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Posted

i whant to replace my front shocks on my 85 944 anyb ideas what to get ans what everyone is using, ans were to get them im also have 8inch 300 pound springs. Thanks for your help.

Posted

if you're asking about 944SPEC, then the answer is koni yellows, as described in the rules. Bilsteins might also still be legal.

Posted

You will also need 350-400lb springs. The 300's will be too light. Of course you can get by with them at first, but as you get faster and push the car harder, you will exceed the limits of the 300lb springs real quick.

Koni's are the way to go. P/N: 8641-1038.

Posted
if you're asking about 944SPEC, then the answer is koni yellows, as described in the rules. Bilsteins might also still be legal.

 

 

Both are still legal. However the chance that Bilsteins may go away at some point is still there. We put in that in the rule as an awareness just incase we feel the need to go to one spec shock. So far there is no drive to go away from the Bilsteins listed in the rules, but if being spec Koni helps us secure some sponsorship it maybe worth while.

Posted

Another FYI, the car with the track record was on 5 year old very used koni's,

 

BUT..........I really like the price of the Bilsteins!!!

 

Chas, your so modest, you would have won on Koni's as well. By the way have you driven you car with Koni's to feel what the difference is? I need shocks before I race it again.

Posted

Hi Norman!!!!

 

Wow 5 year old Konis!!!! You are truly a budget racer. Nice job to race at the front and set the track record with essentially no shocks.

 

When I bought this car it had worn Konis on it (unknown age) and it worked good. I only replaced the shocks when I had the front suspension apart and noticed one was blown. So I just put on all 4 new but was not willing to pay the price for Konis. I put on the Bilsteins because they were cheaper.

 

I have a new set of Konis that I took with me to Miller. I installed the Konis in the rear to see what difference it made with the car. When I put the Bilsteins back on the rear of the car it was better.

 

My plan is to do a test day with both sets at the track so I can compare back to back. I will post that info when it is done.

 

I have been told byJon Milledge that the Bilstein is the better shock and does not over heat as soon as the Konis. The Bilsteins do not have any adjustment. So you can't tune yourself out or even think about adjusting them. The shocks do have completely different valving. One has lots of rebound and one has lots of compression dampening.

 

All personal preference at this point.

Posted

The only reason I went with the Koni's were out of fear of the dropping of Bilstein's from the rules. If they do stay...permanently, I might make the switch as I have always had great success with them in other series.

Posted

I would be all for Konis if we can stike a deal for contingency $$$. Other wise no reason to change another rule. We got too many changes coming up as it is. IMO

Posted

Rafi,

I have used the yellow Koni's for a long time with 400lb springs.

I switched to the Bilsteins during 2005 because I wanted to race the 924S in Mexico and their rules didn't allow adjustable shocks.

When I drove the Bilsteins at Willow I noticed the car porpoising badly in turn 2. The nose just wouldn't settle and stay there. Jim Marks had the same experience and thought that the reason was that the springs were too heavy for the valving of the Bilstein shock. I dunno.

I went back to the Koni's and tried a session with them at full soft, then the next session at full hard.

The softer setting made the car more compliant over the bumps and made the drive a little less dramatic, but didn't make the car any faster or slower.

You have to stay away from jumping the car over curbs hard if you run the Koni's because their foot valve can be blown out.

Posted

Your last sentence makes sense to me Tim. (You have to stay away from jumping the car over curbs hard if you run the Koni's because their foot valve can be blown out.)

 

That was my problem with the Konis. I had oil in the bottom of the shock tube when I removed them from the car. I do alot of curb hopping while racing and did hear them bottom out. I had even bent the camber plate!!

 

My guess is that the elevated strut top camber plates help solve this problem.

Posted

Charlie,

Yes, the newer camber plates help. They're taller and help return the shock to its stock height for full travel. I run hard foam snubbers on the shock rod as well to help cushion any hard bounces.

BTW, as per the Koni instruction sheet, I fill the strut with green coolant (some people use oil) to help transfer heat from the shock insert to the strut housing. The reason I use green coolant is to monitor the struts for cracks. It's very easy to spot the fluid and it's the only green fluid in the car.

The amount of coolant used doesn't present a track safety issue.

 

So here's the official top secret CRE liquid color coding for troubleshooting chart:

 

Brown = oil leak

Red = power steering fluid leak

Blue = clutch or brake fluid leak

Green = cracked strut!

Yellow = very scared driver!

Posted
Hi Norman!!!!

 

Wow 5 year old Konis!!!! You are truly a budget racer. Nice job to race at the front and set the track record with essentially no shocks....

 

I ran National with 4 year old Koni's... Well only 3 of them are 4 years old. One is in fact 7 years old.

 

 

All personal preference at this point.

 

I would agree. And this is a reason we allow both shocks. If you get the Konis you will be fine. The car can be compeitive. If you get the bilsteins then they probably will work, but some guys don't like them as much.

Posted

aren't konis lifetime guaranteed? i suppose you would need your original receipt...

Posted
aren't konis lifetime guaranteed? i suppose you would need your original receipt...

 

Koni offers a lifetime guaranty unless the are installed

On any vehicle that has been used off-road, for racing or for any other driving competition.

 

http://www.koni-na.com/warranty.cfm

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