Babs

iTrader: (26)

i'm definitely set on getting some swift spec r's and i'm just trying to determine which would be better performance-wise: the stock kyb's or the mr bilsteins?

i could care less how bumpy or how harsh the ride quality is since i'm still young and i'll tolerate it until i physically can't. i dd my car and i do auto-x also

i'm hearing that the mr bilstein's are softer which would mean that the stock kyb's reduce body roll correct?

again, i dont care about ride quality and i don't have much money to spend with christmas coming up, otherwise i would probably shell out for megan track coilovers or bilstein hd's. i just want to know which of the two would handle better

thanks

GTWORX.com

iTrader: (35)

Toss up in terms of performance. Auto-x might be better with KYB's, just by a hair. A tiny hair.

Dampers are not really used to control the amount of body roll in most cases. If you get KYB's the IX's are noticeably better then 8's.


- Andrew

Babs

iTrader: (26)

thanks for the input man! i'll take any advantage i can get

MitsuJDM

iTrader: (6)

Stiffer dampers will only slow down body roll, not reduce it. The car will stiff fulley lean over at mid corner the same as a softer damper. It's the slower roll which makes it feel like less roll, which I suppose you could say in a very quick manuver the car would be likely to roll less. But what do I know... Nothing, really.

Babs

iTrader: (26)

so you would say the kyb > bilstein's? or.....?

huevosrancheros

iTrader: (14)

go with billsteins you wont' regret it. I'm currently running the swift/billstein set up and I love it. Perfect street ride and its mean on the corners.

GTWORX.com

iTrader: (35)

For real world, bumpy american back roads and tracks, I would choose the Bilsteins if i could. They'll be better.

I wouldn't feel too bad if i could only afford the IX KYBs though.



- Andrew

Neal@tirerack

iTrader: (25)

+1 on the Bilsteins. Have always used them with no complaints.

Babs

iTrader: (26)

so i've heard the side of the people with bilsteins...anybody here have swift spec r's on their kyb struts?

thanks for all the input guys

Jeff_Jeske

iTrader: (66)

If you already have KYBs then stick with them. Once lowered the performance difference is minimal at best.

The Bilsteins are a bit bigger and should last longer but honestly I rarely hear about people blowing the EVO9 KYB struts by way of moderate drop.

For the record... I sold my 5k mile KYBs for $250... but shipping cost me $50.
I ended up paying close to $850 + shipping for the new Bilstein / Robispec combo.
Figure springs are $200 and shipping was $50 so out of pocket expense for the Bilsteins was $450. I don't really think the difference is worth $450.

Babs

iTrader: (26)

perfect explanation and breakdown...thanks a bunch man

looks like i'll buy a new set of kyb's and throw the swift on them

Spish

iTrader: (8)

I just got a set of MR Bilstein's and noticed they are alot softer than the stock IX shocks, should I have just stuck with the IX shocks? I noticed when they were both off the rod end was alot softer on the Bilsteins than the KYB's. I thinking I might go back to them.

Timujin

iTrader: (3)

1 vote for the refined Bilstein. Taking my KYBs off soon.

fugiwara

iTrader: (124)

bilstein, german shocks have better valving technology than Japanese shocks, the bilstein will even make your DD more comfortable without sacrificing any performance

Jeff_Jeske

iTrader: (66)

Depends what you are looking for. I am happy with the performance of my current suspension but I think I wasted a couple hundred bucks getting rid of my KYBs only to get Bilsteins. I didn't think there was much difference between the KYBs and the lowered Bilsteins.

If I didn't have any suspension at all and needed something new I would say go with the Bilstein HDs or a set of low mileage MRs which are hard to find now that they are 2 years old. But if you already have a good set of KYBs just run them and call it a day until you want to move up.