I know everybody won't agree but I want to get a general idea of how most people feel on this.

------My main question: Obviously KONI is better than KYB but is it really worth the extra bucks? Has anybody used both? How do they compare? For the price which is the better deal?


Some less general questions:

1) I've read in some posts that people sometimes have trouble with KYB's busting after a year or so but is this really a common issue? Do KONI's wear better and last longer?

2) And how do these brands compare in terms of ride and performance? The KONI's are adjustable but on their softest setting are they still stiffer than KYB's? Do the KONI's handle noticeably better? (And if so enough to make up for the extra bucks?)

3) How stiff is stiff for these brands (say in comparison to stock)? I don't mind a stiff ride whatsoever but I don't want to feel like I'm being tortured by every little crack in the road. I honestly have no idea how performance suspension rides when you are in the seat. I want something a little stiffer than stock but I don't want to accidentally overdo it crazy like.


I know this is floating around everywhere in old posts but I wanted to get some fresh input as most of the threads very briefly address this. I'm considering replacing everything in the suspension with poly, getting a set of 1' Eibach springs and replacing the shocks and struts with KYB's or KONI's (potentially from FieroStore if this is an alright source). However, feel free to point out some other brands too if you would like and compare them to KYB's or KONI's!

Edit: BTW, this is a daily driver

[This message has been edited by GraterFang (edited 10-09-2008).]

I bought KYBs all around (heavy duty fronts). Because they're way better than stock, compliment my 88 GTs suspension, and all I do is drive my car on nice days. If you want to go with KONIs I assume you have some money to spend and plan on racing the car and running it on a track. Otherwise, KONIs are a waste of money. IMO

------------------
=-Eric the Dread

1988 Fiero GT 2.8L V6
2001 Grand Prix GTP SC3.8L V6

To make a long story short, KONIs are for racing, and KYBs are for the street.

quote Originally posted by Blacktree: To make a long story short, KONIs are for racing, and KYBs are for the street.

2 sentences is a long story?

quote Originally posted by GraterFang: ------My main question: Obviously KONI is better than KYB but is it really worth the extra bucks?

Absolutely.

I had KYB's on the front of my '87 GT for a while, then upgraded to Konis. The KYB wasn't even in the running. The Konis offered so much better control of front suspension motion on bumpy, curving highways at high speed that there really isn't any comparison.

Now that I've used Konis, I won't put anything else on a Fiero.

(Except the Carrera Magnetorheoligical shocks... but those are $1500/corner + $2500 for the brain box)

Bump

KYB's are an upgrade from stock. Much better than the typical Monroe or Gabriel stock replacements.
The KYB's are a good match to the Eibach sport lowering springs for street/daily driving.

The KONI's are the top of the line. They are adjustable and work very, very well.
The only thing that is a pain is adjusting the front requires the shock to be removed to make the adjustments. The rear can be done while they are on the car.

If the car is a daily driver and you want to firm up the suspension a little or if you have the Eibach springs and want to keep the ride from being too firm, Go with the KYB's. If you want a tight aggressive suspension and plan on doing some performance driving, Get the KONI's.
The KONI's are worth their high price.

quote Originally posted by Oreif: The KYB's are a good match to the Eibach sport lowering springs for street/daily driving.

I thought you'd quoted the Eibach spring rate at ~300 ppi?

Koni Reds (which are the only kind available for the Fiero) are designed to be high performance dampers with the stock springs. My Northstar car has Koni coil overs with 325 springs in back and the Konis just aren't stiff enough to match the springs. I'm going to have to send them in and have them revalved with Sport valving.

quote Originally posted by Will: Ever used Konis? Doesn't sound like it.

I've ridden in Fieros with both. That's what formed my opinion.

quote Originally posted by Will: I thought you'd quoted the Eibach spring rate at ~300 ppi? Koni Reds (which are the only kind available for the Fiero) are designed to be high performance dampers with the stock springs. My Northstar car has Koni coil overs with 325 springs in back and the Konis just aren't stiff enough to match the springs. I'm going to have to send them in and have them revalved with Sport valving.

The Eibach Sportlines (1.2" drop) are 325 ppi, The Eibach Pro-Line's (0.8" drop) are 275 ppi
The KYB recommends spring rates between 250 to 350 ppi for use with the shocks/struts in a Fiero application
(This info was from the manufacturers back in 2004)

What was the weight added (over stock) to the rear of the northstar car?

In one of the older threads somebody mentioned that KYB's tend to give out a lot faster than KONI's. Is there any actual support behind this?

quote Originally posted by GraterFang: In one of the older threads somebody mentioned that KYB's tend to give out a lot faster than KONI's. Is there any actual support behind this?

All I can say is I have KYB's on my car. I've had them since 2000. The car has been driven on the street, a few runs down the drag strip, and multiple laps on a road course. I have had no problems with them.

quote Originally posted by Blacktree: I've ridden in Fieros with both. That's what formed my opinion.

As I said, I've used both, in shocks at least, and have the opinion that Konis are for everything and KYB's are just cheap.

[This message has been edited by Will (edited 10-10-2008).]

quote Originally posted by Will: Less than a SBC swap... maybe 50# I haven't used KYB struts, but as I said the Konis were for stock springs and I don't think they are quite adequate for 325's. I'm not ready to buy that KYB's are stiffer. The effectiveness of dampers to a driver's perception has a lot to do with the calibration of said driver's butt dyno. Also, are the Eibach's progressiverate? I'm using straight rate coil over springs, so I feel the damping coefficient over every bump, which I would expect to not be the case for a progressive rate spring. Constant damping will feel more damped than it actually is on small bumps when used with a progressive rate spring.

Yes, Eibach are progressive rate springs. I have rode in and driven a Fiero with Eibach's and KONI's, The ride was a LOT stiffer than with the KYB's. I don't know what the KONI's were adjusted for (suspect max firm) on the car. I wasn't trying to say that KYB's were stiffer, Just that the Eibach's fit the recommended spring for use with the KYB shocks and struts.

As for weight, I thought the Northstar engines were 404 lbs bare and 464 lbs dressed? I know the ZZ4 is 405 lbs (without the carb) By removing the stock 2.8L/auto/AC and installing a ZZ4 with 4-spd manual I only gained 30 lbs total weight. I used the same scale for the before and after.

[This message has been edited by Oreif (edited 10-10-2008).]

quote Originally posted by Oreif: Yes, Eibach are progressive rate springs.

Actually, Eibach sells springs in both progressive and not for the fiero. Either can be found when you look around.