PorscheDoc

So my front struts (sealed) are shot, and really dont feel like forking out 200 bucks a side for a stock shock, so am looking at doing a conversion and putting in koni or bilstein inserts. I know i can get koni inserts from Paragon for about 125 a side, and that i can handle, along with a little moding work. I also know about the bilsteins that you can do the same thing to. Don't know where i can get them though, anyone know of a supplier? The koni strut conversion looks pretty straight forward. I am not going to do the rears yet, as the shocks are still good back there, so if i can hold out a few months on that, it would be better. Car is a street car only, my daily driver. Anyone have any input on either/or? Thanks

hosrom_951

I have the Koni Yellow's, bought the inserts from Paragon and did the convertion (from oil to gas).

My specialists did the convertion, just make sure IF you get the koni's to get the hardware kit from Paragon as well (all the washers/bolts needed for the conversion.)

They are fine, i am happy with them on my street car......

Ski

Lindsey has a full coil over Bilstein setup.

PorscheDoc

Yes they do, far out of my price range.

hosrom_951

What struts are you using now?

Koni's are adjustable, you can stiffen/soften them as you wish i like them with my 200lbs springs

PorscheDoc

I just have a stock setup, and really dont need anything special. I was looking at the koni's mainly because i can do it cheap.

ftanguay

Lindsey have the setup, but they only sell the escort, and you "can't" use them on street.

I bought my Bilstein firehawk from Allshock for 1600$ CAN for the front with springs. something like 450$ US per shocks. But I may have bought koni's from paragon for less and keep money for the rest... damn money pit!

User 41221

Karl, we can do the Bilstein conversion cheaper than you can do the Koni conversion. Ben and I bought Bilstein front inserts from a supplier in Cleveland for $180 for the pair, if I recall correctly ( I will check tomorrow and tell you for sure what we paid). Strut housings from an early 944 (which you should be able to get really cheap) will bolt directly on your '86 951, you just need to weld a bracket on each one to mount the air deflectors, and move the brake sensor bracket if you want to keep that (or you can just disconnect it and be done with the POS).

For what its worth, I have no experience with the Konis except for watching 8 of them get tested on a shock dyno, I have never run them on any of my cars. Plenty of folks like them, but I have been more than satisfied with Bilsteins.

Regards,

ian kam

why cant you use the escort system lindsey sells on the street? I see Koni has a coilover setup for the 944 anyone know anything about that. I want to know what the best bang for your buck in a total suspension upgrade.

tommo951

Koni's are great as are bilstein however I chose Leda as sold by racers edge. These really are the muts nuts!!! Although what I would say is Leda manufacture in Essex UK only about a 30 minute drive from me so rebuilds or revalves can be done very quickly. For you guys on the other side of the pond don't you have a custom manufacturer in US?
Now I think of it Penske is a US firm can't they do something for 951??

PorscheDoc

Brake sensors already disconnected. Errr air deflectors riiigghhhhttttt.....that must have been one of the weight reductions done by the PO

User 41221

lol I think I still have a set of them left over from the parts car, if you want them. Of course, that might put the car over the weight limit, after all, they have to weigh at least 2 oz a piece.

Regards,

RogueM3

In terms of my M3:

Konis were the way to go compared to the bilsteins which are universally considered harsher. Granted Bilstein has revamped their shocks in the past 6 months, however they are still considered harsh.

My current Ground Control Coilovers use Koni shocks and struts and I love the ride (450lb f/ 500lb rear)

If money werent really an issue then Leda would be the way to go..yet they are north of $2k.

KONI!

-Richard

ftanguay

Ian Kam: The Escort is REALLY to harsh for the street use.

I saw a race 951 with Penske suspension... WOW no one have never see something like that... but $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$ and i'm not shure I put enought

MichelleJD

Are you able to make a comparison on the Ledas vs Bilsteins? I'm really considering Ledas and have heard nothing but good things about them. However, If I can get something relatively close to Ledas at a fraction of the cost, I'd be sorely tempted.