Front strut inserts and rear shocks

[nospiners]

Its time to tackle suspension on my 87 Targa, our host recommends Sachs units for front and rear. With cost always a factor , has anyone here used them , what's the opinion ? this is for weekend driver car, no track days or anything spirited , plus the wife occasionally drives it , so comfort plus cost is the main factor . Of course i will not sacrifice quality for cost . Your opinions really matter. Thank you ..

[PeteKz]

I really like the Koni adjustable shocks for several reasons. On their softest setting, they are comfortable on the street, especially crappy streets. And they are easy to dial up for more spirited driving, or if you get around to putting stiffer T-bars in it.

If you want comfort, skip Bilstein.

There are two versions: Koni Classic (red painted) and Sport (yellow painted). Since your car is an '87 and has more weight, I recommend the Sport versions for two reasons: 1) the softest setting is plenty soft for street use, and 2) the adjustments are by knobs on the tops of the front and rear shocks. It literally takes less than 5 minutes to change the adjustments on all four. The Classics go softer on the softest setting, but are not as easy to adjust. You have to remove the top of the front shocks, press down on the shaft and turn and count clicks, then put it back togther. Similar for the rear Classic shocks.

I use the Sport (yellow) shocks on my 1973 2300-lb car and they are comfortable on the street at their softest setting. Your car weighs 500 lbs more than mine.

Price is reasonable, at around $850 for the set of 4, when on sale.

[nospiners]

Thank you !! Important info you can only get here ..

[Schulisco]

Depends which front struts your car has...Boge or Bilsteins. If you Bilsteins, you can only use Bilstein dampers. The original series replacement dampers you can get from Bilstein is the sport suspension option (M474), they're green painted front and rear. All Bilsteins are B6 dampers. All yellow dampers were far more stiffer as PeteKz said and not recommended for street use.
If you got Boge struts then you have the following options:
* Sachs (and former Boge, but currently replaced by Sachs, black painted, original suspension from factory, most comfortable version)
* KYB / Kayaba (similar comfortable to the Sachs, as they're also a original replacement), probably cheaper than the Sachs
* Koni as PeketKz wrote

The Bilsteins got a pin on the bottom, they're mounted upside down. Boge have the pin on top.

Thomas

[Peterfrans]

I also use koni sports (yellow) on my 73.5. Very nice shocks, sporty but still comfortable even on a bit higher setting.

[nospiners]

Car has Boge struts , i'm partial to yellow Koni's that i had on my Alfa's , this car is a lot heavier though .. Im driving a friends 84 coupe this wend with new green Blisteins , that will get me closer to a decision.. Thank you all so much !!

[icarp]

No question in my mind , Koni yellow , with about 1/2 turn in from full soft.

The science of damping the 911 suspension works well with the Koni. Progressive .

PM me for more info

Ian

[PeteKz]

See this video too:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzSzoESEhCQ

[nospiners]

I forgot Tom's video , Koni',s for sure. Thanks to all of you guys !!!

[NickW21]

Reviving this thread. I'm looking into replacing my shocks and I've seen just a huge variety of opinions out there. I also am a bit confused as to what our sponsor has for Bilstein's. I can see the B4,6 and 8 options and those you can easily look up and understand the pros/cons. However, there's also the HD option, but I can't seem to find out what these ones are. Looking at their site doesn't really list them as far as I can tell. Are these a special version just for 911s? Any help would be appreciated.

I've heard some good/bad on the Koni's. In that video, there is a pretty bad con on there about limited travel (when car is lowered, as mine is) with the Koni's that I've heard more than once and being in New England, I'm not sure the roads I typically travel on would work well the limited travel and my lowered ride height. I don't want to get into modifying or getting newer struts either.

Anyway, thanks for any and all opinions/thoughts on the matter!

-Nick

[nospiners]

Well , a few months later , with the suspension lowered , all i can say is that im really happy with the way the car feels and drives. I followed icarp's advice to a tee and the car is transformed. Even my wife enjoys it .. Yellow Koni's all around with adjustment just off full soft ..