Mike951

Should I go with a set of KLA coilovers or just new shocks in the rear of my 951? Car is sagging a little. I don't track it or autocross it currently, so it's just for street use.

Thanks
Mike

Matt H

Tough question! For coolness factor the KLAs win hands down. Also keep in mind you can get adjustable/rebuildable/coil over Bilsteins for about 100 dollars more than the KLAs. (Actually you can get them for 234 each but you have to buy springs, should run about 50 bucks each).

For everyday driving (and if you are too lazy to adjust them, if you think you are then you are, trust me!) I would probably just get some Konis or Bilstein HDs (both run about 85 dollars each IIRC). You could buy a whole bunch of other stuff with the savings.
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Mike951

My car is sagging a little in the rear, would coilovers help this, would just shocks with no coils help also? Trying to stay away from anything involving torsion bars. Are the bilstein coilovers better than the KLA's, I thought the KLA's were rebuildable/adjustable as well?

Thanks
Mike

tifosiman

The KLA's are rebuildable (thr KLA or QA1) and adjustable (12 clicks IIRC). They will raise your car up with no problem. Go with the 100lb springs on them unless you plan on increasing the spring rate on the front of the car...

Tifo

Matt H

I dont know about the KLAs. They have a very good reputation on this board. the Bilsteins are race struts and I would take them over the KLAs because I dont think the KLAs are really valved for that nor are they being geared towards those sales. I dont know that there was a ever a set in stone, you can run these without T-bars. I know I am going to run the Bilsteins without. If it breaks then Kokeln makes a rear setup for just that purpose. I would assume that new struts in the rear will bring up the rear ride height. Tifo is right about the balance of the car. My current plan is a 250 spring in the rear and a 600 lb in the front. May have to play with the spring rates to get it right though.
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Mike951

So the 100lb spring that comes with the KLA's is sufficient for street use?

Predator

My wife's sagging a little in the rear and...ops...wrong thread!

Matt H

I will let Tifo answer, but yes the 100lbs should be just fine for a "stock" car. Tifo - did you have to reindex the T-bar?
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tifosiman

The KLA rear coilovers, with 9" 100lb springs (which are perfect for street, not anymore harsh than new yellow Konis over bumps), will work fine for a car at stock height. If it has been lowered with the eccentric, it will raise the back of the car back up to near the stock height. You will need to re-index the T-bars if you want it lower than that.

And, I think that the KLA units will work fine with higher spring rates. I am going to be turning the torsion bars down more on my car and going to 300lb units (the 150lb units I have aren't enough for me, I guess, but I am a masochist).

Tifo

Matt H

Tifo - what rate are you going to run in the front?
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tifosiman

Matt,

I'm going to 400lb front units on Paragon coil-overs (over the 951 strut housings with Koni yellow inserts). 300lb KLA rear coilovers with the re-installed stock t-bars turned down a few notches to get the back down, still functional. 968 M030 sways front and rear, solid KLA droplinks on the back.

16x8 phonedials at all four corners, V-700 race rubber. There should be plenty of grip in the front so I am hoping that understeer won't be a problem.



Tifo

Matt H

That is kind of light on the front isnt it? I used to run that much spring with the koni yellows on full hard in the rear. Handled basically flat, just a hair over oversteer.
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tifosiman

Matt,

With stock torsion bars? You should have had massive understeer with 400lb springs up front and stock t-bars on the rear. Especially in any sort of spirited driving and/or autocross.

One of the first mods I did to the car almost 3 years ago was to go to 250lb springs and yellow konis in the front, lef the stock t-bars alone. I had a LOT of understeer with that set-up. I cant imagine mating 400lb springs to stock T-bars.

Tifo

Matt H

Upgraded t-bars by PO. I should have stated that.
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tifosiman

To what? 30mm+ ?

Then that would make sense with 400lb springs.

Tifo