OK so i have been saving my money for the past couple of months and im trying to decide what to spend it on. I have already decided im going to buy lowering springs and shocks/struts as my car is in need of new ones to replace the old worn out ones. Here is where im stuck, i have enought for the Eibach pro kit, and then i have some extra spending money, i cant decide weather to get some nice adjustable shocks/struts, or if i should buy some more suspension components from UMI(Adj panhard, LCARB and LCA's).

I dont race my car except for a few visits to the strip,I just drive it on the street mostly.

So what do you guys think, i was originally going to go with

Pro-Kit
KYB GR'2 struts
KYB Gas-ajust shocks
UMI adjustable panhard
LCA's
LCARB's

But now im thinking of maybe getting some KONI's instead of all the extra goodies.

 

One area at a time. Do the springs and struts/shocks as a package (and do a single alignment).

JamesC

 

I agree to do the springs/shocks at the same time so you only need 1 allignment. If you are looking for handling, I'd say that the KONIs would help the handling more than the rear linkages. Although, for just $60-70, I'd put the LCARBs on with the shocks/springs to adjust the LCA angle.

 

I will b dng everything at the same time. Ill be doing springs, shocks and struts all at once but im just not too sure if i should get better shocks or get some of the other suspension goodies instead, perhaps i wasnt too clear on that one.

Would Konis be overkill for someone who doesnt autocross or race? I like handling and all my suspension components are worn out and need replaced, the LCA's are in need of new bushings, as is the panhard bar too, and i read in the tech article to lower a car properly you need the LCARBS and an adj Panhard.

 

^ That is correct. I would say since you don't go to the strip much and you don't autocross, the Konis would be overkill for you. Question is though, do you plan on racing more often in the future?

 

an adjustable torque arm is also recommended for when you lower your car.

 

Not in my book and I drive like the grandpa I am. Frankly, "overkill" is part and parcel of the hobbyist game. Do I need a 350 HO Deluxe, a 1LE braking system, a plethora of suspension parts, ? The answer, of course, is no. Am I content that I bought and installed those parts? Yep (poor fool that I am). Whatever you decide, do it once and save yourself time and money in the end.

JamesC

 

The adjustable PHB is a good idea, but the amount the rear is pushed to one side or the other is very small. I would rather have the KONIs that the aftermarket LCAs/PHB if I were going for handling.

And, no, I personally don't think that KONIs are overkill. But, I love to thrash on the car some. Although, you might want to look into the Reds instead of the Yellows if you aren't planning to auto-x much. Less money, less aggressive vavling, and a better ride according to KONI.

 

maybe it will sound a bit crazy but i would go for Eibach Pro-Kit+Bilstain HD + LCARB and then start saveing for rest of the stuff. With those you will get good traction and handling

 

For the amount of money the Billsteins are i would really like them to be adjustable. IM leaning more towards getting some konis at this point but im still deciding. I really did look at the billsteins though its just i cant see myself spending that much money and not having any control over the adjustability of the shock.

 

That's why I got the Konis over Beilstein.

 

why do You need them to be adjustable, Bilsteins do the job, adjustable are recommended to drag/track but on street good stiff shock will be just enought. Don't know how it works for Bilsteins in US but here in Europe if You end them (except of off-centering them or brakeing into pices), you just go to workshop and get them repeaird for about 50-60$ each.

 

I think he meant that since the money is about the same, that he'd rather have the option of adjusting them. I've not heard about any Bilstein or KONI workshops in the US. I've heard of KONI ones at some meet/races. As far as I know, in most cases, you have to ship them off and have them repaired/rebuilt.

 

ok, but still i think B HD will be just enought for him, i had couple difrent cars with fully adjustable shocks and all af them were always set to most stiff and never tuched again

 

I wasn't trying to argue with you. Just trying to get what I think to be his point across. On a side note, I don't run my KONIs past 50% front on 0 (from 0-3) rear.

 

Thats exactly what i meant, I dont mean to argue either, i take any input and think about it and look into it, i have been looking at shocks/struts since my birthday in August, and im still nowhere with my decision lol. I know Billstiens are awesome shocks, but for that amount of money i personally cannot justify buying them because of their lack of adjustability. What if the billstiens are too stiff for me? or to soft, Not everyone has the same needs/wants for their car. i know there are always going to be people who swear by Billstien and there will be people who swear by konis but just thinking from the input in this thread from everyone i can see that im not quite sure what i want out of my shocks and struts and maybe an adjustable one is the way to solve that.

on a side note: in looking into Billstiens seems there hard to get, backordered on both Jegs and summitt and i have read about people waiting up to 6 months to get them in........

 

I know that the 4th gen Bilsteins that Sam Strano revavles have been back ordered on and off for a long time. On 4th gens, those are enough cheaper that many people prefer to have Strano revavle them to whatever springs they are getting in place of the KONIs. But, with the lack of Bilsteins, more have been going with KONIs. Might be some sort of shortage....

 

Since im shopping around for shocks now, does anyone have any info on the Tokico Illuminas with the Eibach prokit? Im pretty much taking a look at every shock, browsing around collecting info, i know most of you guys say Koni yellows, and im not asking for a comparison of the Yellows vs the illuminas im just wondering if anyone is running them.