Re: Help me suspension gurus!

[Iain Mannix <mannix@privatei.com>]

>I need new shocks.  The Spax nonadjustables I've been riding on for 2 and a
>half years are not doing as well as they used to, so I've been surveying my
>options looking for a replacement.  I could save some $$ and get new Spax,
>but they won't last any longer the next time around.

Spax don't have a lifetime warranty?

 I could also save $$
>by going with a Boge shock, but I don't see them working much better for my
>16v or lasting much longer.  I've pretty much ruled out Koni because
>they're out of my price range, but Tokicos aren't.
>
>If anyone has any experience with either the Illumina or the Bilstein, I'd
>love to hear from you.  If you have race experience, that's even better - I
>plan to roadrace once or twice a year minimum.

What class?  What spring rates?  If you're in a Stock class, a Boge will be
OK at best.  If you are in IT/GT or a class which allows spring changes,
Boges will not cut it.

Assuming they don't
>fail like they used to (apparently Tokico has finally acknowledged the
>problem and fixed it), do these shocks work well with my car?  Do they work
>better than a Bilstein Sport, for example?  That would be my other choice,
>based on Bilstein's rep; however I've heard the Sport is too harsh over
>little bumps and expansion joints.

Tokicos are popular with Honda racers and autocrossers, it seems as though
the failure rate is lower in Honda than VW.  I'd not heard that they'd
fixed their failure problem.  Those I know with Tokicos like them when they
work, and I can think of one guy who has been using as set for a few years
without problems.  FWIW, I've warrantied four Bilsteins in my life, so
they're not without problems either.  My Konis are good so far, but I'm not
holding my breath - I expect shock failure once in a while.

I guess the most important questions I have are these: 1) What
class/springs are you using, and 2) How competitive do you want to be?

If you are in a stock class, buy Konis.  If you are in a class which allows
modifications, buy Konis.  Sorry:).  IMHO, Bilsteins (at least the ones I
had) don't work that well with big spring rates (300ish front) - with a
stock or Neuspeed lowering spring (read "soft"), they're pretty damned
good, but I like the ride of my Konis much better.  IMHO, avoid Tokicos -
they do seem to blow up.  Boges are really out of the question IMHO, if you
are planning on racing the car.  They'd _work_, but how well?  Safety is an
issue, too.  I mean, Konis are what, $450?  Bilsteins are $330?  I guess I
am just used to Koni pricing.

As for my claim that Boges won't work in stock class/with soft springs,
they'll work fine on the street.  I know they do, I had a set once.  Under
competitive conditions, however, they're just too soft - if the car breaks
traction in a corner, pitches, then regains traction suddenly, the car gets
a big wallow to it.  Driving fast on the street is nothing like an
autocross or hotlap at the local track.  I'd try for Koni yellows, which
are not perfect, but pretty darned good out of the box (revalving is about
$50 per), or Bilsteins.  Koni and Bilstein have lifetime warranties, which
is nice, although if one blows up, you have to either buy another, send
them the dead one, and if they determine the shock is at fault, they'll
credit you(never been told the shock was not at fault by Bilstein, they
were always great), OR, send them the dead one, wait for a replacement.
This option sorta sucks.  I've been sorta planning on getting a spare shock
or two just in case.  Maybe one front, one rear, dunno.  Maybe buy some
dead cores, get them revalved, then have spares - lifetime warranties are
great but time consuming.  Tell us the class/spring you're racing with,
that could give me a better idea of what you are doing and need!


Mannix


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