Re: Bilsteins soft?

[Steve An <stevean@domain.elided>]

Hi Dean,

Sorry, I realize I should be more explicit with my claims. Let me clarify, 
the Bilstein HD were too soft on my Miata (damn, I thought this is the Alfa 
digest, which is why I didn't want to bring up the M word), perhaps because 
the springs are really soft, the car wallows. I should also state that 
suspension tuning is really complicated and I would not claim to know squat 
about the theory or practice of the art, I have trouble comprehending 
Carroll Smith's book. My experience is based on a small personal sampling.

I have no idea how they fare on Alfas. Paul Glynn, recommends Konis over 
Bilstein for Alfas and that's good enough for me, coming from someone who 
used to be Kwech's suspension guy. Bilsteins are fine on my old German cars 
(Bimmers, 911 and MB), maybe they get the spring rates or shock valve tuned 
to work right with Bilsteins.

I used Koni Yellows on both my old Miata (setting 2 or 3, settable with the 
palstic knob on the car) and the Milano at the softest setting and I 
wouldn't have anything else for streets. The Boge are softer (maybe) when 
new, but they deteriorate quickly and become rock hard and then 
disintegrate all together, this happened to me twice. And they are not that 
good new.

The Konis (~$90 from shox.com) cost about the same as the Bilsteins ($86 
from Turner Motorsport) and slightly more than the Boge ($75 (from 
International Auto)). I think that's money well spent.

 I know people who get their shock re-valved for various jounce and 
rebound values etc... and made things worse, I'd go with the collective 
experience of this group.

Here's one strong vote for Konis.

cheers,

        - S.

At 12:56 AM 10/23/2002 -0400, Dean W. Cains wrote:


> Hi Steve:
>
> Bilstein HD's too soft???  I've got a set on my '74 Spider (in Florida, 
> where the roads are pretty flat), and "soft" is at the bottom of the list 
> of words I'd use to describe them.  I'm losing dental fillings driving 
> around, and if I didn't already have a transplanted kidney, I'd
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