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Kenodog · Joined: 25 Jun 2003 Posts: 2651 Location: Vancouver,B.C.

So I thought I had a new set of Koni rears to go with the new fronts I have but it turns out they are another set of the adjustable fronts. Grf. So. Do I buy a set of Koni rears to match the fronts or use a new set of Bilsteins I have sitting on the shelf ?
Im not sure if mixing different brands will have a detrimental effect on the handling.

Me
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1979 Euro 931, Olive
1981 931, Sabine
1991 Ford Ranger XLT 4x4, Ricky
1996 Ford E-350 ex-FedEx Van
2014 Mazda CX-5 (Kinderwagon)
2019 KTM 790 Adventure
2024 KLX300
2024 KLX140

K-Roll931 · Joined: 08 Jul 2017 Posts: 76 Location: Southfield, MI

Could be an interesting test to see how different brand suspension parts can/cannot go together... Personally, I'm running Sachs up front and eventually KYB in the rear. Completely different tier of shocks/struts, but your inquiry in reality.
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'80 931 M471 - Dolomite Gray -> Monaco Blue

peterld · Posted: Mon Mar 11, 2019 2:06 pm Post subject:

There will be substantial differences between the brands!
Konis are oil...Bilsteins are gas. Never mind what the rates of deflection are.
Performance oil shocks will initially be harsher when cold, until you've put a few miles on it to warm up the oil. Gas will work just right from the get-go.

That apart, for ideal compression and rebound rates, the shocks within each brand need to be matched....refer manufacturer's specs.
Both brands however can be revalved and rebuilt.....they are quality brands.

For my money, I prefer gas over oil.
One of my Toofahs runs Bilstein, while my Forfah runs adjustable Konis.......both with similar spring rates, and supposedly shock rates. The Toofah wins hands down! On every metric!
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80/81 932/8 ROW

peterld · Posted: Mon Mar 11, 2019 2:06 pm Post subject:

There will be substantial differences between the brands!
Konis are oil...Bilsteins are gas. Never mind what the rates of deflection are.
Performance oil shocks will initially be harsher when cold, until you've put a few miles on it to warm up the oil. Gas will work just right from the get-go.

That apart, for ideal compression and rebound rates, the shocks within each brand need to be matched....refer manufacturer's specs.
Both brands however can be revalved and rebuilt.....they are quality brands.

For my money, I prefer gas over oil.
One of my Toofahs runs Bilstein, while my Forfah runs adjustable Konis.......both with similar spring rates, and supposedly shock rates. The Toofah wins hands down! On every metric!
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80/81 932/8 ROW

Cedric · Joined: 27 Aug 2004 Posts: 2617 Location: Sweden

No, both are oil based dampers, one of them is pressurized, but that is to counteract cavitation. In theroy they could be valved very similar. But they obviously arent..

It depends how picky you are, and if its for street driving or track driving. They arent worlds apart, but its also very subjective with things like this, something that is horrible for someone could be absolutely fine for a different person.
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1980 924 Turbo
www.instagram.com/garagecedric/

Johann · Joined: 07 Aug 2016 Posts: 240 Location: Netherlands

I am running Bilstein B6 on my 931 and am very satisfied. Fits under the hood with no clearance issues and the green shocks poking out from under the back looks quite cool.

Carrera RSR · Joined: 08 Jan 2010 Posts: 2309 Location: Somerset, UK

Johann · Joined: 07 Aug 2016 Posts: 240 Location: Netherlands

I'm running stock height and that is pretty high...I am thinking of lowering it though, but that is a slippery slope.

Kenodog · Joined: 25 Jun 2003 Posts: 2651 Location: Vancouver,B.C.

The problem is that I have the front Konis in custom modified 924S strut housings so I can bolt up the 951 Brembos. Removing them for the Bilsteins would be a pain. And.. it would leave me with two sets of front Konis I have no use for, was just trying to use them up and get them off the shelf.

Frickn frack

Leigh
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1979 Euro 931, Olive
1981 931, Sabine
1991 Ford Ranger XLT 4x4, Ricky
1996 Ford E-350 ex-FedEx Van
2014 Mazda CX-5 (Kinderwagon)
2019 KTM 790 Adventure
2024 KLX300
2024 KLX140

Fasteddie313 · Joined: 29 Sep 2013 Posts: 2596 Location: MI

You could just try the konis on front and bilsteins on the back to see how it feels.

Maybe you will find that you like the way the front of the car feels and go with konis, or like the way the back feels and then go with bilsteins, and you will then know what it's like first hand to drive with mismatched shocks, and be able to tell us all about your findings..

the fronts are a little more work than the back but doing them while they are on the car is like an easy automatic spring compressor.
Zip the top nut off with an impact, the strut mount bolts, sway bar links, and jack up the car off the springs, and lower it back down on the springs..

Myself, I don't know if I would be able to tell one shock from another as long as none are blown or extremely stiff. I'm not sure how advanced of driving skill/experience is required for feeling such small differences.

I might have a use for some front konis some time..
They are on the wishlist but the wishlist is long..
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80 Turbo - Slightly Modified