mazdaspeedrex

Does anyone have any experience with Koni 28 series shocks on the FB's? I found some and am wondering how they would match up to Tokico Illuminas. I am currently using Ground Control springs but will upgrade to an adjustable coilover type (ie: Re-Speed) in the next year or two. The car is only used for autox and just gets driven to the events 60-70 miles away max. I'm not worried about ride comfort, just performance. Thanks for any help.

Kentetsu

I haven't used the Konis, so I won't comment on them.

However, with the Respeed coilovers and spring rates of 275/150 I've used Illuminas on the front (standard, and "race" version). And on the rear I've used Illuminas and Bilsteins.

I've always been very happy with the Illuminas. The race version gets a bit tighter on the high end of the dial than the stocker model, nice.

I really like running the Illuminas on the rear too, but they were just a bit too long for the ride height that I wanted. Got my hands on some used Bilsteins, and threw those on. I really miss the adjustability of the Illuminas, especially on long trips. But those Bilsteins work great in all conditions, if you don't consider highway ride quality. lol

The spring rate you intend to run will also matter for damper choice. Any idea what you will run when you upgrade to the Respeed Coilovers? Also, what swaybars are you running?




.

mazdaspeedrex

I'm not sure on spring rates yet. I was thinking 275 or 300 and 150. That will be another question as I come closer to buying them. Right now I have stock sway bars. I am going to experiment with unhooking the rear sometime this year and will probably go with the Re-Speed adjustable front eventually.

Keeble

iTrader: (3)

The koni's listed for an FB are no longer available, or they were when i was looking for shocks. if you look up Koni yellows for the rear of an 85 mr2 they are drop in with the adjustable **** on top. They go from fairly soft to rock hard so it will handle a pretty high spring rate.

mazdaspeedrex

They are not the Yellows they are the 28 series. And they are just shocks for the rear, not vehicle specific, but they work. I looked into the MR2 inserts for the front but went with Tokico instead. I already have Illuminas on the rear also. I just ran across a couple of pairs for a good price and was wondering if its worth my money for extra/future parts.

j9fd3s

iTrader: (3)

koni's are nice, we've run em on the race car since it was built, and we're slowly moving the FC over to em.

the race car has the 86xx double adjustables, and they have been really good.

the eye opener was the other mike's FC, he bought the koni yellows RB sells, and runs 550/250 springs and it rides better than my stock FC, it also handles AWESOME.

when you get the shocks right, the car will handle AND ride well.

so i like the koni's...

Gian

iTrader: (3)

I'm useing the 28's in my race car. Love'm.

Took about 2sec off my lap times from the Lumina's.
For the street, Lumina's are fine.

mazdaspeedrex

I might get a pair and do some setup testing just to see. This is a multi-year effort so I'm trying to look ahead and get prepared as my budget allows.

rxtasy3

iTrader: (2)

any thoughts on KYB?

http://justsuspension.com/vaf/produc...1062&year=7818

j9fd3s

iTrader: (3)

no place on a race car.

actually last time i had those on a car, they seemed to have an internal bumpstop or something

DivinDriver

iTrader: (15)

One note about KYB's, more from an SA perspective than FB but may be worth checking out:

KYB is one of the few native SA front strut carts still available, but they are essentially an aftermarket stock replacement - - not a performance strut.

Mazdatrix sells them for $77 each, plus shipping. Much as I love Mazdatrix (& I've bought a great deal of stuff from them over the years), I have to point out that Rock Auto has the exact same strut with the exact same part number for $46 each, plus shipping.

RA's shipped price for a pair was only $25 more than M-trix's single unit unshipped price.



Just sayin.'

MountainScreamer

Gian are you using the 28's on the rear? what spring rates?

rxtasy3

iTrader: (2)

not going on a race car. mine is driven daily.

the site i posted have them cheaper than $46 each and free shipping on order over $100. can get front and rear for $135. i'm not worried all that much bout performance at this time. the current ones have gotten to the point the steering wheel quivers over bumps and can't see paying the prices those like koni and tokico r selling for. had KYB's on a 73 rx3 many yrs ago and they seemed just fine for the street.

13x

+1 for KYB's all around for the street couldn't ask for anything more and work very nicely with my suspension technique springs

rxtasy3

iTrader: (2)

as far as i know mine has stock springs. cheapest thing i've found so i'm going with them. thanx guys.