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914World.com _ 914World Garage _ Koni Yellow/Koni Red: What's the difference

Posted by: Porsche Rescue Feb 26 2005, 01:51 PM

I now have a car with Koni external adjustables. The rears are Koni red color (who knows about front inserts!). My old car had yellow rears?
What is the difference? Same shock, different paint? One older than the other? Or is there a real difference inside?

Posted by: vortrex Feb 26 2005, 02:04 PM

aren't the yellows the koni sports and the red just the plain old konis?

Posted by: trekkor Feb 26 2005, 02:32 PM

The yellows are the sports and are adjustable.
I *think* the reds are adjustable, too, but are softer.

I thought someone had posted a chart of Koni shock properties with the crossover range shown.

KT

Posted by: vortrex Feb 26 2005, 02:37 PM

the reds are definitely adjustable too.

Posted by: jd74914 Feb 26 2005, 02:45 PM

I just got a NOS set of red fronts off of some guy locally. They are definately adjustable, but I don't know the difference between the red and yellows. It seems like the reds are just older versions of the yellow sport shocks

Posted by: airsix Feb 26 2005, 04:07 PM

From the Koni website FAQ:

The KONI Special (red) has been engineered to maximize the ride comfort with good handling performance for each vehicle application. The KONI Sport (yellow) typically starts at a higher initial valving baseline to give a sportier feel and work on vehicles with higher performance parts. In some instances, KONI will only offer a Special or Sport valving and not both. Some modern cars come from the factory with higher tech suspension systems and wheel/tire packages so they would move directly into the Sport range, however they are still valved to give a comfortable ride with very good handling capabilities.

Posted by: Porsche Rescue Feb 26 2005, 05:05 PM

Sounds like I got the "wus" shocks. Oh well, probably appropriate.

Posted by: airsix Feb 26 2005, 06:05 PM

QUOTE (Porsche Rescue @ Feb 26 2005, 03:05 PM)
Sounds like I got the "wus" shocks. Oh well, probably appropriate.

Not 'wus' shocks at all. Bragging rights aside, the shock should be matched to the spring. Yelllow sports on stock springs wouldn't make any sense and wouldn't work very well. They wouldn't be a good match. Reds should be good for stock and even moderatly stiffer springs. Yellows for really stiff springs. Like Jake Raby always says - it's the combo. If you've got anything up to probably a 140# rear spring the reds are the perfect shock IMHO.

-Ben M.

Posted by: opera guy Feb 26 2005, 06:07 PM

QUOTE (Porsche Rescue @ Feb 26 2005, 03:05 PM)
Sounds like I got the "wus" shocks. Oh well, probably appropriate.

thats funny

Posted by: Jeroen Feb 26 2005, 06:47 PM

like posted above, the reds are more of a comfort shock, the yellows are more "sporty"
both are adjustable, but the yellows are externally adjustable and the reds need to be taken off the car to be adjusted (push the shaft all the way in and rotate)

Posted by: anthony Feb 26 2005, 06:55 PM

The front reds are also externally adjustable.

Posted by: airsix Feb 26 2005, 11:49 PM

Jeroen, years ago the reds used to NOT be adjustable externally, but for quite a few years they've been making them externally adjustable.

-Ben M

Posted by: monkei Feb 26 2005, 11:52 PM

so koni sports (yellows) would be ideal for one who wants to go all out (160lb springs, monoball cartridges, hard bushings, bir sway.torsion bars), correct?

Posted by: skline Feb 26 2005, 11:57 PM

I just installed a set of the red front adjustables, it is way stiff now. So stiff it bounces. I am not sure but I dont think I like it. I may have to pull them out and soften them up a little. I push on the front and it doesnt budge much at all.

Posted by: Aaron Cox Feb 26 2005, 11:58 PM

i have the NEWER reds with the knob... i run street at 1/3 stiff and AX at 2/3 to full stiff... theyu are plenty stiff for me.... yellows must be crazy stiff!

Posted by: Porsche Rescue Feb 27 2005, 12:05 AM

Thanks Ben. Guess I'm not ready for Viagra yet. I have externally adjustable reds with 140lb springs. My former car had yellows with 180's. I'm not so "wussy" after all.
I'll start with 2/3 hard (no pun intended) for my first AX with this car.

Posted by: trekkor Feb 27 2005, 12:06 AM

I love the feel of the front Yellow's on full firm.
150# rear springs with full soft Koni's.

KT

Posted by: Triaddave Feb 27 2005, 12:06 AM

i run red koni's at all four corners, all externally adjustable. the rear's have yellow springs. i think that they are heavier than the 140 lbs i had, the 140's went on the wife's 914.
i also have 23 mm torsion bars on the front. most 914's could have 22 mm installed but for some reason i have the 911 front end and as far as i can tell, the car came that way. it's a 75 car....
i autocross and it hooks up great, need new tires every few years.,damn.

Posted by: Triaddave Feb 27 2005, 12:08 AM

now that i thinks about it, maybe the springs are blue

Posted by: Aaron Cox Feb 27 2005, 12:11 AM

i need some beefier torsion bars (911 spline)

Posted by: Jeroen Feb 27 2005, 02:21 PM

QUOTE (airsix @ Feb 27 2005, 07:49 AM)
Jeroen, years ago the reds used to NOT be adjustable externally, but for quite a few years they've been making them externally adjustable.

I stand corrected... thanks!

Posted by: Jeroen Feb 27 2005, 02:21 PM

Scott, you mentioned you had it lowered... Are you sure your not riding the bumpstops?