There is actually a pretty simple answer. The majority of people do it because they think it looks cool to be droped to the ground like the fast and furious.

 

 

If they own a ricemobile that makes perfect sense.

 

I was planning on buying Tein S-tech springs soon and I was wondering how long my stock shocks would last. My 8 is a daily driver and would the koni? shocks work with the Tein's? Thank you :]

 

i would say almost everyone paired up there teins with konis, from what i have read

 

Yes they will. I have the Koni's with the S-Techs. Great set-up imo. https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-multimedia-photo-gallery-6/git-r-done-84309/

 

I hear good things about the Tokico d spec's as well.

 

From Experience, Koni is the best shocks you could get. Many racers use Koni's and Ground Control adj springs to win.
the only bad thing isyou got to take out the rear shocks to adj it but people don't adj shocks all the time. so it don't really matter much.

 

Has anybody used the bilstein HD shocks with any spring combinations?
They seem to be a good option for under $400

 

Re Koni Yellow vs. D-Spec, this argument will never be setteled, but I will say this.

Koni Yellows are great. If the rears were adjustable I'd have them on my car now. But I think the lack of rear adjustability is a big limitation - one which Koni needs to address.

Of course, not everyone needs or wants adjustable shocks. For those people HDs would probably be a great choice - excellent shocks which are significantly cheaper. I've no experience with them in the RX-8, but on the Miata they are well respected and I suspect they will garner a good reputation here as well.

So, limiting the discussion to people who want adjustable shocks, I see no reason to buy Koni Yellows at this point, unless you are nationally competitive autocrosser and intend to get them revalved. For street use, there will be essentially no performance benefit to either shock. It will come down to subjetive assesments - which shock gives a better ride for a given level of body control, which has a wider range of adjustment, and which shock works better with stiffer springs. Nobody has done a side-by-side comparison yet, so those questions have not been answered.

But I can say that Tokico has significantly upped their game with the D-Specs, relative to the older Illuminas. They have a very wide range of adjustment, and have an excellent ride-handling tradeoff. I think they will stand toe-to-toe with Koni Yellows no problem, and their rear adjustability is a big benefit. Long road trip with the SO? Set them soft. Daily driving? Set them mid. Aggressive canyon carving? Up them a turn for better body control. Track or autocross day? Set them in the top 20% of the range. What's that you say - it started to rain on your track day? Dial them back to the softer end of the spectrum, and back the rears down a little more than the fronts to keep the car from oversteering in the rain. This is what adjustability gives you, and if you are going to spend $600, you might as well get it.

My .02.

 

Yes, since you drive on the street and not the track go with Koni's or Tocico D Spec's. You can get them from racing beat.

The disadvantage with the D spec's the they adjust damping and rebound togeather.

for ride comfort Koni's are the way to go.

If you want adjustability go with my new secret weapon!

 

Ooooh Secret Weapon..
Show us soon.

 

True, but the change in compression valving is relatively small. It shouldn't be a decision making factor for the shocks.

Why do you say that? The D-Dpecs have an excellent ride-handling combination. Have you driven both?

 

I don't know why you would consider to purchase shocks that can not be easily adjusted, when you can purchase ones that can for the same price.... especially when you consider the best possible end result of either setup will be a virtually non-detectable difference.

I've not heard one solid argument as to why one would opt for non-adjustability. Who cares if it adjusts rebound and compression together... better than not adjusting at all. If you want stiffer compression, you likely want stiffer rebound anyway. Anyone who thinks they need to adjust these separately needs to be a suspention whizz with a lot of track time and a lap timer to find hundredths of a second. I guarantee you there is less than 1% of those people on this forum, myself included. All racebikes have separate compression and rebound adjustment as supplied in street legal trim from the factory. Most people either leave it alone because they don't know what they are doing, or have not adjusted them correctly. Unless you are Fernando Alonso, you either want the whole setup a little firmer or a little softer... that's it!

You will be kicking yourself once you install non-adjustable shocks and you wish it was a little softer or a little harder... or it doesn't match your spring rate well. Perhaps you will just never know how much better it could get.

... and that's not to mention all the points George H made about being able to change for the track, rain, snow, canyon twisting vs driving the grandmother around for the afternoon... all adjusted in under 3 minutes.

I'm really not trying to bash anyone or any product, I'm just of the oppinion of wanting to have the choice and control in my own hands and I can't imagine why one would want to restrict themselves for the same dollar spent.

 

Just checked Bilstein's website. They don't have prices listed for the RX-8, or much technical info on their shocks. I take it from what everyone is saying that they are comparable to the Koni Yellows, but the rear dampening can be adjusted?

It also looks like they have a full coilover kit also but there was no information other than that it is monotube and is 9 way adjustable.

 

HDs are normally non-adjustable, but they are a high quality unit that should give a nice ride/handling tradeoff and last. Usually, they are cheaper than adjustable shocks.