Looking into a new set of shocks for my 8 to go along with my RB springs. I just wanted some info on what shocks are out there on the market...

I know there are the new KONI yellows but what other companies have shocks?
bilstein i heard was developing some but then heard nothing afterwards from them?

can any suspension gurus chime in and provide me with some details/advice?

 

Tokico has their D-spec (jounce/rebound adjustable, infinitely variable between the softest and hardest settings) coming out supposedly in a month, but that remains to be seen. The Konis are fantastic shocks (probably will be superior to the D-spec despite being only rebound adjustable), and would work very well with RB springs. One of our cars has Konis with Tein H-tech springs, which are about 15% firmer than stock front and rear, and at the lower settings the Konis match up very well. Given the RB springs are about 20% firmer than stock, you could use similar settings and be very pleased, I think. Half turn up from full-soft is just about right with H-techs.

I have not heard of any other shocks in development as yet, though I'm sure within another year or so there will be more options. Or you could ditch the RB springs and try one of the various coilovers available, but frankly the car works VERY well and is improved quite dramatically just with a mild spring (H-techs, RB, Tanabe GF210) and Konis.

Oh, and there's also the Mazdaspeed shocks, but they aren't adjustable and I don't have any personal experience with them.

 

I've got the MS shocks and springs, the MS are tokico like the stock shocks, I don't have the specs but I bet you could get them and see if they would match your springs.

RB and Koni are always a good mix, and they are adjustable, I think RB works with Koni to match them up well, so I think thats a good place to start.

 

arent the rear shocks non adjustable? that's wat it says on the website. i was lead to believe all four shocks were adjustable.

no one knows anything about the bilstein shocks??
theyre in the hyper rev magazine but have never heard a single thing about them...
any input would help thanks :D

 

The Koni Sports are adjustable in the back, but you have to take them off the car to adjust them.

Do a search within this forum and the Competition forum...there's a lot of info and feedback about them.

 

I spoke with Bilstein this morning, and they are not currently working on individual shocks for the RX-8. He said it does 'look like' they are developing both their PSS and PSS9 coilovers for the car (PSS being height adjustable, PSS9 being height and damping adjustable), but that they won't be out until next summer most likely. So for the forseeable future, you've got Koni, probably Tokico D-spec (within a few months), and Mazdaspeed to choose from.

I could see KYB making their AGX shock for the car, but I have no idea if it's in development. And AGX are decent shocks, but aren't in the same league as Koni or Tokico from what we've seen.

 

How about KY-B ?

 

Will adding koni's lower my car anymore? i've heard that it might be a half inch more?

true? will adjustability affect height or just shock rebound?

 

Adding Konis won't lower the car at all by themselves. We've had them on a car with OEM springs, and there was no change in height. As there shouldnt't be. Externally, the shocks are the same dimensions as OEM, with the spring seats in the same place. To lower the car with Konis, you need aftermarket lowering springs.

The adjustment is not for height, but for rebound damping only. If you want height adjustability you need an aftermarket coilover such as what Tein, HKS, Tanabe or JIC offer.

 

listen to DPE guys they have done extensive road testing and have given me some good feedback on several suspension choices. Dpe is a good resource for us and I will buy from them asap. Since I am on the track about 4 x's a yr(wife dependant) I am (eventually ) going with the tein h's and koni's. I am not interested in adjusting height. Only dampning. And we(friends and I) are exploring a way to make the rear koni shock adjustable without having to remove it from the car. That type set up is much less expensive than coilovers. Money is precious at my house! (three teenagers)
Olddragger

 

I've lost an inch in the rear since installing the KONIs. At first I thought the rear springs had dropped so I put the OEM springs back on and they too are over an inch below stock. I have a call into KONI but have not heard back yet.

 

That is very odd DosDog. We didn't lose any height at all; it was within a couple mm all the way around. I don't think the car is even an inch lower in the rear now, and it now has Tein H-techs on it. The H-techs are only supposed to lower the car .3" in the rear, which is about what we got give or take a few mm. Report back when/if you hear back from Koni.

And olddragger, I'll be interested to see what you come up with for external adjustment in the rear. I think Koni will do it, but it essentially doubles the cost of the shocks. If you can come up with something for less, I'm certainly interested.

 

[QUOTE=DPE]That is very odd DosDog. We didn't lose any height at all; it was within a couple mm all the way around. I don't think the car is even an inch lower in the rear now, and it now has Tein H-techs on it. The H-techs are only supposed to lower the car .3" in the rear, which is about what we got give or take a few mm. Report back when/if you hear back from Koni.
QUOTE]

I still haven't figured it out. I put MS springs on also and rear was close to 13" (down over 2"). Basically on the bump stop. I am at a loss as to where the inch + went but the stock rear spring with the Koni's have the drop I was after in the first place and the handling is perfect. I guess I'll run it this way this way for a while.

My .02, The Konis are great choice.

 

DPE i hope to order next month and when we have a final decision on how to handle the rears i will let you know.
Olddragger

 

[QUOTE=TheDosDog]The only way the shocks can lower the car is if the lower spring perch is closer to the bottom of the shock body. Measure that distance and compare it to the stock shocks. If I am not mistaken, they should be the same if you were shipped the corect shocks.

 

I was thinking the same thing. I measured when I put them on and they were within 1/2" of OEM from perch to bolt center. Certainly not the > 1" I am experiencing. I'll have to measure again. Is it possible the spring perch has yielded a bit over time?

 

That is not the only way.

 

check the simple things :p

have anything extra in the trunk? how full was the gas tank when you took the stock measurement?

 

(old post i know, but hey i'm searching )
With aftermarket shocks and springs, do the "bump stops" require cutting/trimming?

Thanks,
Edgardo