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Bilstein or Koni ?

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Old Mar 6, 2005 | 10:13 AM
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Default Bilstein or Koni ?

I am going to order the 550lbs springs and two front shocks soon. The 550lbs springs should get the height down to 27"-27.5" without cutting anything off the spring - which shocks should I get, Koni or Bilstein ?

Eckler's says that the Koni in it's stiffest setting is as stiff as the Bilstein shocks. I had Koni shocks a few years ago and they were very harsh and stiff... I didn't know that the Bilsteins are that stiff - are they really ?????

Who has the Koni shocks installed and how do you like them ?
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Old Mar 6, 2005 | 10:39 AM
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Koni, they will allow you to adjust the rebound stiffness and that's what's needed to control the heavy springs. I had them and liked them a lot.
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Old Mar 6, 2005 | 11:07 AM
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I have the red Koni's on mine. I started with the setting that the Koni tech recommended. Over a period of a year, I adjusted them 3 times firmer until I got them dialed in where I was happy with them. Were the Koni's you had adjustable and if so, maybe all you would have had to do was adjust them softer?
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Old Mar 6, 2005 | 11:25 AM
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Depends on your budget, I put the Bilsteins on my C3 2 years ago and am still very pleased with them. Have the 550 springs up front as well.
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Old Mar 6, 2005 | 12:06 PM
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Originally Posted by Twin_Turbo
Koni, they will allow you to adjust the rebound stiffness and that's what's needed to control the heavy springs. I had them and liked them a lot.

That's what I thought - the 550lbs springs need to be controlled, with the KYB shocks that I have installed it would likely feel like riding on a spring without any dampening at all....
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Old Mar 6, 2005 | 12:12 PM
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Originally Posted by Mako72
I have the red Koni's on mine. I started with the setting that the Koni tech recommended. Over a period of a year, I adjusted them 3 times firmer until I got them dialed in where I was happy with them. Were the Koni's you had adjustable and if so, maybe all you would have had to do was adjust them softer?

I had yellow Koni shocks, those are a little on the rough side.... great for racing but it's just too much for driving on bad roads...

I was surprised that they say the Koni in its stiffest setting compares to the Bilstein - so the red Konis are more like a adjustable stock replacement ... they're not a lot more expensive than the Bilsteins ... $99 each... (summit)
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Old Mar 6, 2005 | 12:47 PM
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I have red koni´s on my 74.

Im very happy with the ride quality.
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Old Mar 6, 2005 | 10:42 PM
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I have Bilstein sport shocks all around. They were excellent with 550#/in front springs and are excellent with 860#/in front springs. In both cases the ride could be described as firm.
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Old Mar 7, 2005 | 09:06 AM
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I have rear QA1 adjustable shocks.
http://www.vansteel.com/index.cfm?fu...&SubGroup=1913

A little more than the Bilsteins and a little less than the Koni's. These are 12 point adjustable shocks w/a bright anodized aluminum body. Check them out.

Dan
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Old Mar 7, 2005 | 10:11 AM
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i've got Bilsteins, all four corners, with 550 fronts and a 360 composite rear.

For what it's worth, though, I hear Konis are better, especially with the composite spring; I've been happy with the Bilsteins, but eventually I'll upgrade.

Last edited by DropTopBigBlock; Mar 7, 2005 at 10:24 AM.
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Old Mar 7, 2005 | 10:19 AM
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I´ve just bought those QA1´s for my 69.

Hope they are as good as the Koni´s
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