New shocks - Bilstein Sport, Koni yellow, or GAZ?

[ian2000t]

Need to replace my Bilstein B4 (TC) shocks. They've never really been up to the heavy spring rates I've got to be honest, but they were a budget choice and have done 5 years service... so I want to put something "proper" on now.

Any one used any of the above.. or hopefully more than one of the above, so they can give me a comparison?

I'm running about 60mm lower, chopped diesel springs front (which are quite stiff), and chopped HD springs rear.

[Jimsiss]

I’ve run GAZ coil overs on my old Polo GT for years and they were more than up to the task of keeping the car under control. I used the stiffer setting to keep the rear arches from rubbing on the tyres.

[ians]

I use bilstein b6 sport on the rear and find them perfect for what I want my last car was a r design c30 sport

[classicswede]

First to be clear I only sell B4's and GAZ so take what you will from that.

My experience of B4's is the work well enough for most with std or typical 40mm lowering springs

B6 is good up front but the rates are wrong at the rear causing the rear end to skip around corners at speed. Had lots of reliability issues with the rears

Koni - never been impressed with the and pain to adjust having to take them off. Not used them for 15 years or so - I could be out of date on my findings with these

GAZ, Fronts are decent a little harsher than a well valved B6. Rear can be a bit bouncy at low speed with very stiff rear springs and no rear end load. With typical springs not normally a issue. Best option on teh rear is the GAZ twin adjustables where you can fine tune bump and rebound separately but they are a fair bit more expensive

When out of warrant rebuild cost of B6's are almost as much as new units. GAZ rebuild is around £20 a unit. I have never had Bilstein accept a warranty claim, GAZ have never failed to repair/exchange a unit

[ian2000t]

Originally Posted by classicswede

Best option on teh rear is the GAZ twin adjustables where you can fine tune bump and rebound separately but they are a fair bit more expensive

Can you give a price on these please? I can't see them on your site?

[classicswede]

they are custom order and not a stock item

https://www.classicswede.co.uk/produ..._19922572.aspx

[ian2000t]

Wow, I've twice the price, they are out of budget.. Unless you get the fronts for free?

I think I'm tempted to go for Koni's. Not easy to adjust, but at least they do adjust, unlike B6's. Really not been happy with the B4's, feel like i made a bad (cheap) choice there.

I used to like Gaz, but my classic Mini was literally transformed when I switched them out for Protechs.