MNE - Have you noticed any negative effects from keeping your stock shocks? - usually a 'no-no!'(nt)
12-10-1999, 02:17 PM
#2
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It hasnt been a HUGE detriment, due to their newness, but I definately want better... more
I wasn't aware of how bad they really were till I removed a rear one and cycled it by hand. It was pitifully weak and of flat affect, offering little damping and ZERO rebound. The car is also prone to severe front wheel hop during accelleration from a stop... something the front shocks are at a complete loss to manage or damp. I HATE the stock shocks on this car. I want Bilsteins in a coilover configuration so I can dial in a little closer to the recall dynamic. I dont like Konis as I feel they're too harsh/hard and their damping doesnt respond as crisply as a Bilstein. A Bilstein will damp in as little as 1mm deflection and a Koni gets a free ride for over half an inch under load by virtue of its internal dynamics... it has to compress farther to start building resistence to a deflection which robs a shock of much of its ability to do its job and makes it prone to rebuild/replacement at an almost exponential rate in terms of comparison due to friction. Additionally I'm a little connected at Bilstein as they sponsored my SCCA and IMSA racing efforts for over 15 years. They dont give me any money or free shocks these days but they give me a friendly price, and I know who to call when/if something goes wrong with one. But in fifteen years, nothing ever went wrong with a single one... EVER!!