Koni vs. Billstein

[dhopkins]

I am thinking of installing new shocks/struts and am trying to decide b/t koni and billstein. Which is better?

Don
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1969 911S
1981 911 SC

[911T1971]

Bilstein , thats what my mechanic always told me..

[platas]

Don the guys in germany always suggest bilsteins!

[mike walker]

The "Porsche for Sport use" factory Lit that I just got it looks like they use the Koni adjustables inplace of the Bilsteins, is that correct? So the bilsteins are for non competition and the konis for competition purposes?

[RTincher]

Good thread on this subject here, with insight from Aaron and Steve.

http://www.early911sregistry.org/for...stein+revalved

My sense is that Porsche preferred Koni's for sports purpose in the late sixties, but appeared to convert to a preference for Bilsteins in the early '70's.

I think it is personal preference, I've always been much more pleased with Bilsteins, and they rarely ever need replacement.

[mike walker]

Good thread on this subject here, with insight from Aaron and Steve.

http://www.early911sregistry.org/for...stein+revalved

My sense is that Porsche preferred Koni's for sports purpose in the late sixties, but appeared to convert to a preference for Bilsteins in the early '70's.

I think it is personal preference, I've always been much more pleased with Bilsteins, and they rarely ever need replacement.

Your right, I went on to read John Starkeys book and the factory indeed went back to Bilsteins in the early 70's.

[SandyI]

You could always do both like I did. Koni's in front. Bilsteins in back. My car rides flawlessly on the street and kicked butt at 10/10's at Streets of Willow. (But that's also because I had the car corner-balanced and tuned by Otto.)

[Flunder]

Koni was fitted to all S models and was used for factory prepared race cars up through the 71 ST (not sure about the 72 ST).

The first high performance application of the Bilstein units was on the Carrera RS. The definitive Bilstein RSR threaded coil over unit with the raised and reinforced spindle on the front struts and the shorter rear units became the standard for factory race prepped cars for years thereafter.

No opinion on which is better. If you want to get the front down without bumpsteer probs use the Bilstein - Steve can provide them valved to your requirements.

Otherwise, for originality and superior performance use the Koni Classics or get your original date coded Konis rebuilt - f your car is equipped with a set.