After finally getting the V6PP car put together halfway through the autox season, I've found myself contemplating a rear shock change away from the Koni Yellows currently on the car. I have literally modified every single car I've owned since the age of 17 with Koni Yellows starting with my 92 civic, 85 CRX Si, Dinan 540i 6spd, WRX, and 8th gen Si. On every car I loved the Konis and their adjustability, not to mention the perks of their replacement warranty.
Fast forward to the Mustang, and I've been disappointed with the rear Koni Yellow shocks in both street ride quality and in getting the rear to feel "planted" in autocross. We've got a real mix of parts (which goes against the mindset of some on here), but overall the setup has been very successful as an affordable dual purpose configuration. Our last few outings have seen the car very close to the top of the pack in CAM locally on just 285 Falkens. The setup works, but it could be better..
Current setup:
Stock boss 302 springs (186 lb/in rate), stock ride height
Koni Yellows
Ford Performance Jounce kit (Rear Bumpstops)
Stranoparts swaybar with rubber bushings set to softest setting (~162 in/lbs vs 193 in/lb for stock 24mm bar)
Whiteline rear control arms and adjustable Panhard bar (these have stiffer bushings, floating center tube to mitigate binding, non spherical)
The front Koni Yellows have been absolutely fine with 400lb springs and ride very well, even on NYC roads. The rear on the other hand rides "okay" most of the time, but is absolutely horrible on expansion joints. On the street I have the rear Konis set to just off full soft, whereas at autocross we rarely ever exceed 1 turn towards firm. This makes me think that the Konis are valved too stiff for spring rate we are running. Instead of sending out the Koni's for a revalve I'm considering changing things up and wanted to hear from the TMO collective
Options I've been considering;
1) Viking double adjustable shocks:
Pros: more adjustment (rebound/compression), American made, only ~$200 bucks each for double adjustable, have been used with some success in autocross (I know Eric Simmons ran Vikings on his CAM-T Camaro)
Cons: More variables for "tuning' the shocks can complicate things, still a twin tube design
2) Bilstein B6
Pros: CHEAPPPPPP, monotubes, should have a close to stock ride quality, Bilstein durability
Cons: Not adjustable, if we lower the car rear of the car next season with GC Coilovers sleeves they may be outside their effective range
Other options out their include stock Boss 302 shocks, Koni SRT non adjustables, or maybe even a Ford Performance shock
I feel like the mild rear spring rates/bushing combo coupled with stock ride height should not be producing such a poor ride quality. Curious what some of you are running for shocks out back?
Thanks in advance,
J
Fast forward to the Mustang, and I've been disappointed with the rear Koni Yellow shocks in both street ride quality and in getting the rear to feel "planted" in autocross. We've got a real mix of parts (which goes against the mindset of some on here), but overall the setup has been very successful as an affordable dual purpose configuration. Our last few outings have seen the car very close to the top of the pack in CAM locally on just 285 Falkens. The setup works, but it could be better..
Current setup:
Stock boss 302 springs (186 lb/in rate), stock ride height
Koni Yellows
Ford Performance Jounce kit (Rear Bumpstops)
Stranoparts swaybar with rubber bushings set to softest setting (~162 in/lbs vs 193 in/lb for stock 24mm bar)
Whiteline rear control arms and adjustable Panhard bar (these have stiffer bushings, floating center tube to mitigate binding, non spherical)
The front Koni Yellows have been absolutely fine with 400lb springs and ride very well, even on NYC roads. The rear on the other hand rides "okay" most of the time, but is absolutely horrible on expansion joints. On the street I have the rear Konis set to just off full soft, whereas at autocross we rarely ever exceed 1 turn towards firm. This makes me think that the Konis are valved too stiff for spring rate we are running. Instead of sending out the Koni's for a revalve I'm considering changing things up and wanted to hear from the TMO collective
Options I've been considering;
1) Viking double adjustable shocks:
Pros: more adjustment (rebound/compression), American made, only ~$200 bucks each for double adjustable, have been used with some success in autocross (I know Eric Simmons ran Vikings on his CAM-T Camaro)
Cons: More variables for "tuning' the shocks can complicate things, still a twin tube design
2) Bilstein B6
Pros: CHEAPPPPPP, monotubes, should have a close to stock ride quality, Bilstein durability
Cons: Not adjustable, if we lower the car rear of the car next season with GC Coilovers sleeves they may be outside their effective range
Other options out their include stock Boss 302 shocks, Koni SRT non adjustables, or maybe even a Ford Performance shock
I feel like the mild rear spring rates/bushing combo coupled with stock ride height should not be producing such a poor ride quality. Curious what some of you are running for shocks out back?
Thanks in advance,
J