In an effort to return my car to pure street driving, I'm thinking of dumping my Koni's. The roads around here are just too punishing to take with the Koni's, even on the softest setting.

I read about a dozen threads on the Koni vs Bilstein debate. None of them really say which are more streetable on rough roads. Will the Bilstein HD's be more comfortable? Or do I have to go with the Boge?

I want to keep my 250lb front springs and 28mm rear torsion bar. Can these other shocks handle the higher spring rates?

 

Mmmmm, what did the car drive like before you hiked up all 4 springs by a fair percentage?


What size wheels & Tyres are you running?


R

 

I've had Boge/Sachs shocks since 2006. I just replaced my first set almost 1 year ago with more of the same...very pleased with them for ride comfort.
Some of the roads around here may as well not be paved at all.

I've had 200# front springs since 2007 and put ~200lb rate torsion bars (26mm) in almost 2 years ago and the shocks do fine.

The price is right, especially if you can sell your Konis to offset the cost...

 

I have the Billy HDs and some of the roads around here roughly resemble a lunar surface. I don't have a reference point for Konis yet, but I'm impressed with what I have (also 250# springs) given the performance setup and theme of the car. I daily it for a good chunk of the year with no issues. But I'm also young and have never driven a high end GT car for long periods of time to know what real ride quality is.

 

I am running stock Fuchs 7x15 and 8x15 and stock size tires.

You know, I don't remember too much what it drove like before the great enhancement. That was 9 years ago. I think it was a big squishy, but was on the original 20 year old stuff.

 

If you assume that the factory Boge shocks are paired well with the factory spring rates which are about 125 lb/in, I'd think they wouldn't be able to keep up with 2x that spring rate. But I have no first-hand experience to offer.

I looked in the FWSM at the chart with the various spring rates that were available. 944 from 1983-86 with m030 (shock brand not specified) came with 137lb/in springs. 944 from 1987- with m030 (koni shocks explicitly stated) came with 160lb/in springs. 951 with m030 had 165lb/in springs. So maybe 250lb/in is just too stiff for Konis?

No experience with Bilsteins on 944s. On other cars, I've seen them paired with stock springs and they ride nicely that way.

 

I think I've read that Bilstein HD offer better confort with similar performance as the Koni.

 

Ok, that's good then at least your not on 18's and 40 profile tyres...

There's no question Bilstein's Ride better than Koni, but your 250 Springs will not be helping your ride.

You could go middle ground 200 Springs and Bilsteins and change the rear Torsion bars to 25mm? this would for sure be much better,

Or Return to Stock Springs and ride heights and use the Bilstein B6 Mono tube shocks and the car will still handle nicely for street use but the ride will be amazing compared to what you have now.

R

 

Twin Tube > Monotube for ride quality.

 

Jason,

On your site you have three offerings for the early cars

Boge | Bilstien HD | Koni Sport

I assume these are in order from softest to firmest. My 86 is on original Boge and I find them too soft, and as I mentioned my 83 is on the Koni, which is too firm. So are the Bilstien HD in the middle? Will they work with a lowered car and my spring rates? I have the adjustable Hypercoils in front and the rear is lowered through torsion bar setting.

This car will NOT see track duty anymore.

 

This info is over 6 years old, and lists a Comfort & Sport ?


http://www.bilsteinus.com/news-event...4fdbb156872897





This is the current B6 Monotube,


http://www.bilsteinus.com/products/p...6-performance/


So what's the HD ? I've never heard of this in the UK?

R

 

Bilstein only lists B6 Performance...at least in the US. I'm not sure what they may offer in Europe that may not be available here. The B6 Performance shock is a high pressure gas monotube design which all things being equal will produce a harsher ride quality than a twin tube lower pressure gas design. I won't get into the Koni vs Bilstein argument as both are fine products. Quite frankly I'd normally recommend removing the stuff I know you don't want to remove, the springs and larger torsion bars. Those items probably have as much to do with your ride quality as anything but I understand changing torsion bars is a pain. Anyway, the Boge will definitely have the softest valving and would probably do "ok" with the springs/torsion bars you have on the car....at least while the shocks are new and in good condition.

 

I loved my HD's - never looked back after installing them.

 

If your shocks are still good I have a set of HDs that I tested for a few months about two-years ago. I'd be happy to trade, assuming they're for a late car.

 

I have the Koni reds. They are softer than yellow but still adjustable, and the stiff end of the reds is supposed to overlap the soft end of the yellows. Unfortunately, they aren't in production for the 944 anymore. Maybe someone has a good used set or a new set gathering dust on a shelf somewhere.