THSCC Forums

OK, after literally months of agonizing over what class to stay in and what car to drive, blah, blah, blah.... I'm keeping the mustang in stock class for at least another year. I've also thought about moving into STX, but the thought of all that money I'd spend as opposed to feeding my roth IRA is making much sense right now considering I'm 10 years away from retiring.

Anyway.... I had some on line discussions w/ Jason Mauldin and Karl about struts/shocks. Jason forwarded this link,

http://farnorthracing.com/autocross_secrets.html

I have to admit this guy seems to know what he's talking about from a shock perspective. I was looking at a set of tokico D-specs, but after contacting american muscle about using crash bolts, Tokico stated you can't mod the mount hole at the bottom of the strut to allow the use of the crash bolts, so they're out. Plus from other info I've read, these are junk.

That said, I'm looking at either a set of Koni yellow or Bilsteins. I'm a Bilstein fan myself just because they are durable. I know that Karl and Art use the Koni's but I know Art has already blown a seal (on the rear shock that is). I know the Koni is adjustable, but compression only. I like the Bilsteins because they are bullet proof, but no adjusters. Both are close enough in price where that doesn't matter.

Thoughts? Right now I'm leaning towards the Bilsteins, but willing to listen to input from the fanatics on this forum....

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Rodney

'08 Bullitt mustang, CAM 7
Autox VP '09-'10, President '11-'12, interim President 2nd half of ‘14
proud recipient of the Bowie Grey service award '12
Now just a guy driving a mustang....

I loved Konis on my double A arm Honda, but they just seem too brittle for a Macstrut car.

When I go there on the stang I plan on using Bilsteins.

My 2 cents.

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2001 Honda S2000 - SOLD
2012 Boss 302
2003 BMW 330i

btw- I drove Jason's S197 on Bilstein's and I can't comment on competition use, but the lack of adjustment did not bother street comfort. Turn in was also much improved, but he also has springs and new big meats, so don't know how that all contributed. Felt good though.

Jason, why don't you come out to an event so we can find out!

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2001 Honda S2000 - SOLD
2012 Boss 302
2003 BMW 330i

Why wouldn't you call Stranoparts and just use what Sam sells you?

He sells both, so it seems like this is my choice....

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Rodney

'08 Bullitt mustang, CAM 7
Autox VP '09-'10, President '11-'12, interim President 2nd half of ‘14
proud recipient of the Bowie Grey service award '12
Now just a guy driving a mustang....

What does Sam recommend. That would probably be my choice

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02 Focus SVT
STF 9

One option is to run the Bil's in the rear and the Koni's up front. On the live rear axle, you pretty much run the Koni's full soft, so they are the same as the Bilstein's compression.

Having the Koni's up front, gives you the adjustment where you need it.

I have 6 year old Koni's on the Camaro without any issues. But I would probably switch to Bilsteins in the rear knowing what I know now. Plus save some money.

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Jim Pastorius
2008 Silverado VortecMax
1992 Camaro CMC#92
2002 BMW R1150R

2009 3rd Place CMC Mid-Atlantic Championship
2009 CMC Hyperfest Winner

Actually, Koni yellows are adjustable for rebound only.

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Keith Q.
2008 Top Gun
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmX8XuZ_DCo&NR=1

Fixed that for you.

What Jim said is really good info. Koni up front and Bilstein in the rear will give you the flexibility you need and save you money. Koni Single Adjustables have been very reliable for me... even the DA's I had made were reliable, but I know some people have had horror stories. - AB

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'14 Toyota Sequoia Platinum 4WD
Super Westerfield Bros - '93 Integra - LeChump Du Jour
STX 93 - Scion FR-S

I stand corrected, thanks Keith. That makes sense now reflecting back on the conversation I had w/ Karl.

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Rodney

'08 Bullitt mustang, CAM 7
Autox VP '09-'10, President '11-'12, interim President 2nd half of ‘14
proud recipient of the Bowie Grey service award '12
Now just a guy driving a mustang....

I already know what Strano runs on his, because he told me at DC last year. Konis. Standard valving. Well, he was telling someone else, but I was standing within about 3 feet of him when he did so.

Bilsteins rear / Konis front doesn't seem like a bad choice. If the rear Konis are such that they have to be taken off the car to be adjusted, you probably wouldn't be adjusting them very much anyway. I don't know if Mustang Konis are "off the car" adjusters, but if they are, that's something I would consider when making the choice.

Being able to change the car with the turn of a knob isn't something I'd want to be without. The shocks saved our bacon at Nationals, where when we got the car to the west course on day one, the same setup we ran *all year* was AWFUL. We nearly maxed out the shocks in each direction, but once we did, the car was great.

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Karl S.
2014 Baby, 2014 House, 2013 Ford Focus ST, 2013 BMW 328i, 1994 Mercedes E320
(Insert passive aggressive signature line here)

Sam's normal FS ride is a Shelby. A normal GT may prefer different shocks. Regarding settings, it would be interesting to know how much site specific adjustment Sam recommends. Keep in mind that with a Mustang "balance" can easily be a minor throttle adjustment . . . . Plus need to keep rear rebound from unloading the inside tire I suspect (but don't know).

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Dick Rasmussen

FS 50 2018 Mustang GT

Well, I'm impressed. Even the big shots have time for the smaller people. Just got off the phone w/ Strano and he was more than gracious in giving me setup points, suggestions on parts and even tires and tire pressures. Seems to be a very knowledgeable guy about all things mustang related.

He did recommend the Koni's as expected and now I can see why Art blew the rear shock based on his setting suggestions. There is one major problem though. According to Sam, Koni has not shipped any new dampers since June of last year, so that's going to make it hard to find a set. As a fall back he did recommend the Tekico D-specs. He did state they are not as good from a warranty standpoint, but a close 2nd. When you can't buy Koni's, it kind of limits my choices. There was also some disagreement on using the Bil on the rears and Koni on the front. Now based on his settings recommendation, I understand why.

Looks like I have some work to do for this year and that's relearning the car again after the changes. Shoulda made my mind up earlier.....

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Rodney

'08 Bullitt mustang, CAM 7
Autox VP '09-'10, President '11-'12, interim President 2nd half of ‘14
proud recipient of the Bowie Grey service award '12
Now just a guy driving a mustang....

Just curious but how does a company that makes shocks stay in business if they have not made any new ones since June.

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Mitch Moore

So Rodney, what did you decide on? And what was it that caused Art to blow one up?

Sam's a great guy. I think he's kind of like I am with S2000s - when he hears that someone wants to autocross a Mustang, he jumps out of his skin to help them. Only Sam actually knows stuff.

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Karl S.
2014 Baby, 2014 House, 2013 Ford Focus ST, 2013 BMW 328i, 1994 Mercedes E320
(Insert passive aggressive signature line here)