Strano/Koni - I'm a believer
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Strano/Koni - I'm a believer
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?
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
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
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
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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.
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.
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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.
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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).
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).
Last edited by trackbird; 02-02-2006 at 11:15 AM.
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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.
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Originally Posted by MeentSS02
...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 ......
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...
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Originally Posted by MeentSS02
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.
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.
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Originally Posted by chupr0kabra
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?
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
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
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
Do your Koni's help you launch better as well as improve your handling, or is it a give and take deal?
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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
-Mike
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Originally Posted by BitViper
..Im hoping Sam see's thsi thread and can give some input...
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Originally Posted by BitViper
..Im hoping Sam see's thsi thread and can give some input...
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Originally Posted by CaliboyTA
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.
-Mike
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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.
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.
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www.stranoparts.com --814-849-3450
Results matter. Talk is cheap. We are miles beyond the success anyone else has had with the 4th gens, and C5, C6, C7 Corvettes,
10 SCCA Solo National Championships, 2008 Driver of they Year, 2012 Driver of Eminence
13 SCCA Pro Solo Nationals Championships
2023 UMI King of the Mountain Champion
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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.
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Originally Posted by bshell
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.