Hard feelings with Megan Racing springs

[oranger]

Wow that's very helpful....I'm still leaning for KYB's, I'm not a fan of Bilsteins.

[JDMxDB8]

Koni FTW!

[oranger]

Just to triple clarify, because this goes against everything I've know: KYB AGX's are designed for lowering/performance springs, with a shorter rod (to prevent dangle) and such? I had always understood them to be a stiffer factory replacement, but I'm happy if I'm wrong.

SO:
I have one specific question:
DO AGX's eliminate spring dangle on Megan racing springs?

[johnl]

Wow that's very helpful....I'm still leaning for KYB's, I'm not a fan of Bilsteins.

How can you not be a fan? On what basis are you judging them?

Bilstein is as good as it gets, KYB is junk...

[johnl]

One of their engineers told me the Bilstein dampers, although not adjustable, are superior to the Koni's because of their monotube design. Apparently the high-pressure HD dampers begin their duty cycle as soon as 2mm into travel, much earlier than the low-pressure, twin tube dampers such as the low end Koni's and so on.

My understanding, is that Bilstein dampers are better than Koni dampers largely because they are not adjustable. The issue is that it's virtually impossible to make an adjustable valve that is as precise or as reliable as a non-adjustable valve of equivalent quality.

Having said that, the adjustable valves in Konis are extremely good, far better than the non-adjustable valves in most other dampers. Bilstein non adjustable valves are arguably the best damper valves in the business. Koni adjustable valves are arguably the best adjustable valves.

[oranger]

How can you not be a fan? On what basis are you judging them?

Bilstein is as good as it gets, KYB is junk...

A small thing called personal experience.

I work in a Honda specialist shop....90% of Bilsteins I see = blown. And we use only KYB replacement with much success.

I can't speak to there performance lines, but factory replacement Japanese, Bilstein blows. Bilstein is German engineered, and they *generally* are not designed as well as KYB *Japanese* replacement parts.

Again, I don't know performance lines, but if a company can't build decent factory replacement, I'm not comfortable using their performance lines.

Just my experience, that's all, but when it comes down to it, few of us have hard numbers, and experience is all we have to base off of.

[oranger]

I've been doing a whole bunch of research on Bilstein and Koni's respective websites. Bilstein doesn't look very impressive. Koni, however, seemed very impressive, and lots of information.
I was a little floored, Koni's are 50% more than any KYB or other competition, are they really that good?

[lokuputha]

My understanding, is that Bilstein dampers are better than Koni dampers largely because they are not adjustable. The issue is that it's virtually impossible to make an adjustable valve that is as precise or as reliable as a non-adjustable valve of equivalent quality.

Having said that, the adjustable valves in Konis are extremely good, far better than the non-adjustable valves in most other dampers. Bilstein non adjustable valves are arguably the best damper valves in the business. Koni adjustable valves are arguably the best adjustable valves.

Agreed, thats pretty much what Bilstein told me.

[oranger]

Agreed, thats pretty much what Bilstein told me.

Yea, but of course their going to tell you that. They want to sell you their product.

Just because they said so, doesn't make it true.

[joemomma]

but driving fast on bumpy roads with four people in the car, don't be surprised if you bottom out and have handling issues!

+1, thats how i bottomed out and put a whole in my trans pan and fried the tranny, definately not a good idea....



.....what so ever

[johnl]

Yea, but of course their going to tell you that. They want to sell you their product.

Just because they said so, doesn't make it true.

I suspect that is exactly the inference lokuputha is making...

My understanding is that even Penske uses Bilstein valves inside their dampers...

[johnl]

My understanding is that even Penske uses Bilstein valves inside their dampers...

Not sure how correct my statement above is, I do recall reading it somewhere...?

At any rate, I reccomend checking out this site for some interesting reading on dampers:

http://farnorthracing.com/autocross_secrets6.html