Wow, Bilstein Escort Shocks!!
05-06-2013, 10:56 PM
#1
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Wow, Bilstein Escort Shocks!!
so i got a really good deal on some bilstein escort shocks and finally got the rears installed and i'm really impressed. first of all, they are the stiffer valving and i was afraid that they might just be too harsh and stiff for the street but my first impression is that they are fine. also, i only have the rears on the car now and will update once i get the complete set installed. furthermore, i only installed the shocks and no coilover springs so they are simply working with stock 951 torsion bars which i know isn't the right way to do things but baby steps....
comparison to koni sports: i removed a good set of koni sports which were on the car. once the bilsteins were on, it is nearly impossible to push down on the fender and compress the suspension whereas with the konis, it moves much more easily although still in the stiff range. the konis didn't exactly ride very nicely and the bilsteins, while definitely stiffer, are never harsh or painful. you do feel more and on some bumps where the shock expands, the car will bounce back to normal ride height with a sudden and higher frequency than is really comfortable but that was only once in a while. wide low speed bumps can be taken quite fast and the feeling i got was of a race or cup car bouncing off a curb on the track. in other words, firm and solid but not so harsh to throw off the handling or comfort for the driver.
handling was nice with the rear end planting more quickly without any dive or squat like with the softer konis. the car felt very nicely balanced at slightly higher speeds in corners. however, it did have a slight feeling taht at any second it might lurch into oversteer while the front was still a bit sloppy. definitely not balanced front to rear but that's to be expected. and when i hit an area of lots of sand and mud which had washed down the hillside during the rain we had this morning (road was dry though) the car did go into a surprise oversteer with the back end coming out quite a bit but all it took was a bit of countersteer to easily balance the chassis and away i went. no drama and nothing to worry about as speed was quite low since i was basically already in the curve and done most of my braking.
anyways, i know this is premature so i will limit my words until i can feel the whole system with some firmer front springs. i will probably have to wait for stiffer rear springs for a while but hopefully with a not too stiff front spring, i can limit the understeer.
i can't wait to get the fronts on and am looking forward to a precise and flat cornering car that doesn't ride as bad as you would think....
more to come.....
comparison to koni sports: i removed a good set of koni sports which were on the car. once the bilsteins were on, it is nearly impossible to push down on the fender and compress the suspension whereas with the konis, it moves much more easily although still in the stiff range. the konis didn't exactly ride very nicely and the bilsteins, while definitely stiffer, are never harsh or painful. you do feel more and on some bumps where the shock expands, the car will bounce back to normal ride height with a sudden and higher frequency than is really comfortable but that was only once in a while. wide low speed bumps can be taken quite fast and the feeling i got was of a race or cup car bouncing off a curb on the track. in other words, firm and solid but not so harsh to throw off the handling or comfort for the driver.
handling was nice with the rear end planting more quickly without any dive or squat like with the softer konis. the car felt very nicely balanced at slightly higher speeds in corners. however, it did have a slight feeling taht at any second it might lurch into oversteer while the front was still a bit sloppy. definitely not balanced front to rear but that's to be expected. and when i hit an area of lots of sand and mud which had washed down the hillside during the rain we had this morning (road was dry though) the car did go into a surprise oversteer with the back end coming out quite a bit but all it took was a bit of countersteer to easily balance the chassis and away i went. no drama and nothing to worry about as speed was quite low since i was basically already in the curve and done most of my braking.
anyways, i know this is premature so i will limit my words until i can feel the whole system with some firmer front springs. i will probably have to wait for stiffer rear springs for a while but hopefully with a not too stiff front spring, i can limit the understeer.
i can't wait to get the fronts on and am looking forward to a precise and flat cornering car that doesn't ride as bad as you would think....
more to come.....
05-07-2013, 10:35 AM
#3
Rennlist Member
Now I'm really bummed I didn't pick up 95one's set a few weeks ago...
It's amazing to me how harsh the stock Koni's ride yet the car still floats and rolls like a caddy...
It's amazing to me how harsh the stock Koni's ride yet the car still floats and rolls like a caddy...
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05-09-2013, 01:26 PM
#9
Race Car
my show car has the bilstein rears and koni fronts. torsion bars have been removed, the rears are 700# springs and the fronts are 400# springs. Rides a little rough but i need it too so my tires wont rub. love the stance and feeling of very little body roll. front wheels are 18x10's, the rears are 18x11.5 with 285/30/18's so they are stretched to fit body. wheels are TR Motorsport F2 wheels which are no longer available.
05-12-2013, 10:49 PM
#10
Rennlist Member
