Shock absorber selection advice please!

[Adam]

I freely admit, I don't know much about shocks, but I know that I seriously need to replace the shocks in my car. The research I've done and the folks that I've spoken with all indicate that Koni make inserts to fit Boge struts (but Wayne's 101 Projects book disagrees), and obviously the rear shocks are pretty basic to change.

So far, I've been advised to choose "Koni Sports", externally adjustable fronts, non-adjustable rears. I don't know whether these are the reds or yellows. Apparently, Yellow Konis are quite a bit stiffer than the reds. Basically, the car will be used to for weekend drives and spirited mountain/coastal runs. It's mainly a sunny-day cruiser, but I like to drive fast on winding roads. At this stage, I don't track the car, but I could be persuaded to take it out in the near future. It's not a daily driver.

I've searched the archives for details on this topic and also looked at Pelican's 911 Suspension Wizard.

So, any suggestions as to which Konis to fit to my '76?

It's running stock "S" t-bars and sways and is lowered to approx 24.75"/24.75" f/r. Hopefully someone has BTDT and can steer me in the most suitable direction. I will be buying shocks on the recommendations you guys pass on in this thread.

Thanks!

[Zeke]

Koni sports are yellow and externally adjustable for rebound only, IIRC. They are too stiff for stock bars, IMO. New or fresh (rebuilt) Koni reds will make a nice change and provide an excellent ride. This is what I currently have on the front and rear. Of course, they are adjustable too, just not externally. I run them one turn off soft out of 2+ turns available.

Koni makes a separate shock for the Boge and their own strut in the red. It's the sport that you have to get the different gland nut for. Koni has it in stock. It will fit both the Koni strut and the Boge strut as long as you have the right nut.

I may change my reds for sports when I install my 21mm front t-bars, but I plan on running them full soft. I might experiment at the track with a little stiffer setting and see. 21mm is not all that heavy, so I don't want to over shock the bars. They will compress and not be able to rebound fast enough.

[Chuck Moreland]

I agree with Milt. If you run stock tbars, stay with the koni red - regular.

[Wil Ferch]

You can go a number of ways...

First of all..some clarification. Boge housings are the most versatile...since their internals can be replaced with many brand names ( Koni, Bilstein, Boge, KYB, Tokico).

If your car had gas-charged shocks, you can get gas charged shocks again and not worry about alignment. If , however, you have hydraulic shocks, then going to ( high-pressure) gas charged will raise your car. Depending upon the condition of your bushings, the amount it will raise can be 1/2" ( if bushings are in good shape) to over an inch if they're not.

AFAIK...All Koni's are adjustable...don't know about "non" adjustable Koni's. Typically adjustable for rebound damping ( extension) only. The modern style rear Koni hi-pressure gas shocks typically require you to detach one end ( bottom?) of the shock to make adjustments, and then re-attach. Fronts may have a small centered shaft that can be adjusted from the top with a removable plastic knob. Easy.

I've changed my all-Boge set up on my 85 Carrera with low pressure gas charged fronts ( Red---non sport) that use the top plastic knob for adjusment...and I run a hydraulic, Yellow, Sport rear, that *also* uses an identical top knob adjustment. This didn't raise my car. Also, many feel the 911's have too much front roll resistance, and don't need extra damping for the front, so Sports are not all that necessary there. The hydraulic rears I have are also shorter than later style gas by about 2". This is good if for some reason I lower the car. The shocks won't be out of their "range" of operation. Do a search for my name and "koni" to see more details in the archives.

Bilsteins, especially custom-valved ones for the torsion bar strength you're running ...are nice...and are somewhat less harsh on intitial impact.

KYB's are hard riding and stiff, and are reported to wear out rather quickly.

Don't have experience with Tokico's...

--Wil

[Zeke]

Originally posted by Wil Ferch
You can go a number of ways...


AFAIK...All Koni's are adjustable...don't know about "non" adjustable Koni's.


--Wil

I think he meant that he couldn't adjust them by just reaching in the engine bay. Which would be nice.

So, you are saying that the reds are now also externally adjustable with the knob? The older models sure aren't. Only by fully compressing and engaging the shaft with the internal adjuster and turning the body while holding the shaft.

[Wil Ferch]

Yes...

My low-pressure gas, Reds, front....as well as the special, older style, Sport yellow hydraulic rears....adjust in the same way....with a removable white knob that engages a shaft on the top of the shock...

---Wil

EDIT: More here....
Front Koni reds/Rear Koni Yellows?

[Adam]

Thanks for the informative replies!

I just looked at the Koni NA website and it showed me this. Looks like anything without "sport" is the Koni red. Correct?

Are standard '76 OE/Boge shocks gas units? I've never noticed the tell-tale hiss of gas shock operation in my car. I thought the Koni Reds were hydraulic shocks, too.

[Wil Ferch]

Boges for 76 are likely to be hydraulic..although at some point, like the mid 80's I believe....there were sport gas Boges offered. Even so, they may be low pressure gas which don't require re-indexing the ride height.

Koni makes all kinds of shocks...I *think* the reds are available as pure hydraulic or gas. My front's are low pressure gas Reds. Check parts numbers and check for fitment ( model years). Some changes are quoted for rears

--Wil

[Adam]

Wil, Ron & Chuck - Thank you! You guys are a wealth of info and experience. The installation looks like a pretty straightforward job.

I don't want to worry about resetting ride height and alignment, so I'll probably just go with the Koni Reds and avoid the gas-adjustable model. If I fit the Koni Red (hydraulic - Part #86-1943), then theoretically, it should be a plug-n-play job.

For the rears, I'm assuming I'd match the fronts by fitting the 82-1962.

[Wil Ferch]

Not to muddy up the issue...but simply to lay all the options on the table....

Recognize that Koni gas for fronts are low pressure...and don't really raise the car ( funny...the *one end* that is easy to lower has low pressure gas...whereas the rear-gas are high pressure...where it *will* raise the car and it *is* involved to bring it back down).

---Wil