I'm going for it on the front struts and am going to buy a set of Koni's(£300 or about $450).What I'd like to know is are there any competitors at this sort of price worth considering and how do they compare.Thanks.

 

I believe bilsteins sports and heavy dutys are in that price range. Try shox.com, as they are the cheapest place i've found so far.

 

I've had Konis and bilstines...although they were on two completely different cars(konis on an acura integra and bilsteins on my camaro) The bilsteins, i feel, have been better. the konis were built very nice and handled very well, but after a while adjusting them became a hassle and they didnt hold there settings if you drove on them for a while. The bilsteins HD's are very stiff and an amazing difference in handling from stock. But all and all there in the same price range and both are very good shocks, so in the end its up to you

 

in my opioion Bilstiens are the best if you have deep pockets. i run KYBs and love 'em. feels like the car in running on glass. does quite good in the corners too.

 

I have run both, and I myself like the Bilsteins overall. You can also get Bilsteins revalved for specific applications eaiser than you can with Koni's. Although Koni's have an adjustment, against popular belief, the adjustment is for wear compensation as stated in their "Why Koni" header on the website (with the exception of the SPA's and the Dual Adjust type). If you would like to know more I have gotten a full explaination about this from Lee, Koni/NorthAmerican's motorsports director. (I have done RnD with Koni/Bilstein/Monroe/KYB-AGX/Penske/Tokico over the years and ran the special project divisions of Guldstrand and DaveTurner Motorsports which is part of ASI/RD enterprises/SHOX.com), so when customer asked me the 'how's and 'why's I could give them the real answer, not just the PoliticallyCorrect BS.

Most street cars do not use a spring rate high enough to worry about what I have mentioned above, their definition is based on you the consumer setting the shocks at full soft upon installation and adjusting until you find the comfort/performance setting that you are happy with. I am surprised that they havent noted that after you have run the shocks at a firmer setting that the consumer should be advised not to go back to the full soft setting as the wear on internal parts is acclerated at firmer settings.

Athough it isnt really discussed on their web site, this is what they have to say:

http://www.koni-na.com/faq.html#3

(However, you will probally never need it)= for most street cars probally not, but if you autocross or just plain drive HARD you might experience some problems with the Koni's.

As for Bilstein, most people complain about the shocks being really stiff. Well they are, UNTIL the shock warms up. Gas charged or hydraulic shocks for that matter are designed to be at their optimum comfort/performance when at running temperature. So if you get in your car and drive ten minutes to work, they will never get warm enough. Thats is where I have heard the most complaints, after explaining this too them, they would call back and note the difference.

You would be happy with either, but I think you will get more approval from the Bilstein owners. Some cars work better with Bilstein and some with Koni.......F-Body/Bilstein

 

QA1/HAL? Anyone have these?

 

Wow some great info,Thanks.Has anybody got a price in $ for a pair of each (Konis and Bilsteins) so I can compare the prices.Thanks.

 

QA1/Hal are a good choise too. Its not a bad price for a truly adjustable shock. You can also order them with two different set of valving, one for the lighter spring rates and on for the higher spring rates.

For a quote try www.shox.com they are Koni and Bilsteins North American supplier and ship world wide.

 

It might be worth it to check out Lingenfelter's site. Last time I checked, he sold Bilsteins for the lowest price.