I recently went from stock struts and springs to a set of MR Bilsteins with Swift Sport springs. The Bilstein / Swift combo is more comfortable than stock struts / springs combo.

I was a skeptic as well, but I couldn't believe how much better the ride is with the Bilsteins. I'm very picky about ride quality. You won't be disappointed with the Bilstein / Swift combo.

Here is a link to my thread with some pics of my car before and after the Bilstein / Swift install.

https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/ev...past-year.html

 

^ like others have said above. The Bilsteins ride smoother and are more comfortable. KYBs are stiffer, might be better on smooth tracks. But will beat you up a little more on the streets. Where the Bilsteins smooth out the road imperfections.

 

I don't mean to lead the topic in a different direction but which on is better in terms of handling, Bilsteins or KYB? Or are they equivalent?

 

It depends. Id say the kybs on smooh surfaces and the bilsteins on bumpy surfaces. Not enough difference to matter though.

 

As to why: the KYBs have more low-speed compression, so, as long as you don't hit a bump, the faster weight transfer makes for better handling; the Bilsteins, in contrast, are much more digressive in bump, so they ride much better on bumpy roads.

Connecting the dots: revalved Bilsteins (to have more low-speed compression) are the best of both worlds.

 

+1 on the Bilsteins. Better match to those springs.

 

I highly doubt you're getting the Bilstein HDs for that low, you're most likely getting the MR Bilsteins.

 

I read SMIKE's review on this...

So is there a major difference in ride quality between the MR and HD bilsteins?

 

no, assuming they are both mechanically sound, they are very, very close.

 

Bilsteins are smoother than the Kybs. I have Swift Spec R's on my Bilsteins and they're awesome.

 

this

 

just got them from my buddy for a REAL good price, a little rusty on one of them but that what happens when you drive in the north. Gona sand them a little then spray them with rust protection, will order the swift spec r's this monday. Can not wait to ride low and comfy, getting sick of KYBs

 

Because the difference is in the low-speed damping, probably not.

 

I have the swift spec r on kybs, the springs are an awesome upgrade as far as handling goes but for ride quality, not that great. Cruising around town is very rough, bumpstops. Yall that have the swifts with the HDs are yall hitting the bumpstops? Or have already installed aftermarket additions to correct it?

 

Mine rode ok at first on the kyb's but the back started sagging and bottoming more often, the rears were just wore out. Swapped bilstein hd's and it was night and day better. Save up, they really are a massive difference.