Front strut insert choices, Best value for street performance - and is there really that much difference between them?? Options

[DRPHIL914]

I see KYB $36, Sachs for $122(parts geek), Koni $176, Bilistein $190 and Bilistein sport for $ 220.

Thinking about Sachs, has anyone here used them? - I have Bilistein in rear with stock springs and swaybar. They are really firm and i wish they were a bit less firm, but I also have 16”Fuchs in 205/55 tires and that makes the ride firm compared to the 14” 914/6 Fuchs I ran for a while, those taller sidewalks gave a soft ride . I’m not changing tires and rims so is the front KYB junk? And is Sachs at $122 per a good stock replacement?

Phil

- Paragon has Koni sport on sale for $171.

[Racer]

I've always been a fan of Koni's. They have a well supported product as well. Heck, my /6 has the same Konis that my dad put on in 1972(?) Still work well. Boge/Sachs are good, but imho, not as nice as Bilstein or Konis.

[DickSteinkamp]

I've always been a fan of Koni's. They have a well supported product as well. Heck, my /6 has the same Konis that my dad put on in 1972(?) Still work well. Boge/Sachs are good, but imho, not as nice as Bilstein or Konis.

Can you define "good" and "not as nice"? I would guess each is somewhat of a compromise between ride and handling. It might depend on what the customers' goals are as to which they select. Does each brand have a "claim to fame"? Does higher price necessarily mean longer life?

[dr914@autoatlanta.com]

boge/sachs in the rear are no more, so the only choices are kyb and bilstein.

Kyb shocks have unsophisticated valving so are harsh. Bilstein heavy duty was actually a factory option bilstein sports (only available in the front) are too harsh, so go with Bilstein heavy duty and do not look back

[porschetub]

My front Bilsteins were toast (thanks PO ),I picked up replacement Saches (911 part)from Autohaus on special,happy enough with them,certainly better that what I had (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) .

[mepstein]

I sold my lightly used - less than 3K, 4 year old Sachs F&R shocks to a world member in The UK because he felt his Bils were too stiff and he was happy with the Sachs/Boge ride.
There’s a couple things to do before switching shocks.
Lower your tire pressure. These are really light cars and don’t need as much as a 3K car.
Disconnect your rear bar. See how it rides.
Send your shocks and strut inserts to Bilstein to revalve. Sure it cost the same as new ones but it will be custom for you, instead of buying more of almost the same thing. If you are happy, it’s easily worth it.

KYB are good for using on a car that needs to go to a painter or parts car to roll it around, nothing more.

[914Sixer]

Rear Hydraulic Koni's are available from Porsche for about $250 each. You can use the 911 front hydraulics if you do not want the feel of gas.

[Tdskip]

for whatever it’s worth – in my experience shocks are one of the most critical items that impact day to day enjoyment, it’s worth scratching or saving for the good stuff.

[roblav1]

Me too on the Konis... always found Bilstein harsh. KYB are junk.

[DRPHIL914]

I agree the Bilistein I have in the rear are pretty firm, and that might not match up well if I go too soft in front but I think I may try the Koni in front and see how that feels. If I order those I will wait to mess around with my alignment stuff and fixing the bump steer until I put those in. I have nice new dust shields to put in too and the new front sway bar drop links and bushings as well, so will be a fun weekend doing all that!! Been pouring over the write up on how to do your own alignment etc , will see how bad I screw it up!

[PCH]

1 vote for Konis. And they are adjustable.

[Literati914]

.. You can use the 911 front hydraulics if you do not want the feel of gas.

Know the PN# of those Hydraulic front Koni's ?

[alexkirkham]

I don't know if I'm hypersensitive but there was a massive difference in sachs (the front of the car bounced with any pressure) and bilsteins (the front of the car barely bounced at all and the ride was too harsh for everyday street use).

What I have now seems like a blessed compromise: the front koni classics from a 911 (which fit fine...) - not sure why these don't come up more, they're lovely...

https://www.carnoisseur.com/products/detail...e-912-86-1647-1

.. You can use the 911 front hydraulics if you do not want the feel of gas.

Know the PN# of those Hydraulic front Koni's ?

[sixnotfour]

https://www.paragon-products.com/Koni-86-16...oni-86-1647.htm

[914Sixer]

Porsche Part Numbers for hydraulic Koni's, show to be valid numbers in system. Rears are Black and are NOT externally adjustable. You have to adjust before assembly. Expect them to have to come from Germany

PCG 333 051 50 Rears $220

PCG 341 903 50 Fronts $275

Prices are internet quotes rounded off. Shop around.

[maf914]

I have been happy with Konis on my car. I never thought they were harsh. These are with stock front torsion bars and 100 lb rear springs, front and rear sway bars.

[Steve]

On another note... how long do shocks last? I have Blilstein HD shocks that are 15 years old.
So far I have been happy with them. I am currently running 21mm torsion bars, but I am going to swap them out for 18.8mm 911 torsion bars with 911 A arms.

[914Sixer]

Unless you are using your car for daily driving, the Bilsteins are bullet proof.

[Chi-town]

I've driven Koni, Bilstein, and KYB.

There's nothing wrong with the KYB, they ride just fine, they handle decent, and they're just an inexpensive average strut.

The Koni sports are fine if you need a performance shock, kinda overkill for a basic street driver.

The Bilstein are a good compromise between the two of them. Decent ride quality, decent handling, a bit over priced but that's the case with most Bilstein products.

Hydraulic Koni? Really? Can I get you some bias ply radials to go with them? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)
Ancient technology that belongs on "correct" restorations and that's it.
Ride control technology has come a long way since then and for good reasons, safer/predictable handling, better ride quality, and consistent performance to name the top 3.

Before you take the internet's word or spend lot of money on Porsche OEM, I would see if anyone local to you has a car you can ride in to see for yourself.

[DRPHIL914]

I have been happy with Konis on my car. I never thought they were harsh. These are with stock front torsion bars and 100 lb rear springs, front and rear sway bars.

that's very close to what my set up is all the way around, I have the bilistein rears I put in about 5 years ago and they are pretty firm, in the front I have no idea as I have had the car for 10 years and near as I can tell they could just be the original front inserts, and since I am going to get all the alignment finally dialed in I will try to find a good replacement, and had heard the front sport bilisteins are really firm so was hoping to hear from the masses how they like the Koni.

I am leaning toward doing the Koni in front and keep what I have in rear for now.