better
• The rearend doesn't feel nearly as "floaty" as it did before

I wasn't sure they would be worth the cost until I went on my second test drive. On the first drive, the rearend was really "bouncy". I thought (skeptically), 'Well, let's see if the adjustment **** actually does anything'. I dialed the rear shocks all the way back to full soft, then gave them a full turn toward firm (I started them on half a turn) and it made a noticeable difference. Noticeable enough to make the rearend feel more planted and make me very happy with the ride.

The bottom line is this: I've seen lots of posts (and I've contributed to a few myself) where people ask if they can "get by" with stock shocks (or other aftermarket shocks) with lowering springs. I've seen lots of posts where people complain about the price of Koni's, saying $800 is too much to pay for shocks. Can you "get by" with different shocks? Sure! But I now know from experience that once you've actually driven a car with shocks that are "intended for" (to borrow a term from Bilstein's manual) the application, you won't want to go back.

Thanks to Sam Strano for taking the time to talk to me about my purchase and giving me good information to make the decision.


-Mike

MeentSS02

iTrader: (11)

I think you are highly underestimating the power of polished calipers...that alone could have made all the difference

I was torn at first on whether to get the Koni's or revalved Bilsteins, and I went with the Bilsteins. Now I'm wondering if even I should upgrade

Glad to hear you are happy.

Krab

iTrader: (28)

Sounds like you made a good decision on getting the right shocks. I'm waiting for my Bilsteins (stock shocks) to arrive so I can install them and see if I notice a difference in the ride.

trackbird

iTrader: (4)

Mike,

Thanks for sharing your experience. For quite a while I've had people looking at me like I grew a second head when I suggested that they consider Koni's for thier car. I always hear that it's too expensive, etc. But nobody really minds spending $1,400+ on heads....

It really helps when others have the same experience. Maybe that second head will soon disappear.....

It sounds like Sam fixed you up (as he's good at doing).

01 Red WS6

iTrader: (4)

I've told people that you CAN get by on different shocks and be just fine but you never know what you are really missing out on. I think it's funny that you said the same thing I always say.

BitViper

iTrader: (63)

Ive often wonderd the same thing....I dont really have any complaints about the Bilstiens...

My "Ride Quality" seems better at speed than it does cruzing around town..its kinda "stoney" at low speeds and rough surfaces..the wheels seem to "pound" pot holes....but at speed the car really feels planted.. the springs do keep the wheels planted....Even if i do seem to catch negative G's when I go over an abrupt "woop'tie"...at speed..im not seeing and "Floating" or "hobbie horsing"

Cornering the car too seems to be handeling as expected.. ( note...I need to look at a Strano front bar) I do get abit of body roll but thats not the springs or shocks job...

It would be nice to have the wheels step thru pot holes..but I think what Imexperiencing is very stiff springs doing thier job..Im hoping Sam see's thsi thread and can give some input...

Foxxtron

iTrader: (1)

From my experience with Koni's (no longer have them, but had them for at least 20K), they are great shocks, however the real matter is if what ever you have is reliable, consistent, and has the proper valving for the spring rates/spring heights you have. If you have OEM non-adjustible springs, then you could find some use for the adjustments, however you might see the whole purpose of the adjustibles if you use coil-overs and that's a whole other situation.

Louie83

iTrader: (3)

Good write up. I will be getting some lowering springs (have no clue which ones as people just recommend whatever they are running) and am considering doing shocks at the same time.

Do your Koni's help you launch better as well as improve your handling, or is it a give and take deal?

chupr0kabra

iTrader: (10)

I haven't done any hard launches yet, but since they're adjustable, I can set them for a firm ride when street driving, then set the fronts a little softer for better weight transfer when launching.


-Mike

Louie83

iTrader: (3)

Hmmm....good point.

I'm going to pretend I didn't read that because now I want some.

CaliboyTA

iTrader: (2)

chupr0kabra. U have any pics of ur ride height. My intial plan was to go with koni sa with hotckiss springs. Im planning on ordering some qtp long tubes with catted x-pipe and i was wonder if u have any clearance issue with the hotckiss/LT setup.

Tobynine9

iTrader: (17)

I thought that guy saw every thread. That guy must make his whole living off of this site. If he's as good as everyone says he is...

Tobynine9

iTrader: (17)

I thought that guy saw every thread. That guy must make his whole living off of this site. If he's as good as everyone says he is...

Urban Legend

iTrader: (5)

He is that good.

chupr0kabra

iTrader: (10)

I'm planning to detail the car this weekend, so I'll take some pictures then. I've had some clearance issues with my y-pipe (TSP catted y), but the new shocks have helped tremendously with the scraping.


-Mike

Sam Strano

iTrader: (41)

I wish I made a living off this site. But I don't, which is why I can't always answer, or answer in a timely fashion.... I have other things cooking too (I type between phone calls).

BitViper. Do I think the car would be better with Koni's? Hell yes. The negative G's you experience, which most folks term as feeling light would be so much better it's not funny. The stiff springs do add to ride harshness, you are correct... that's one reason I don't run rear springs that stiff. I do run front springs that stiff and stiffer, and the cars ride very well. Shocks do a ton in the realm of impact harshness. And I'm 100% confident the car does do some of those other things, you just don't recognize them as weaknesses.

Bottom line is you know that Bilstein HD's aren't meant for lowered springs. You not only have lower spring (and a lot lower), but pretty high rate springs. Are they passable? I guess so to a lot of people. Not to me. Hell a lot of folks love the way a Caddy or a Town Car rides. The biggest single issue here is that it isn't easy for folks to experience good dampers. They tend to look at shocks as all the same because they look pretty much the same and are *supposed* to do the same job. But camshafts look pretty much the same. Brake Pads, rotors, tires and so on.

Anyway.... Mike: It's great to hear you like your shocks so much. And let me say thanks for not only taking the time to write about your findings (including what just a rear shock damping adjustment can do), but for the pat on the back. That means a ton, and you can't get better advertising then good word of mouth. So thank you, and it was my pleasure.

Carlos01SS

iTrader: (4)

Koni shocks kick ***, period.

Rescue Ranger

iTrader: (10)

cool write up. thanks for the info! I'll be getting revalves when it comes time... don't know if I want to spend the extra on konis, but I don't doubt they rock

bshell

iTrader: (24)

Strano is definitely a great source of knowledge when it comes to making these cars handle better! I also have Konis SAs (4th gen front, 3rd gen rear), they were a great improvement over my worn out SLP valved Bilsteins! I also like the look with the front springs on the lower perch as well.

FAST LS1

iTrader: (2)

I talked to Sam when I started doing my suspension and went with his recommendations, and input from people on the board. As you can see in my sig I have parts from both Strano and Trackbird. My car rides about as hard as an SLP SS or WS6, but handles better, and sits lower. It wasn't the cheapest route, but well worth the money to get the ride height and ride quality I wanted.