Shocks & Struts - What to Use?

[seventythree]

I own a 1973-2.0L with 430K documented miles. It is currently suspended on KYBs, front & rear, installed back in 1988 at 238K miles.

I have owned the car since 2000 and have driven the car 120K miles on the KYBs with no dislikes or problems. But of course, I have never experienced any other shocks & struts on the 914. I have all service records since new with no evidence of springs and torsion bars being replaced, so I suspect they are stock.

Lately, I have been thinking about reconditioning the front suspension mainly due to worn out bushings. But after 200K miles of service, I am considering replacing front struts and rear shocks at the same time (I replaced the rear bushings a couple of years ago).

The way I see it, I have the following options:

1) Bilisteins or Konis for roughly the same cost ~$700

2) Boges for not much less ~$500, but for that little of a cost difference, I would spend more and go with option 1.

3) KYBs for significantly less, ~$300

My intended use would continue to be spirited street driving combined with occasional canyon carving. At this point, my very nice 914 seems to be worth significantly more than my pristine 2002 Boxster, but more fragile for hi-stress track use. So, If and when I decide to get back to DE and Time Trial events, I will use the Boxster.

So, I am asking people with first hand experience with both options 1 & 3. Considering the above, which would you recommend and why?

TIA

[SirAndy]

Originally Posted by seventythree

1) Bilisteins or Konis for roughly the same cost ~$700

2) Boges for not much less ~$500, but for that little of a cost difference, I would spend more and go with option 1.

3) KYBs for significantly less, ~$300

KYB's are the worst of the bunch. They are also called Kill Your Back.

Either Bilsteins or Konis are great shocks.
I run Konis all around and have them on full soft for the street and full stiff for AX and track days.
They adjust by simply turning a knob on top of the shock.

Andy