Bilsteins... What difference will I notice?
- Thread starter v8killer
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- 7 February 2010
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Firmer ride. Better handling and still well balanced.The biggest changes in handling for me were the Dali adjustable sways.
it helps to understand what dampers/shocks do... they control the RATE of weight transfer (springs/bars affect the AMOUNT of weight transfer). stiffer shocks slow down the motion of the unsprung weight (wheels, tires, brakes, etc) under compression, and slow down the motion of the sprung weight (chassis) on extension.
in other words, bilsteins... being a bit stiffer than the stock shocks, will slow down the rate at which the car flops around from side to side or forward and backwards... thus giving the feeling of being more planted.
in other words, bilsteins... being a bit stiffer than the stock shocks, will slow down the rate at which the car flops around from side to side or forward and backwards... thus giving the feeling of being more planted.
The difference in ride quality and handling between new Bilsteins and new stock shocks is very small. However, the difference in ride quality and handling between new Bilsteins and stock shocks that are 19 years old with 89K miles on them is quite large.
IOW, yes, you will notice a difference - mostly because you will be comparing old worn shocks with new shocks, not because you will be comparing stock shocks with Bilsteins.
IOW, yes, you will notice a difference - mostly because you will be comparing old worn shocks with new shocks, not because you will be comparing stock shocks with Bilsteins.
So........ other than Bilsteins are any other shocks comparable, considering price, quality, etc.
- Joined
- 7 February 2010
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I drove my 05 with 6 or so K miles back to back against a 92 with new Bilsteins, and I have to say that there was a noticable difference. The ride was definitely more firm.... not as comfy... but the car did feel much better controlled. Its not a giant step, but there is a solid difference. I don't know maybe Ken knows better but I drove the cars back to back on the same route and it was what I would call a moderate difference. I have always wondered about the Koni versus the Bilstein.
konis are valved quite a bit stiffer than bilsteins. i have bilsteins on my car right now, and will be swapping them out for konis this weekend. the konis have almost 2.5 times the compression damping of the stock shocks (1.8 times stiffer than bilsteins). the rebound damping is adjustable on the konis, but on their stiffest, they are almost 4 times as stiff as stock (2.5 times the bilsteins).
i would NOT recommend the konis for someone who is essentially a street driver. even if you do just the occasional track day... you may be better served with the bilsteins. however, if performance means more to you than comfort, then by all means, go koni! i am choosing them for the competition prowess.
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That said, Konis are no JDM coil-over, you will still retain function of your kidneys. I have the yellows on my track/autocross MR2 and have had no issues commuting. I'd say if you live in an area where the roads are even moderately well maintained, you would be fine with Konis. If you live up north or out in the sticks...maybe not the best plan if you value comfort.
the konis for the nsx are valved significantly stiffer (as a % increase over stock) than konis for pretty much any other car. you're right though, kidneys will still function
Interesting to know. I had called and talked to them briefly and was told that even so, they would still require custom valving to properly handle Zanardi springs when I was considering going with that combination (Bilstien said the same thing for their product, FYI).
I used off the shelf koni yellows for years with zinardi....oops I mean....Zanardi springs no custom anything,and they worked great.Now the same could not be said of my s2000 when I had 8kgmm springs the konis where not able to controll them.fwiw
Did you need to have them rebuilt very often?
Fair enough. I gather that included substantial track use?
Konis, IIRC just have the stock spring perch (as opposed to the upper & lower for the B-stiens)?
If you don't mind, Doc, what did you switch to?
The reason cited was that with the Zanardi springs the %change in spring rate from stock is much greater on the front than the rear. The Koni/B-Stien reps basically said the rear should be fine, but they recommended custom valving for the fronts.
i just corrected some info in my post comparing the konis to bilsteins:
"the konis have almost 2.5 times the compression damping of the stock shocks (1.8 times stiffer than bilsteins). the rebound damping is adjustable on the konis, but on their stiffest, they are almost 4 times as stiff as stock (2.5 times the bilsteins)."
Well that would explain Doc's lack of trouble with them. I could somewhat understand the stiffer damping rear vs front in spite of spring rate due to the weight distribution.
If you don't mind, where did you find the damping numbers for the stock shocks? Is that in the wiki somewhere?
and apparently I was blind. Thanks.
I think the Bilstiens give a great ride, very comfortable and a great feel in the corners. This was at the higher perch setting. When I lowered the perch setting I thought they were not as comfortable, more harsh and they made noise and did not like them.
I can't remember what springs they were with but I believe they were Eibachs.
I loved the upper perch feel.
I can't remember what springs they were with but I believe they were Eibachs.
I loved the upper perch feel.
Huh? Most aftermarket shocks, including Bilstein and Koni, come with a lifetime warranty. Save your receipts!
Incidentally, I've had Bilsteins fail on another car after many years, and they do honor the warranty! The way it works when this happens is, you buy a new shock from their website (at a nice discount from the regular website price), you install it, you then send the failed one back to them, and they credit you for your purchase.
Mine are mounted on the perch for stock ride height, not on the lowering perch.
