pjr

iTrader: (8)

The 1st gen GSL-SE Turbo that I recently purchased has Koni shocks that were purchased from Racing Beat in April 1991.... nearly 20 years ago! Although going through a stack of vintage receipts in interesting, the creaking noise from my rear suspension is not. I am 95% sure that it's from the shocks.

If you read a recent article in Classic Motorsports, Koni can rebuild their shocks. They have three centers in the US that bring them back to new condition, both inside and out. However, the cost is not cheap: about $200 per shock.

So, my question is this: Are the Konis like really that superior to anything out there? Or would I do just as well with a pair of Tokico blue or Illumina?

gracer7-rx7

iTrader: (16)

I have had various Konis rebuilt over the years. Its about $100-$150 depending where you go. Here is an authorized rebuild center:

http://www.truechoicekoniracingservices.com/

More info here:
http://www.koni-na.com/index.cfm

You can keep Konis forever. Just keep getting them rebuilt when needed.

Josh18_2k

iTrader: (3)

at the cost of rebuild, its usually not worth it unless you have revalved/race shocks. or if you want to revalve them.
if you're just looking to freshen up or whatever, pick up a new set of yellows for about the same price.

EDIT: i just did a search, and im not seeing 1st gen konis. do they still make em? if not, then def just get a rebuild.

pjr

iTrader: (8)

I do not believe that Linus are available for the first gen any longer. Hence the choice narrows.

Kentetsu

I really don't have much input on this matter, other than to say "that's a hell of a lot of money to invest in shocks".

Yes, they are probably worth it, if you are going for a National Championship. Or, if you had nothing else to spend your money on. But really, $400.00 investment in REAR shocks? I just don't know.

What are your plans for the car? What mods do you already have? 4 bills would damn near get you coilovers and camber plates, if you don't already have them. Or maybe a Sterling carb?

I just don't know. I had Illuminas on the back, then switched to a set of Bilsteins that I bought used. The Bilsteins perform like nobody's business, but I have to admit I miss the number "1" setting on the Illuminas for those trips to NC.

I guess my only advice is to consider your options, what you want/expect out of the car, and what else your car needs that might deserve to be closer to the top of the list than a set of fancy rear shocks.



.

BigTurbo74

iTrader: (4)

http://turblown.net/store/index.php?productID=72

pjr

iTrader: (8)

The car has Rotary Engineering performance springs (stock height, but stiffer);RB front and rear sway bars; RB strut brace; and 15x7 meshies with Falken tires.

I've never done autocross but would like to try. However, reality is that the car will be used 99% of the time on the street.

Are you saying that rear shocks in general don't really make that much of an impact? Heck, I can easily put on Tokiko Blues but I don't want t oscrew up the car.

BASTARD

iTrader: (4)

you want to rebuild the rear shocks because of the creaking?.. are you sure the creaking is the shocks?? have you removed the rear shocks and cycled the suspension????

the creaking could be a bushing, possibly the watts link or 4-bar

pjr

iTrader: (8)

Greta question... my plan is to get the car on a lift today to be sure.

jgrewe

iTrader: (1)

Before I spent money rebuilding them I would find someone to test them on a shock dyno. For $30-40 for the pair you will know what you have. If there is no rust on the shafts and no visible leaking they might be fine for your needs.

I have a pair of Konis for my RX2 that are no longer available, they will be getting the full refresh because there is nothing out there that will do the same job anymore(vintage race car)

Kentetsu

The rear shocks do make a big difference, especially if racing. If they are adjustable, then they also provide a very easy method of tuning out oversteer/understeer. What you have to decide is if the performance advantage that a very expensive shock makes over a budget shock is worth the price difference.

So, like I said, if you were shooting for a National Championship then they would definitely be worth the money. But if what you are after is having some fun with spirited driving or local autocrosses, then you might choose otherwise.

If I were deciding between a really hot set of rear shocks, or a set of coilovers, it would be no contest. The coilovers will make a much bigger difference than a set of rear shocks will, no matter how much you spend on them.

tasty danish

iTrader: (5)

Now ketetsu, I'm going to admit that you have more on track experience in your 7 than I, however, this is just not true. Springs and ride height are the simple part for suspension tuning. Shocks are the hard part. A spring is a spring, just pick the stiffness, and a coilover sleeve just sets the height. The shock, has all the rebound and compression circuits that really make or break a suspension.

IF you spend big money on your suspension, spend it on the shocks. And I'm pretty sure you can get it for less than 200 each, maybe even half that. The options for aftermarket 1st gen shocks are drying up, unless you want to mod your strut tubes, I say do it. You may ask if they can do some mods to it (sometimes they can do yellow internals, etc) and you will end up with some REALLY nice dampers.

Revalving is big in the turbo miata crowd. My miata runs revalved bilsteins on 450lb fronts, 300lb rears and it rides way comfier than the 320/200 sport spring setup it replaced (with tokicos). How can 450/300 be softer than 320/200 besides with badass dampers? Not to mention the handling.

jgrewe

iTrader: (1)

I'll add that a couple hundred bucks a corner isn't any where near the top of the food chain when it comes to shocks. Try $1200 a corner and you are in the bottom of the really expensive stuff and it goes up to probably $2750 last time I looked. Between the Konis and those top shelf brands(Koni has stuff up there too) there isn't much for you that would be a step up. Shocks are HUGE in the set up of a chassis. I'm not big on the "coil over" sales pitch and being able to say "I have coil overs..." All they are is a shock wrapped in a spring painted a cool color. A quality shock such as your Koni with a spring next to it like in the rear of an FB is fine. Any performance you would get spending money on coil overs would be from your wallet being lighter.

tasty danish

iTrader: (5)

**Faps to thought of owning a car with JIC/XIDA/Ohlins dampers**

Josh18_2k

iTrader: (3)

I hope you meant JRZ...

Kentetsu

lol. I'm not saying that high priced shocks aren't worth the money, or that they don't make a difference. I'm just saying that for daily spirited driving, they might not be worth it to him.

Also, being able to choose your spring rates, and set your ride height, might be more desirable to him at this point.

If his goal was to be a track superstar, then my advice to him would be different. But you have to remember that his goals are not the same as your goals. I'm just trying to offer advice that fits his specific situation.

Like I said (at least twice), if he was shooting for a National Championship then the amount of money spent for the amount of performance gained would be well worth it...

jgrewe

iTrader: (1)

No worries, he potentially has all the shock he'll ever need. If there is no rust on the shafts and no leaks they are probably fine. A cheap test will tell him, hell he can send them to me and I'll test them on my dyno but I'm sure he can find someone within driving distance to get them checked.

Usually a general rebuild on a Koni will run just a hair over $100. If the shaft is screwed up(chrome gone, rust, bent) they add about $30 IIRC. (they actually paint them with Chevy orange rattle can paint! lol).

If they test out OK he can just do a threaded perch conversion on the struts and call it a day for under $300 with new springs. I might even have some rear springs and perches I would sell but I don't know what the rates are. I'm going to have to pull out the dial calipers and calculator to figure the rate or finally finish that spring rater I've been meaning to build.

Tanj!

iTrader: (5)

This thread is timely for me. Resurrecting a SA that was an autocross car and it's got Koni fronts and Bilstein's rears. Neither of which are made anymore. Will be looking at getting both rebuilt.