Koni Question

**LSCyaL8R** · 06-30-2009, 10:45 AM

So i think my hawk needs new shocks. IMO it feels kind of bouncy and i know the stock units are still installed 48,000 miles and 9 years later....... From reading through the forums it seems that Koni is the hands down favorite among the members here. I don't see myself doing much autox duty and I really don't beat on the car, i hardly ever get above 2500 RPM if you can believe that. So here is my dilema.

I love to have a car with crisp controlled handling, the combo of sticky tires KYB GR-2's and a STB on my saturn made it into nothing short of a go-kart!!! I dropped nearly 200 dollars on those GR-2's and felt that was rather pricey at the time.... until i saw what Koni's go for!!!! I've been trying to find the best prices I can for both the Red and Yellow Koni shocks and it looks like i'd either have to pay out about 490 for the yellows or a little over 700 on the reds.

Considering that I dropped a little over 200 on a set of rear bilstiens for my Lincoln I'm starting to come to terms with paying a little over 400. So the Koni Yellows don't seem to be out of reach. My questions from here are:

Is the difference between Yellow and Red that dramatic to warrant the difference?

Are both sets good for stock springs? And should I choose to change springs down the line is one set better than the other?

Is the optional lower spring perch recommended when using stock springs?

For my casual driving is there really a need for such beefy and adjustable shocks? I will probably hit the track 1 or 2 times a year with this car.

Are there any alternatives at a lower price point that will provide similar comfort and control?

I know this is a lot to digest but as others have said I'd prefer to do it right and do it once than make a mistake and be unhappy. I never regretted the GR-2's in the Saturn but haven't heard anything good said about them for firebirds. I know they are 20% stiffer than OEM on my satty but have no clue about damping rates between models on F-body's.

I thank everyone for their help and look forward to your replies!

Dylan

Edit:
OK dopey me I see the sticky now with the rates and such. however my questions still stand the KYB and Koni's aren't on that site :-(

**Mean Green Z28** · 06-30-2009, 10:52 AM

Yellow = single adj. on rebound only
Red = double adj.

I think...

No you don't need them for a street car and if you're running stock'ish springs. If you're running stiffer springs, maybe, depending on how stiff they are.

Yes you can use the lower perch, but I wouldn't recommend it with stock springs 'cos you're closer to bottoming out, that's just me though. As long as is matches your rear ride height, you should be able to do whatever you want; just keep in mind suspension travel and your spring rate.

Give Strano a call and talk to him, he will direct you in the right path and tell you exactly what options you can go with if you don't want Koni's.

**Dr.Crash** · 06-30-2009, 02:48 PM

Originally Posted by That Guy 2-1

Yellow = single adj. on rebound only
Red = double adj.
I think...

No you don't need them for a street car and if you're running stock'ish springs. If you're running stiffer springs, maybe, depending on how stiff they are.

Yes you can use the lower perch, but I wouldn't recommend it with stock springs 'cos you're closer to bottoming out, that's just me though. As long as is matches your rear ride height, you should be able to do whatever you want; just keep in mind suspension travel and your spring rate.

Give Strano a call and talk to him, he will direct you in the right path and tell you exactly what options you can go with if you don't want Koni's.

i think you have that backwards. i had the double adjustable koni's on my car from the factory, and they were yellow. maybe im wrong but i know mine were double adjustable.

**9T8W66** · 06-30-2009, 04:08 PM

I have Koni Single Adjustables and they are Yellow
I believe the reds are a different non adjustable type but I'm not sure.
Anyways calling and talking to Sam Strano is probably your best bet since he is the resident expert.
My suggestion would be his spec Bilsteins for your stock springs.
The Koni S/A's would still be the best for the application though IMO.

**Dr.Crash** · 07-01-2009, 06:12 AM

Originally Posted by 9T8W66

I have Koni Single Adjustables and they are Yellow
I believe the reds are a different non adjustable type but I'm not sure.
Anyways calling and talking to Sam Strano is probably your best bet since he is the resident expert.
My suggestion would be his spec Bilsteins for your stock springs.
The Koni S/A's would still be the best for the application though IMO.

best advice yet

**SVG210** · 07-01-2009, 06:22 PM

how are the konis adjusted?

**9T8W66** · 07-02-2009, 08:03 AM

Originally Posted by SVG210

how are the konis adjusted?

Do you mean what are the settings or how do you adjust them. ?

**SVG210** · 07-02-2009, 09:09 AM

yes plese, wat setting do they show up out of the box?

**LSCyaL8R** · 07-02-2009, 09:44 AM

The Bilsteins are much less expensive when compared to the Koni sets. I might have to look into that. Do we have anyone here with experience with the Bilsteins? How do they compare to the SLP Bilstein set? I notice bilstein only makes HD's for the Firebird supposedly those were the set commissioned by SLP. I wonder why they didn't get the sport units.

Any opinions on the Bilsteins? will they firm up my ride? I liked em on my Lincoln... it didn't quite feel like a Lincoln anymore heh heh.

**9T8W66** · 07-02-2009, 04:05 PM

Originally Posted by SVG210

yes plese, wat setting do they show up out of the box?

Koni's come set at the softest setting out of the box.
It's up to the installer to set them up properly.
If your purchase from Sam Strano he will advise you an a baseline setup, but it's up to you to fine tune to your liking.

**DUBB** · 07-02-2009, 04:39 PM

heard the bilsteins valving sucks but strano has brand new (re valved) shocks specific for our cars and for a great price, when i do mine thats most likely whats going in

http://www.stranoparts.com/partdetai...ID=0&ModelID=8

but give him a call

**SVG210** · 07-02-2009, 08:59 PM

Originally Posted by 9T8W66

Koni's come set at the softest setting out of the box.
It's up to the installer to set them up properly.
If your purchase from Sam Strano he will advise you an a baseline setup, but it's up to you to fine tune to your liking.

yes I purchased from Sam Strano, but his phone is always busy, or hes not there.

how would I adjust for a baseline setup?

**9T8W66** · 07-03-2009, 08:03 AM

Originally Posted by SVG210

yes I purchased from Sam Strano, but his phone is always busy, or hes not there.

how would I adjust for a baseline setup?

Do you have the 4/3's or 4/4's ?

I had mine (4/4's) at 4 sweeps from full firm in front and full soft in the rear.
This also seems to be the general set up for most people to start from.

**SVG210** · 07-03-2009, 09:31 AM

Originally Posted by 9T8W66

Do you have the 4/3's or 4/4's ?

I had mine (4/4's) at 4 sweeps from full firm in front and full soft in the rear.
This also seems to be the general set up for most people to start from.

I didnt get none of those, I got single adjustable on front, and double adjustable on the back.

I havent got the rears yet, so I wont be able to tell you which ones I have. but Sam said he doesnt have those listed on his site.

**9T8W66** · 07-03-2009, 11:26 AM

Originally Posted by SVG210

I didnt get none of those, I got single adjustable on front, and double adjustable on the back.

I havent got the rears yet, so I wont be able to tell you which ones I have. but Sam said he doesnt have those listed on his site.

Correct the Double Adjustables aren't listed.

4/3's are 4th gen front 3rd gen rear Single Adjustables
http://www.stranoparts.com/partdetai...D=21&ModelID=8
4'/4's are 4th gen front and rear Single Adjustables
http://www.stranoparts.com/partdetai...D=21&ModelID=8

The 4/3's are cheaper because the 3rd gen shocks are only adjustable off the car, and I think only have 4 settings.

Best advice I can give you is talk to Sam once you get all the parts and are ready for the install.

**SVG210** · 07-03-2009, 07:56 PM

thanks, but what do you adjust them with? the instructions that come with the shocks suck! LOL

**9T8W66** · 07-04-2009, 02:51 AM

I think it's a 2.5mm allen wrench for the fronts.
You insert it into a small hole in the adjustment window and make sweeps across the window.
The 4th gen rears come with an adjustment knob.

**SVG210** · 07-04-2009, 05:15 AM

ohh okay, I dont need to put it in a vice, like it somehow shows in the pics?

**0verkill** · 07-04-2009, 07:16 AM

give sam at stranoparts.com a call and he will get you all set up with what you need. he helps me all the time and is a good guy.

**Sam Strano** · 07-07-2009, 05:30 PM

Originally Posted by That Guy 2-1

Yellow = single adj. on rebound only
Red = double adj.

I think...

No you don't need them for a street car and if you're running stock'ish springs. If you're running stiffer springs, maybe, depending on how stiff they are.

Yes you can use the lower perch, but I wouldn't recommend it with stock springs 'cos you're closer to bottoming out, that's just me though. As long as is matches your rear ride height, you should be able to do whatever you want; just keep in mind suspension travel and your spring rate.

Give Strano a call and talk to him, he will direct you in the right path and tell you exactly what options you can go with if you don't want Koni's.

The only shocks Koni currently makes for a 4th gen are yellows... all of them are yellow, 4/3, 4/4, and DA's.

There are no reds which are Specials, and 4/3's are something I do because unlike a lot of other "knowledgeable" folks I am, apparently, the only one smart enough to realize the rear suspension between a 3rd and 4th gen, along with the weights are basically exactly they same and the option of 3rd gen shocks opens up different avenues on price.