Konis or Bilsteins?, What is being used on the track Options

[DanT]

Getting to the point of ordering shocks. Want to know what is being used by folks and what they think.
My car will be using 180# rear springs and 21 mm torsion bars and a 19 mm sway bar.
Koni adjustables or Bilstein sports?
Lets have it. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/ar15.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/headbang.gif)

[seanf123]

hey dan.
i've been told the bilsteins are the best. they have a thicker piston shaft. just what i've heard. i live in almaden as well(on redmond ave.) we should get together sometime and check out eachothers cars.sean

[ArtechnikA]

the good thing about Konis is that they are adjustable.
the bad thing about Konis is that they are adjustable.

the racer guys - with engineers and telemetry - are tweaking their dampers all the time.

i spend most event weekends pretty close to being overwhelmed all the time, and if i'm doing much more than bleeding brakes and maybe tweaking an antiroll bar and taking tire temps, i'm probably either forgetting something important or doing something half-assedly.

at most amateur levels, the big improvements come with seat time. that means among other things you must be on the grid with your head in the game when the session starts. also - you can really only learn with a stable platform.

MHO - set up the car once, arrive, and drive.

plus i just like the feel of Bilsteins better. that's a personal preference.

if you go with Konis, my suggestion is set them up in the middle of their travel and for the first season, don't touch them again.

[seanery]

I like yellow konis...I drive to the track on the softest setting....switch 'em to full hard for track duty....then drive home on full soft.
Now, this is my street car (track car has yellows too...but isn't finished) and the suspension isn't super tweeked. Some fine-tuning may be in order, but, like Rich said, set 'em in one place and get used to them, as you get better and tell what your car is doing, you can go a bit softer or a bit harder.

Get the rear adjustable perch kit, too. Ride height adjustments are very easy with it.

[nynone4]

One more vote for the Koni Yellows here as well. I run them full soft on the street and cranked down to full stiff all the way around for autox duties as well. I personally like the adjustability the Konis offer, and have had them on three 914s so far.

That said - I have driven a track car (Brad Mayeur's old white beast) with the Bilsteins - and they work VERY well also. Don't think you can go wrong with either - it's just what you personally prefer. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smilie_pokal.gif)

[davep]

My friend with the IMSA car said he used the race Koni's, but never adjusted them. He likes very heavy springs, at least with all his tail-draggers; something like 1000 lbs/inch. Can you say really stiff?
I'd opt for the Bilstein's.

[slivel]

I use Bilsteins. One nice thing about them is that they can be valved specifically for your car. When I had mine revalved I provided the spring rates and corner balance weight, sway bar size and type of tracks that I run on. Last time that I had the shocks revalved they cost $75 each but that has been some time ago so I don't know how much it costs now. Since I live in San Diego, the Bilstein west coast facility is right here and is a simple drop-off and pick-up to do.