Koni users chime in
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
From: New Milford Ct
A great shock for the money. Just put them in, and what a difference over factory replacements! Set them to the mid-level ajustment, and it's perfect for street use. Edelbrocks are twice the money, and I can't see those being worth that much.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 13,348
Likes: 233
From: SCMR Rat Pack'r Charter Member..Great Bend KS
The Edelbrock's I bought were half the price of the KONI's I replaced them with, and were about 1/10 the shock (for what I wanted them for).
I really like the KONI Sports. As I've said on threads like this before, they aren't as trick looking as their competitors...they look like they should be on a Caterpillar road grader...but they work and KONI stands behind them.
PS I have the fronts set two quarter turns from full soft and the rears on full soft and like how the car handles. It might be a good place for you to start if you put them on your C4.
Larry
code5coupe
I really like the KONI Sports. As I've said on threads like this before, they aren't as trick looking as their competitors...they look like they should be on a Caterpillar road grader...but they work and KONI stands behind them.
PS I have the fronts set two quarter turns from full soft and the rears on full soft and like how the car handles. It might be a good place for you to start if you put them on your C4.
Larry
code5coupe
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
Originally Posted by rocco16
PS I have the fronts set two quarter turns from full soft
Larry
code5coupe
(wiseguy gets smackdown _____here.)
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,179
Likes: 673
From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
Originally Posted by LT4CompYell
So that's about the same as a full, half turn??? (wiseguy gets smackdown _____here.)
(wiseguy gets smackdown _____here.)
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 13,348
Likes: 233
From: SCMR Rat Pack'r Charter Member..Great Bend KS
I know you well enough to realize that you are just giving me jabs, CompYell. 
Yes, two quarter turns equals one half turn.
My old motorcycle Koni's (1970's) adjusted their damping by turning the damper rod in quarter-turn increments. While my C4's KONI's instructions don't mention this (I guess they are infinitely adjustable??), it's an old habit for me to use "quarter-turn" increments.
I did some testing of 'turns vs. damping' on the Koni's before I installed them, using quarter-turn increments,and charted the results, so I stick with the 1/4 turns so I know where I am on the damping curve.
Compare to Bilstein's?? The KONI's are adjustable, the Bilsteins are not. The Bilsteins are cheaper and probably a better value if you don't need that adjustability. Nothing wrong with Bilstein's...probably the best non-adjustable shock you can put on your C4.
Larry
code5coupe
Yes, two quarter turns equals one half turn.
My old motorcycle Koni's (1970's) adjusted their damping by turning the damper rod in quarter-turn increments. While my C4's KONI's instructions don't mention this (I guess they are infinitely adjustable??), it's an old habit for me to use "quarter-turn" increments.
I did some testing of 'turns vs. damping' on the Koni's before I installed them, using quarter-turn increments,and charted the results, so I stick with the 1/4 turns so I know where I am on the damping curve.
Compare to Bilstein's?? The KONI's are adjustable, the Bilsteins are not. The Bilsteins are cheaper and probably a better value if you don't need that adjustability. Nothing wrong with Bilstein's...probably the best non-adjustable shock you can put on your C4.
Larry
code5coupe
Last edited by rocco16; Aug 30, 2005 at 01:11 PM.
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
From: harleysville pa
Bilstein Questions?
Originally Posted by rocco16
I know you well enough to realize that you are just giving me jabs, CompYell.
Yes, two quarter turns equals one half turn.
My old motorcycle Koni's (1970's) adjusted their damping by turning the damper rod in quarter-turn increments. While my C4's KONI's instructions don't mention this (I guess they are infinitely adjustable??), it's an old habit for me to use "quarter-turn" increments.
I did some testing of 'turns vs. damping' on the Koni's before I installed them, using quarter-turn increments,and charted the results, so I stick with the 1/4 turns so I know where I am on the damping curve.
Compare to Bilstein's?? The KONI's are adjustable, the Bilsteins are not. The Bilsteins are cheaper and probably a better value if you don't need that adjustability. Nothing wrong with Bilstein's...probably the best non-adjustable shock you can put on your C4.
Larry
code5coupe
Yes, two quarter turns equals one half turn.
My old motorcycle Koni's (1970's) adjusted their damping by turning the damper rod in quarter-turn increments. While my C4's KONI's instructions don't mention this (I guess they are infinitely adjustable??), it's an old habit for me to use "quarter-turn" increments.
I did some testing of 'turns vs. damping' on the Koni's before I installed them, using quarter-turn increments,and charted the results, so I stick with the 1/4 turns so I know where I am on the damping curve.
Compare to Bilstein's?? The KONI's are adjustable, the Bilsteins are not. The Bilsteins are cheaper and probably a better value if you don't need that adjustability. Nothing wrong with Bilstein's...probably the best non-adjustable shock you can put on your C4.
Larry
code5coupe
I am looking to replace my OEM shocks on my 99c5(z51 susp.) and am trying to decide between the HDs and the SPORTs from Bilstein. The car does not get much track time and is more of a cruiser/daily driver on sunny days
Wondering if the Sports will be too harsh vs. the HDs...? I'd appreciate any guidance you can give me.thanks - Damon
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 13,348
Likes: 233
From: SCMR Rat Pack'r Charter Member..Great Bend KS
Originally Posted by DDsC5
I am looking to replace my OEM shocks on my 99c5(z51 susp.) and am trying to decide between the HDs and the SPORTs from Bilstein.
Gut feeling is that the Sports would be the tighter-valved unit. If that is true, then the HD will provide a softer ride.
Either way, the difference will not be all that great.
Originally Posted by montie98
Im wondering what offers a better ride on rough roads z51 Bilsteins or the Konis?
Larry
code5coupe
Last edited by rocco16; Aug 31, 2005 at 10:32 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 9,036
Likes: 13
From: Edmonton AB
If shopping for the Koni Sports for a C4, take a look at
Lingenfelter. Their price is 138.95/ea ($556/set) for
the 8241-1097 (FR) and 8241-1098 (RR). Their prices on Bilstein aren't
the lowest but they have the best deal on Koni's that I've found.
Shox.com has them for $572
TireRack has them for $572
eShocks weighs in at $599.76
Koni's are at the bottom of the page.
FWIW - I recently purchased Bilstein Sports (from shox.com) after
considering the Koni's.
Koni's are great, I still have a set of the pre-gas era adjustables on
another car. But it looks like the current Koni's are still awkward to
adjust and I'm past the point where I am willing to pull things apart
just to change damping.
There has been enough praise for the Z51 Bilstein's that I don't
think I'll be too far off the mark. If anything, for my purposes maybe
I should have ponied up for the ones with the Auto-X valving mod.
I can always send them in for this in the future.
.
Lingenfelter. Their price is 138.95/ea ($556/set) for
the 8241-1097 (FR) and 8241-1098 (RR). Their prices on Bilstein aren't
the lowest but they have the best deal on Koni's that I've found.
Shox.com has them for $572
TireRack has them for $572
eShocks weighs in at $599.76
Koni's are at the bottom of the page.
FWIW - I recently purchased Bilstein Sports (from shox.com) after
considering the Koni's.
Koni's are great, I still have a set of the pre-gas era adjustables on
another car. But it looks like the current Koni's are still awkward to
adjust and I'm past the point where I am willing to pull things apart
just to change damping.
There has been enough praise for the Z51 Bilstein's that I don't
think I'll be too far off the mark. If anything, for my purposes maybe
I should have ponied up for the ones with the Auto-X valving mod.
I can always send them in for this in the future.
.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 3,490
Likes: 68
From: Hewitt NJ
I also went with the Konis after trying QA1s. While the rear are not easy to adjust the car rides and handles better than it ever did. The factory Bilsteins were horrible even with only 22k miles and no they were not blown.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 399
Likes: 2
From: Newtown PA
The factory Bilsteins in the nonZ51 cars (at least on the 95 models) are valved so that when the targa top is removed, body shake and quivering is minimized (but not by much). This means they allow the car to wallow around and offer lousy damping over sharp bumps. The adjustable Konis are far superior to the factory Bilsteins and only slightly worsen the body shake and quivering with the top off. You will not be disappointed.
In defense of the Bilsteins, I installed aftermarket Bilsteins on my 79 TransAm WS6 and they were excellent. I was really surprised with the Bilsteins on the Vette. But GM probably set the shock valving for these shocks. GM did not set the shock valving right in 95 and apparently still has problems setting it right in 2006.
In defense of the Bilsteins, I installed aftermarket Bilsteins on my 79 TransAm WS6 and they were excellent. I was really surprised with the Bilsteins on the Vette. But GM probably set the shock valving for these shocks. GM did not set the shock valving right in 95 and apparently still has problems setting it right in 2006.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,179
Likes: 673
From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
Originally Posted by resipsa
The factory Bilsteins in the nonZ51 cars (at least on the 95 models) are valved so that when the targa top is removed, body shake and quivering is minimized (but not by much). This means they allow the car to wallow around and offer lousy damping over sharp bumps.
Most interesting.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,488
Likes: 4
From: Frostburg MD
Have the Koni Sports on mine now, the adjustable yellow ones. Had QA1s before. Liked the QA1s better for an everyday driving type of street shock, but like the Konis better for the autoxing and hard driving I do. They also seem to work better with the really stiff Z51 springs and bars I added. I like them, never adjust the backs just the fronts for competition. Both the Konis and the QA1s were way better than my stock Bilsteins, but the stockers where worn out so that may not be a good comparison.