[jeep45238]

I was rotating tires today, and looked around on the vehicle for anything that needs to be replaced for PM - well, shocks and struts are starting to rust pretty good, and I'm surprised I don't see any fluid leaking out - anyway. I need to replace them, 82K on the clock, and since I'm in there the springs are getting swapped out, and camber/caster plates are going in.


Ultimate goal - a reasonably mild mannered street car that handles decently, it won't see the drag strip or a track. I'm not ready to do K members/coil overs, etc. Currently there are 0 suspension or brake modifications. Full length subframe connectors will get installed within a month or three, just to get that out of the way - rear LCA's are in the same boat. The roads around here are mediocre to bad, with a few good roads here and there - lots and lots of hills and turns.



American muscle has MM caster plates on sale this month, so I snagged a pair of those for a good price. I'm likely going to go with the H&R super sport springs. The drop is reasonable, and the rate is progressive, so it should help soak up any potholes I miss during dodging, and still handle well when pushed.


Now comes the strut/shock selection to control the springs. I know the caster plates will allow me to change the strut shaft height relative to the chassis, which will help keep me from bottoming out the strut. But what about the rears? What rear struts don't bottom out on a lowered mustang? What's a good match to control these springs for a street car?

Hey Jazzer!

[ReverendDexter]

What's your budget?

I really like my Bilsteins and they have an appropriate rate to control those H&R supersports. They provide great body control while also staying supple over bumps.

If those are a bit too spendy, I would look at either Tokico Blues or Koni STR.Ts, and I'd probably lean towards the latter.

[jeep45238]

Bilstein is in the budget if they are the best option - but if another brand will give me 85% of the end result at $100 less per unit, I'll do that.

[ReverendDexter]

Yeah, the Bilsteins I know will do the job. The Tokicos will ride rougher than the Bilsteins, and I'm not sure if the STR.Ts have enough damping for the SSs.

[Sdickinson64]

I agree with Reverend, the bilsteins are the best choice, but a reasonable alternative would be the Koni Str-T's. They're not going to be a perfect match, but will still be pretty good for almost half the price of bilsteins.

[Solar Black]

Stay with the Bilstein HD. It works well with those springs. It's like they are made for each other.

[Cathedral]

Whatever you do, do not stick with Tokico HP's.

Unless you don't like your teeth.

[codycat91]

The Koni STR.Ts are made specifically for H&R SS's
Koni Rears
Koni Fronts

[gravik]

Wow, Bilstein's are spendy :O They're half the price for my BMW, which is really surprising.

[ReverendDexter]

Originally Posted by gravik Wow, Bilstein's are spendy :O They're half the price for my BMW, which is really surprising.

Well, they're OEM on BMWs, it's part of why BMW has the reputation that they do for being both a luxurious *and* sporty ride. With the part being in such large production, it brings the price down.

Most Mustang guys don't care enough to put legitimately good dampers on their car, so there's a much lower production of Bilsteins that fit our cars, and consequently the price is much higher.

I still say they're worth it, though.

[gravik]

Originally Posted by ReverendDexter Well, they're OEM on BMWs, it's part of why BMW has the reputation that they do for being both a luxurious *and* sporty ride. With the part being in such large production, it brings the price down. Most Mustang guys don't care enough to put legitimately good dampers on their car, so there's a much lower production of Bilsteins that fit our cars, and consequently the price is much higher. I still say they're worth it, though.

On the older ones, Bilsteins aren't OEM. Boge-Sachs are OEM.

[ReverendDexter]

Originally Posted by gravik On the older ones, Bilsteins aren't OEM. Boge-Sachs are OEM.

How old? I thought Bilsteins were the OEM damper since the E30s, or at least E36s, or if not that, at least on M3s.

Admittedly I'm not a huge German car guy, West coast is much more Japanese-oriented when it comes to imports.

[Blak GT]

I have H&R SS and Koni STR.T and I think they work pretty well together. I wanted bilstiens but they were out of my budget but I do plan on using them for when I go coil-over


Sent from not my computer

[Matt86]

Koni STR.T's work well with my SS springs. I got them from tire rack on sale. I think they were a little under 300 for all four corners.

[jeep45238]

Nobody is bottoming out their rear shocks with either the Bilsteins or the Konis I take it?

[Aristeros]

Originally Posted by gravik On the older ones, Bilsteins aren't OEM. Boge-Sachs are OEM.

A fellow Bimmer Enthusiast!

Originally Posted by ReverendDexter How old? I thought Bilsteins were the OEM damper since the E30s, or at least E36s, or if not that, at least on M3s. Admittedly I'm not a huge German car guy, West coast is much more Japanese-oriented when it comes to imports.

As Gravik stated Bilsteins are most definitely not stock. However, they are a very common choice when lowering them. Bilstein and Koni are the go to shocks of the BMW world.

That being said I just ordered a set of Tein S-tech Springs for my GT and left the stock strut/shocks on and the drop is nice but holy shit is it bouncy!!!

I ordered a set of Tokico D-spec shocks/struts today in hopes to combat the bouncy ride though. They seem to have good reviews.

[jeep45238]

Let me know how they treat you. I'm still a bit off from doing this, and the more feedback the better. I'll order adjustable struts if that's the best route to go, but it the adjustments will not be messed with after it's dialed in, so to speak.

[ReverendDexter]

Originally Posted by jeep45238 Let me know how they treat you. I'm still a bit off from doing this, and the more feedback the better. I'll order adjustable struts if that's the best route to go, but it the adjustments will not be messed with after it's dialed in, so to speak.

IMO, adjustable is the way to go if you're competing for money, elsewise you're better off to just get good non-adjustable. For instance, from what I've heard, the Koni STR.Ts dampen right on with a Koni Yellow set on soft. Same quality of damping, same build quality, same customer service and warranty, but STR.Ts are half the price of an SA or about a 1/4-1/3rd the price of DAs.

[jeep45238]

I'm not racing for money - or racing period actually. I was leaning towards non-adjustable since this is a street car, and the days of trying to show off on the street are long, long behind for me.

Not to mention that I won't get a chance to drive this a whole lot for a while anyways, but that's besides the matter. When it's fully paid off, and I get a slot at the auto hobby shop, well, fun times will soon begin

[AMChrisRose]

There's no doubt that the Bilstein shocks offer the most "comfy" ride while still being a sport-tuned option. They're a little pricey, though. It really depends on whether or not that's worth it to you. I don't think you'll find another shock like them.

The next best option is debatable. The Tokico HP series, KYB's and the Koni's are really close. We're looking into bringing in the Koni STR.T's because of their popular demand. I get a ton of requests for them. Then again, we sell alot of Tokico HP's and I've run them on quite a few different cars.

Any of them are going to be a great option with the H&R springs...