BullStein, BlitStein, BlowStein... Something like that.. BillStein maybe?

Anywho.. talking to a coworker, discussing shocks... And he said all those weird named shocks, Tokico, Koni and **** are for ricers with Civics.. (He drives a Maxima. I know he was screwing around.)

He started saying the best shocks are... Whatever they are.. I really think the word was BillSteins. Something like that. I don't remember.


Anywho... anyone used em? Good bad? what?

I'm lookin at a good adjustable shock, used for AutoCross probably and general driving. (I can handle a stiff ride, just not molar removing. Construction is rough around here. Hence the adjustables.)

 

Billstiens (sp?) aren't big into road performance. I have seen them offered for trucks that are lowered, but that is just to keep the truck from hitting the ground. They call then Nitro drop shocks and billstien is big in the mini-truck market. I have even seen them on stock cars as stock equipment. Some GM cars came with them. These weren't sport cars. I put money on it that they are just as good for handeling as Monroe stock replacements. If you want performance go with the names you know Koni, Tokico, Apexi, etc.

 

It's bilstein with one "i"..I've never used 'em, but they're old school stuff that alot of euro "sports" cars used. They're supposed to be pretty good but, again, I say that never having used them myself. If they're cheap, snap 'em up!

 

The bilsteins I have seen have all been for trucks or flat out race cars. I would suppose that they make all levels of replacement and upgrade struts. So if you found a set of performance bilsteins get em, but if they are OE replacement you can do better.

Just my $.02

 

Bilstein is a seriously old school shock...

 

Off topic but your avatars are whole hairy *** Felix

 

So y'all are saying go for Koni Adjustables?

 

Mazdatrix and Racing Beat both highly advise AGAINST running Koni's on the street because of the kidney hammering stiffness. I saw some old Koni's 3 weeks ago hanging in a dead rex in my favorite boneyard. I can check on the price if your interested. They're sure to be cheap and a little worn, so they might be streetable at this point. Lemme know...oh, there was only the back axle shocks, though...

 

So what about Tokicos?

I like adjustable so I can play with it. Same reason I don't drive cars with two pedals. SO I can play with teh shift points rather than having some engineer plan them out without knowing me.

 

Konis are among the best shocks in the world. I have em on mine. Yes, they are a bit stiff but still perfectly streetable. They are externally adjustable and the performance they offer is superb.

 

My stock R-1 suspension was rougher with out the Koni's. The Koni's made it a better ride. Besides spring rate makes the suspension rough. Shocks only dampen the bound/rebound.

 

What model Koni?

I ask because I have some 350lb springs that I want to try in the front.

 

I'm still considering my entire car setup... Can't afford to go buy everything, test it and return what I don't like. Gotta rely on you guys.

I'm thinkin Koni or Tokico adjustable shocks because those are the only manufacturers of adjustables that I know of.

I dunno about springs. I was thinking Eibach, but thats just because of the name. Anyone have springs that they like for the street and autocross?

 

I'm almost positive that bilsteins were used on 3rd Gens up until 99.

 

My RX-2 has Konis on it, and they aren't that stiff.

 

I've heard that Bilstein provided Mazda with OEM struts for the 3rd gen, so there is an RX-7 connection. However, I don't think they currently offer an application for the 1st gen.

Koni and Tokico are the two brands most enthusiasts seem to recommend for our cars. I picked up a couple of slightly used Tokico illumina rear shocks a while back, and am going to get the front struts from http://shox.com ($230 for the pair). That is, once Uncle Sam pays me back my loan to him from last year.

 

See I knew I was right.

 

My memory ain't what it used to be...Racing Beat only advises against using the Koni Sport Shock for the street. They have nothing against the regular adjustable shock ( PN 14309 for '79 and '80------PN 14310 for '81 to '85, these numbers are for the front only...), but I don't know if they still carry them. My catalog I dug up is pretty old. My memory is from the Mazdatrix people and I attached it so no one thinks I'm bending words from the company. They're pretty intense...

 

bilstiens are pretty damn good shocks expensive though, ive got them on the 4 corners of the 914 good race shocks with adjustable dampening and height adjustment. imo for shocks for a first gen i would get tokicos for street and koni yellows for track.

 

i put some eibachs on my 82 a couple years ago. they handle fantastic, but if you're gonna use them on the street, consider how rough your local streets are. when i lived in florida(i miss smooth pavement) the eibachs were a dream. up here on in indy, the ride is a bit more jarring to say the least. i've never run them on a track, but i'd assume they'd do well. my seat-of-the-pants-o'meter tells me that my 7 corners like a TRON lightcycle. i can't wait to get some better sway bars on there! i'm also using tokico HP shocks, which might be part of the 'rough ride' problem. gee... maybe i shoulda got the illuminas! of course, those cost twice as much as the HP's......

 

I Recommend Koni Adjustables $115 each.

I have Tokicos adjustables, tend to go out after 15-30kmiles and are not known for being as good as Konis in the Miata ring. (My front 2 are blown still)

Bilsteins are the upgraded shock on R package Miatas over whatever generic ones that come on the rest. I hear they are stiff, but not necesarily good. Koni also has a perch to adjust height(~3/4")

 

Koni, Bilstien and Tockico are all good quality. Bilstiens were just not really spec for our cars. They are really set for Euro stuff. Konis are pricey and good. I ran Tokico HP and loved the handling but not the ride(which was acceptable however) IMHO, the Illuminas are tops, I just can't afford them. Eibach is a good spring. The progressive rates make them a little easier to commute in.

 

tokico is a very nice shock,just get the adjustable illumina series,i have them in the rear and they are very nice.

 

And they're only $120 a shot in the Victoria British catalog..ouch...

 

yeah, i got ripped by VB for mine. you can find them elsewhere for almost half that price. shox.com i think?