4000 suspension- boges are fine with H&R's

[Iain Mannix]

I don't know what shocks to use with Audis/H&R springs, but
Konis absolutely damp in both directions.

The average Koni adjustable(standard single-adjustable) only
alters rebound damping, not both - that could be what the previous
poster was getting at - but they do damp in both compression
and rebound stroke.

IME, rebound is more important than compression in terms of
adjustability.  I've used both the SA Konis and double
adjustables - the compression adjustment is subtle, better
for fine tuning things than anything else.  Rebound makes a
far more dramatic difference in terms of handling balance.
The most dramatic effect that compression/bump adjustment
for us was at the Peru, Indiana site - we were bottoming
hard(SCCA Solo2) on an expansion joint - we upped the
compression damping until the car did not bottom.  Going
farther than that made the car skittery - we backed it off
until it did not bottom, left it there.

Tokicos adjust both compression and rebound simultaneously -
good, bad, I don't know - but IME, Konis are very good shocks,
they're comparatively soft on compression damping, IE, ride
quality tends to be fine.

Reliability?  I've used both Koni and Bilstein(plus oem
Boge/whatever), and I've had to do an equal number of
warranty returns on both B and K.  I prefer Koni, but primarily
because Bilsteins tend to be harsh on light cars(IME).  That
said, I've got Bilsteins on my 87 5ktqa with 350# rear coilovers,
and that car rode fine, handled well, etc.  I think the difference
is the weight of the car - 3000# vs 1800#.

Dunno!  I'd use Konis, but they are more expensive.  Bilsteins on
5ks seem to be very good, too.  Boges seem fine for stock
applications, but I'd personally be leery of them with lowering
springs.  No experience to substantiate, but if the spring is
of a higher than stock rate, I'd expect a Boge to be a little
underdamped with a stiffer than stock spring - depends how much
stiffer the spring is, naturally, lots of variables.  A stock
SA Koni can deal with up to roughly 600# on a Rabbit - I know
a Boge will be pretty much useless with that much spring.
We've run as much as 800# on Rabbits with SAs, which is too
much spring, without question - but the rebound adjustment on
the SA Koni makes the shocks very flexible.


YMMV.


Iain


On Tue, 8 Jan 2002, jim rose wrote:

> im no expert but i would SWEAR that my koni's offer resistance to motion in
> both directions.
>
> do what you like, all i'm sayin is that i had several knowledgeable people
> advise against this EXACT combination - most validly from a local shop that
> does LOTS of audi/vw-koni/boge/eibach/h+r installations. the advice i got
> had to do with the damping characteristics of the boge's and them being
> better with stock height springs. it was explained to me that the boges,
> when used with a lower spring, were "pre-compressed" some degree due to the
> lower ride height. thus the shocks range of motion would begin at a firmer
> point in it's travel, which is progressive [gets harder the further its
> compressed] making the ride quality suffer and compromising the damping
> characteristics of the shock.
>
> they/this/i might be TOTALLY wrong.. but it made sense to me at the time.
>
> jim
>
>
>
>
>
> >From: GMBCHEF at aol.com
> >To: <tech at flashmail.com>, <sf5ktq at hotmail.com>
> >CC: <quattro at audifans.com>
> >Subject: re: 4000 suspension- boges are fine with H&R's
> >Date: Tue, 08 Jan 2002 09:31:26 EST
> >
> >"Konis only dampen one way"
> >   HUH???!! How is this so? I've never heard this before about any shock.
> >If its true, then anyone need a set of Konis for their ur-q?
> >Gary
>
>
>
>
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