looking for advice, koni setup vs $$$
 

OK guys been searching around looking for a cheap koni setup with no luck as of this last week. Found a miata salvage shop today on CL with some used koni sports, with NA tophats, and racingbeat street springs. Question is: you you pay $450 for a used setup like that? I want to change out the springs later on the gc coils. I here people saying you can find a used set of konis with gf for 300 -600. Just haven't seen 'em. What so you guys think? R they work it. I don't know what the mileage is on them either.

no

ok what price would you pay for that setup? realisticly

Half of new price, NA upper mounts are junk, springs are junk.

From what Ive heard, the rebound of the Koni Yellows isnt well suited for the Miatas, which is why you dont see them used much. I think when people do use them, you pretty much have to keep them adjusted to "full soft", which is the lowest rebound setting to be well suited for the fixed bump setting.

Correct me if Im wrong.
I know theyre very popular in the Honda world, but they have very different suspension setups on their race cars.

thank hustler, good to know. Knew the na tops and springs are crap, just looking for the shocks mostly, plan to most likely get them rebuilt later on.

Boogie: from what I've been seeing through the forums though it looks like people choose the koni over toki's. I plan to use these for alot of spirited weekend driving and track days.

Tokicos are total garbage.

what's so bad about em?

I've researched a bit between those 2 and it seems like most prefer the koni over tokicos and it sounds like they've been track proven to be faster than tokicos.

Another thought I had was Bilstein HD's but they aren't adjustable right? but they can be revalved. Damn to many decisions!!!!

Whats so bad about racelands?

I would run revalved Bilsteins before Id run some shitty crosstalking wannabe performance shock like Tokicos or KYBs. Just keep the spring rates low and use swaybars to tune out the body roll.
Then when youre ready, make the leap to some racing coilovers and never look back. You will save money in the long run.

+1

That's a cool story bro, and I'ma let you finish, but: you're gonna have to be a little more specific than that.

I realize its not a high end shock. I've no illusions about where it sits in the suspension superiority chain. But if you're gonna knock em, I expect you to provide your reasoning.

I'd rather have racelands over Konis.

Did you look for the price of new Koni Sports? On Tirerack they are $130-$137 each, so paying $450 for a used set doesn't make sense.

Yep. And for the price I'd rather get a brand new set of billies from 949

Monotube > twin tube.

I've beat on my turbo car for a year now down to 5 seconds under the spec miata record on a rough track using koni sports and GC sleeves/springs (factory 1.8 brakes too). It doesn't suck nearly as bad as people think, it's just not as good as ballerovers like xida. That said, i have Xidas coming tomorrow and i will be baller and better gain a couple seconds.

thanks guys. Red just so it doesn't seem like im a dumbass, the used konis came with rb springs as well, and aftermarket bumbstops from what it looks like. But I have decided against them.

I have been looking at the bilsteins but a little confused on what would be the best setup for me. sports or HD's? I check 949 and ISC website so will probably or from one of them.

now as for which one. I want a stiff ride, I hate the rebound and body roll of the stock stuff now, so will be changing out sways, when doing the new shock setup. Would like something pretty aggressive, and some people have said billies are able to stand up to 700lbs springs... is that true for stock spec billies or is that after revale?

Sorry for all the questions..

Right, but that doesn't mean:
monotube = heaven
twin tube = worse than feces

You really should read the suspension section more.

This all has recently been discussed at least a handful of times at very great length, with lots and lots of very influential people providing their input.

You want the 99+ Sport or Hard S billies, not the HDs.

Seriously, read. Its all right here.

Yeah but when they are both custom revalveable and the same price...