why does G2 recomend bilstein HDs for their super springs? i always thought HDs were OEM replacement and weren't designed for lowering springs...

 

Depending on budget..some recommends Koni's read $$$$$ OR Re-valved Bilstein HD..

I'll stop my advice hear because whenever Sam chimes In Im generally WRONG and embarrassed...hopefully he'll see your post and explain why!

I have the G2 springs and Re-valved HD's..Im reasonably happy with them..but the ride is FIRM...at speed 50+ your wheels are planted at all times below 50 their still planted but you will get some jarring hits..just a product of being planted....

In three words....I like them...but if you want "Comfy"...you wont get it

 

yeah i know that but i was just curious why G2 would do that. i'll probably let sam decide which springs are best for me when i buy (i can't wait for his sway bars ) i dont mind dishing out the $ for konis but G2 is a knowlegable company and i'm just wondering why they would do that.

 

I have my thoughts on why the recommend HD's with their springs. I believe it's simply because it's easier to sell something that costs less, and until someone experiences a better shock they are in the dark about just how much damping might be lacking. MHO.

My reasons for telling you that HD's are not wise with most any lowering spring (and most of all things like G2, Vogtland, etc) are as follows.

1. Well documented that Bilstein themselves tells us HD's are not suitable for lowered cars. Big letters, right on page 1 of their catalog.

2. Because of #1, you can figure out the shocks are valved to damp stock type spring rates/travels. The springs in questions here are not even close to a little stiffer than stock, see below and look at the differences.

stock: F:292/R:115
1LE: F:360/R:130-180
LS1 Pro-kit: F:400/R: 80-137
Hotchkis F:285-525/R:100-140
LT1 Pro-kit: F:377-600/R: 90-160
G2 F:550/R:170-220 or so (might be 180-220).

3. Even if one felt HD's were suitable for lighter springs like the LS1 Pro-kit (I don't think they are, but at least it's somewhat workable) all you have to do the math and look at the percentage stiffer the stiffer springs are.

4. Let's not forget that shocks are spring dampers. More spring and less travel require more damping. The only way HD's could be considered fine is if they were very heavily overdamped with stock springs. And that's just not the case as anyone who has them can attest. They would ride like crap on stock springs because the rebound rate would pack the suspension down and hold it down, losing you needed travel for the next bump.

5. You can ask around... there are folks here who have had both HD's and things like Revalves or Koni's. They can attest to the differences.

 

BTW.... I sell HD's. So if this doesn't convince you, or better yet a conversation, I'll be fine with selling you those...

 

I would like to note as one who uses some of the higher end LG parts, it's all in the physics of the parts themselves. Regardless of what they sometimes recommend, it is very important to go to the effort of properly valving your shocks with what ever spring rates and heights will be used.

I notice that LG's Bilsteins are indeed more than what's usually sold, so they could be ones that are revalved for G2 super springs, but a big problem on this board is that people differentiate "HD's" from "revalves" as being two completely different shocks, when actually they have the same casings, however "HD's" referring to "stock ride height and spring rate" valving, and "revalves" being "custom modified valvings" of those same parts.

My 2 cents? Spend the money and get the appropraite valving for your shocks and avoid confusing traps such as simple names. Also take Bilstein's advice from their catalogue. If you use a spring of a different rate and height with an off the shelf HD and the parts goes bad, they take that into account and you might not have any recourse.

 

So Sam how much diffrence is ther between the Re-Valved HD's and Koni...and do the Koni's need any adjustment ie re-valving etc...

My front HD's were/are revalved so that the Speed Rebound and
High speed Rebound rates wre changed

The rears were left stock ...

 

i've already got my heart set on Koni SAs i was just curious to why G2 would do that.

 

Koni's need no valving work because they have such a broad range of adjustment. And FWIW, while your rears weren't touched, they also aren't 4th gen HD's... the valving is already different.

BTW, valvings vary depending on the the car's purpose, driver's wants, and other parts on the car. So while BitViper and others have X specs, Bob, Frank and Tom could very well have different specs, even for the same springs. Shocks are not just dampers, but tools that give stability, ride and driveability to the car. And that varies from person to person.