If you want adjustable dampers, and already have the springs (meaning you aren't switching to a complete coil-over), then you are left with D-spec and Koni Sports as good options.

D-specs are avaiable, Koni Sport rears are, but fronts are still about a month out. I've run both. I sell both. I prefer the Koni's, I find they are built better and are way better about things if you need to warranty them. But I wouldn't care about that if the D-specs worked better--but they don't. They don't suck but Koni's are definitely more composed when the roads aren't great and, at least for me, offer more useable range of adjustment (vs. adjustment range that is there but not helpful).

I raced on both too, and I've won on both. Basically if time is a huge factor, then D-specs are both available and less expensive. If you want what I feel are the better dampers for the long run then I have to say Koni Sport.

If you opt for Koni's rears are ready to ship and installing those would help you out a ton and you can put the fronts in when they show up.

Anyway, I'm happy to help either way if you want my service. I do give out information like recommended settings, but also explain how changing the damping this way or that will effect the car.

 

In your opinion Sam do you think I need adjustable or would non-adjustable actually be best?

 

Wow, way to lay the tough questions out....

Sort of depends. I truly feel having the ability to control what's going on, and making the car feel the way you like best is a very valuable tool. My cars have adjustables, even my daily driver that isn't a primary race car (though might be next year).

Having said that a well matched set of non-adjustables will make a lot of folks very happy. The catch there is they feel something that's better and because they haven't had other comparisons kind of assume that what they have is perfect, or maybe as good as it gets. That's sort of the case even with the Tokico vs. Koni. Having had both there is a different in how they damp too, even though both are adjustable. And both make non-adjustables too, and those are just as different from each other as well.

Is one 'right'? Situation depended, money dependent. This is all very hard to quantify by e-mail, which is why I'm always willing to discuss such things on my tech-line (all good, but please not the toll-free line...) 814-849-3450, if you wish.

 

Sam thanks for the info. I am going to go with my initial gut feeling of the adjustable set-up. I am headed out to NY tomorrow....wish I had them already for that long ride!! I'll contact you when I get back...

 

I'll be here.... but make sure you get with me if you have any more questions, ok?

 

Damn, I'm really getting tired of jumping all over what I've posted.

My original post was- if you're not changing out the springs- there's no need for an aftermarket damper. However, I will say that there are some issues with the stock GT dampers- so they aren't perfect.

OP, if you want any more help- just send me a PM.

 

Hi Goldenpony,

Unlike some folks posting here I don't sell any of this stuff nor do I charge for installing stuff. I just like to get my hands dirty and play with cars out in my garage. I get to install and drive a lot of it on local S197 club cars. Having said this my take is more result oriented and practical street experience with S197's. For the last 35 years or so I've only owned and driven German sport and GT cars along with a few German marque race cars. I've never owned a new American car before my 2005 GT.

If you want to retain or improve your S197's ride, vastly improve your cars handling dynamics and have a modest budget the best $350 set of struts and dampers I've seen are the Steeda Pro-Action dampers. Steeda Pro-Action Dampers are basically stock Ford dampers with special valving specified by Steeda and built by Tokico. Tokico was Ford's O.E.M. and FRPP's source for S197 struts and dampers. So if anybody knows about the S197 platform's damper needs I expect Tokico does. Steeda is one of the few Ford technology partners so they have access to all of Ford's testing and mechanical specs. This means Steeda knew exactly where Ford went wrong with the stock GT's damper valving and how to fix it.

But for the best ride with still very good handling the Bilstein HD's are IMO a great choice. But for the cost of the Bilstein HD's at $600 you are well past the price point of the entry level adjustable D-Spec damper set from Tokico. These are not the old Tokico dampers I knew and laughed at, far from it this is the good stuff the Japanese used to reserve exclusively for their home market. This is no joke, the Japanese have done the same thing with cars, cameras etc. though this practice has faded quite a bit since the advent of the internet. The next step up are the Koni Sport adjustable dampers. The Koni's may be a slightly better damper for the road course than the D-Specs due to their better low speed control but IMO overall the D-Specs are a more versatile damper due to the very wide range of adjustment they offer.

Anyway if you are going to pay the price of a set of adjustable dampers you might just as well get a set of adjustable dampers. Why not? They are superior to the fixed dampers in the most important way, they can be adjusted to suit your car's needs and setup to do what YOU want the car to do! So some time down the road when you change your mind about springs or anti-roll bars or buy new larger heavier/lighter wheels and tires your dampers can be optimized for your new setup. Do not be afraid of the adjustability feature you will love what you can do with them and the D-Specs and Konis can be adjusted in less than 2 minutes if you hurry.

So here are my suggestions ordered by preference.

budget, good ride w/good performance: Steeda Pro-Action Damper set
best ride w/respectable performance: Bilstein H.D., 2nd place
best adjustable for the road course: Koni Sport
best adjustable, most versatile for a street car: Tokico D-Spec

Hope This helps!

 

Hi wilkinda,

The FRPP M-5300-K springs are just relabled Eibach Pro-Kit springs. This spring is either too low or not stiff enough early enough in it's travel depending on how you look at it. No damper change can fix this problem.

In any case The FRPP/Eibach sport springs are not an ideal spring design, they are just too low and have you riding on and overworking the bumpstops on the rear axle and struts too much of the time. These springs are a progressive design that is not designed quite right. The higher spring rate needs to come in sooner in the spring's travel to avoid so much excessive bottoming out on the stops.

If you value your car's ride there is nothing you can really do to fully resolve your excessively lowered spring problem without changing the FRPP/Eibach springs out for a taller, stiffer linear rate spring which will keep your car off the bumpstops most of the time. Steeda sport or Competition springs are a good choice in conjuction with D-Specs or Koni Sport dampers.

HTH!

 

Sam,

The way you handle warranty replacement is up to you but if you sold the dampers you should be the user's advocate like we used to be. If you think your customer has a bad damper when you get off the phone with them take a credit card and cross ship them a replacement. When the so called bad damper comes in verify it and credit the charges back to the buyer or call them and tell them the shock is good and offer to take the shock you cross shipped back for a 20% restocking fee. These restocked dampers became our warranty replacements. Of course this was a pretty good sized distributor so we had a lot of dampers floating around put there and there was quite a bit of just out in the bin for warranty destruction. But as you know there is enough money in dampers to do this if you have good management of your inventory.

HTH!

 

Technically, there is no *need* to change anything from stock on any car that hasn't had a failure.

Personally, I hate the stock shocks, and the cars drive much, much better with better shocks--stock springs or otherwise.