Coilovers vs. Koni vs. Bilstein
12-11-2014, 07:48 PM
#1
3rd Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Florida
Posts: 632
Coilovers vs. Koni vs. Bilstein
Hey guys, suspension question for you. Has anybody done a stock to coilover/Koni Orange or yellow shock and strut conversion? What was your experience with them? Big difference? Smoother or rougher ride? Grip better? Take bumps better?
My current shocks and struts are pretty much stock. My current suspension mods are Maximum Motorsports: subframe connectors, caster/camber plates, extreme duty rear lower control arms, and power steering shaft, with Ford Racing B lowering springs (3/4 in front and 1/2 lower in the rear), Steeda strut tower brace, and I have Eibach front and rear sway bars. Basically, it hooks pretty well, takes turns like a champ, but it takes bumps like a diva. I would like to have something that performs well (better grip), but does not take bumps worse than it already does. I hear some people say that coilovers will make it so much worse, so I'm really looking at the Koni yellow or orange I suppose. Experiences?
My current shocks and struts are pretty much stock. My current suspension mods are Maximum Motorsports: subframe connectors, caster/camber plates, extreme duty rear lower control arms, and power steering shaft, with Ford Racing B lowering springs (3/4 in front and 1/2 lower in the rear), Steeda strut tower brace, and I have Eibach front and rear sway bars. Basically, it hooks pretty well, takes turns like a champ, but it takes bumps like a diva. I would like to have something that performs well (better grip), but does not take bumps worse than it already does. I hear some people say that coilovers will make it so much worse, so I'm really looking at the Koni yellow or orange I suppose. Experiences?
Last edited by yurizx6r; 12-12-2014 at 05:58 AM.
12-12-2014, 07:42 AM
#4
D.R. THE PATHETIC DORK
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 30,863
mine may ride a little more stiff than stock due to the fact it runs drag shocks.......lakewood to be exact and a 14-175 rate spring, how stiff depends on the rate spring used and a 175 seems to be a good compromise yet still able to support the weight up front
12-12-2014, 07:59 AM
#5
3rd Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Florida
Posts: 632
My goal is to decrease the droop travel (distance that the shock travels between loads), not increase the harshness of taking bumps (it's bad enough as it is), and hopefully get a little more grip on the launches. That's why I'm not sure which ones to go with. I would think that I want something a little stiffer than stock, but not too stiff. I've never driven a fox with coilovers, so I don't know how that will affect it.
12-12-2014, 09:35 AM
#6
5th Gear Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: NC
Posts: 2,166
Cant speak much for the dag setup. My brother just got a MM setup for drag racing but I dont know what his specs are. Mine is also MM but mine is set up for road racing. Ive got some 10-325 springs up front and its a stiff bitch. Takes bumps pretty good up front but rear is a little rough. Ive got some 10 or 12-225 springs back there.
12-12-2014, 10:05 AM
#7
3rd Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Florida
Posts: 632
My Ford racing rates are front: 425/530 lb/in and rear: 200-300 lb/in. So they are pretty much stock to my understanding. I like the springs, and I wouldn't want to lower it any more due to where I live. I called Koni and they recommended the yellow shocks. I'm thinking so far that's a good move and that way I could upgrade them to coilovers if I choose later down the road. I can't do that with the orange, but I still wanted to ask people of what their personal experience is.
