How do you like them?

 

and I love em. Little harsh when the pavement is lousy but man, my car is FLAT through any corner. NO body roll whatsoever. I was running the stock struts with the H sports before I had the Konis and there was a huge difference when I put the Konis on. Just felt more "complete"

 

That's great to hear:smile: What setting are you using and where did you get yours?


Thanks

 

MISFITOY- Im waiting for the Tokico D-Specs to come out for the MINI. :smile:

 

What's the advantage over Koni...please elaborate:smile:

 

I did and I loved them for agressive driving I totally agree "flat". Read my threads on PSS9s. The Bilsteins are more compliant but on smooth roads the H Sports and Konis are great.

 

oooo...I like "stiff" While I'm waiting for mini-d's reply...what did you set your dampers at?

 

Excellent combo (thanks to Alex at TR for his rec.) After 9 months of driving (city, backroads & some track) it proves to be an excellent pairing. I also have the Hsport sway. IMO in terms of day to day liveability it's a great setup that provides plenty of fun when pushed to the edge (best of both worlds w/o many trade offs.)
-Having strut adjustments is a nice option but doing the rears is a pain. I tend to leave mine alone.
-My 1st MCS ran H&R springs w/ OE struts and it was a rough ride. This car (#2 MCS) is a cream puff by comparison. Truly "progressive" rating and very good on track days!!
-Settings: look at the archives for an exhaustive post on this subject that gives several preferred settings: depends on driving style/personal needs but most owners agree to the basics. I am running the fronts at 1/2 turn from full hard and the rears at 1/2 turn from full soft (I think) or another app. way, fronts at 75% full hard w/ the rears at 25-35% full hard.
Good luck:
PS. I am about to begin work on my 3rd. MCS which will be a "mostly track car" & will be using the Koni/Hsports yet again.

 

You know I can't remember. It was a little softer than Randy's first recomendations. ( I got tired of hitting my head on I-285)

 

Simply put, the D-Specs is known to have much higher damping
capacity than the yellows. And below $500 delivered!


Actually, I use them on my G35C and they work effortlessly. I am
already sold.

 

Hey...Thanks so much for all of your inputs I'm liking this idea
Marksmith...forgive me as I'm suppose be a sixth gear but I couldn't find the extensive info you're referring to...you don't happen to have the link?

 

Ken...when are these suppose to be available and where can I fiind more data? Thanks

 

Sorry I don't remember the settings . I think I went with what was recommended in the post that was referred to earlier in this thread, and I haven't touched them since. They are perfect!

 

Hey Spider,

Can you compare in a bit more detail your experience with the Bilstein PSS9 and your current H-Sport/Koni set-up? What do you like and or dislike about either?

Kenchan,

Again thanks for your PM. I believe the Koni yellows need more rebound damping. I've put about 200,000 miles on a set with one rebuild...Tokico...when?

 

MISFITOY, meb- here's info on the D-Specs.

http://www.tokicogasshocks.com/car/d-spec.html


I do not have a release date yet, but I hear they are working on it...hopefully
soon! I bought my set for my G35C from JDMWerks on ebay. $489 delivered!
(retails usually around $600). The fit and finish (I did the install) is
very good. Packaging is awesome, very durable through UPS, etc.


Can't wait... I hope they release before im done with my MCS...!

 

I installed Tokico Illuminas on yet another ride. They made that Honda feel very German, very nice damping - stock springs.

 

Yes, as a matter of fact I tend to think Tokico's as J-Bilstein's.
well, sort of.

 

I don't like that compression and rebound are adjusted at the same time.

 

so you want just rebound adjustment like the Koni's? That's how people
bottom out their softer setups. Otherwise, you're looking at coilovers that
have both bound and rebound adjustment...if you're willing to dishout for
something you really don't need on the streets.

 

"I'm a sales rep not a scientist" but I'll try. The Konis/H Sport set up was very stiff with almost NO body roll. The car was liteally like a go cart. It felt like I could take any corner at any speed with confidence. I was the limiting factor not the car. However the downside was a very rough ride. I felt every pebble in the road and as I stated before I hit my head on the roof many times.

I wanted the same handling but with some "sophistication." I did my research and chose the Bilsteins. I had the car corner balanced and thought that I was going to be in heaven. I was very disappointed. The car was very soft, rolled a lot and was like driving a "buick" in comparison. I played with the settings, called Bilstein and others to get the max performance. I found out that the original Bilsteins that were made for the Mini were not accepted by Bilstein in the US because they were too stiff and they thought that no one would buy them. So we have a watered down version. I also found out that Bilstein does not have other springs (rates) available for the PSS9s. What to do? I put the front sway bar in from H Sport and now I am very happy. I think the car is pretty neutral (at least as far as I can push it). The body roll has been minimized and the compliance is there. All in all a very nice set up. In a few weeks there will be a "set up" session for autox and someone with a lot more experience is going to help me fine tune it. I am pretty happy with the current set up. It was very expensive and I'm not sure I would do it again. I think the H Sports and Konis were pretty nice and as I have said before at my level of ability I'm sure I am getting some advantage but I'm not sure I can tell the difference of the corner balancing.

 

All this rebound/compression/bouncing/adjustment issues has me heading towards Leda's:smile:

 

The reason I did not go with Ledas is I was led to believe they were too stiff and they needed rebuilding etc. Knowing what I now know, I would try the Ledas as well.

Bottom line on all this stuff is to paraphrase John D Rockefeller, 'you make good decisions after you have the experience of making bad ones.'

I drove a lot yesteday (about 400 mi) and in a minute I am turning off the computer and going for a 150 mi drive in the country. So I am really enjoying the car. I have a cold and while I want to ride my bike today I am going to "rest."

 

Being rebuildable is a good thing...better than throwing the shocks away
Having many spring rates to choose from with multiple (easy) damping adjustments to match is another
Having corner weight balance capability is even better

Hope you feel better soon:smile:

 

Absolutely. Connecting these two adjustments is pointless... it's like connecting your heater control to your tire pressure. In my experience, bump and rebound damping tend to need to vary inversely as spring rates rise.

 

Thanks for the well wishes.

I agree. If I had it to do over I would go with Ledas. All the spring rate options if nothing else puts them over the top. The Bilsteins are nice but the Ledas are more "tuneable" with their options.