What to do about front strut inserts?

[tdskip]

It looks like Bilsteins are supposed to be available again sometime in August, but I don’t think that’s definitive.  I checked and I don’t seem to be a lot of options other than KYB which, at least in the Porsche 914 community, people would rather drink razor blades than use.

 

Go with Koni yellow or cross my fingers for August?

 

What would you all do?

 

 Hope it was a good day for everyone.

Edited July 9, 2020 by tdskip

[Son of Marty]

Go with the Koni's. KYB's are not a good match for the 2002, the rear shocks have about as much give as a steel beam.

[Mike Self]

KYBs--gone on my '69 at 35k miles: Bilsteins--still going strong on my '73 at 140k + miles.  And if they're still imported, DeCarbons (they invented gas shocks) seem to be everlasting.  The rears on my '69 were installed at 74k and are still firm at 227k...I actually wore out the rubber mounting bushings and had to replace 'em, but the shocks themselves are fine.

 

Interestingly, I had a Koni front strut insert actually break apart inside the strut tube--this was back in the early 1970s when Konis were red.

 

mike

[NYNick]

Depends on when you were planning to get the car back on the road. Koni's are perfectly good. I wouldn't hesitate if I wanted my car up and running. You''re doing the rear shocks too, right?

 

If my car was down for the summer/fall anyway, I'd hold off to wait and see. At that point there would be no rush to order anything.

[tdskip]

Thanks for the discussion.

 

@NYNick - I need the car up and running, trying to avoid doing things twice and spending money twice but have some time pressure to get the Tii running and driving.

 

SOP is to do all four in the same series/spec/manufacturer (as I am sure pretty much everyone does but I makes me sound like I am slightly less clueless to actually write it out, so there it is).

Edited July 8, 2020 by tdskip

[tomphot]

Hasn’t Bilstein been playing the “back in stock in 3 Months” game for a couple years now?

[Conserv]

Bilstein’s seem more popular than Koni’s these days, but I don’t recall that being the case during the 1970’s. I ran and loved Koni’s — fortunately never experiencing Mike’s strut failure. I admit, today I have Bilsteins on both ‘02’s — hey, they were in stock everywhere when I needed shocks! ?

 

In my long view, however, Koni’s are also great shocks for an ‘02.

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

[tdskip]

2 hours ago, tomphot said:

Hasn’t Bilstein been playing the “back in stock in 3 Months” game for a couple years now?

 

Oh - well that would be a kick in a certain part of my anatomy.

 

Koni options show on back order from Summit too.

[TobyB]

I prefer Koni to Bilstone- wouldn't hesitate to put single adjustable yellow all the way around.

 

t

 

thinks Bilstone has been popular for a long time, based on what came out of

parts cars over the last couple of decades.  

[Carlos_M]

I picked up my Koni's at Tire Rack a couple of weeks ago. They had a sale going on.  So far they were easy to adjust and install and I will be making adjustments based on TobyB's recommendations... also needed to wait for replacement spring pads.  Hit me up if you want my details of the project.

 

Los...

[NYNick]

2 hours ago, Conserv said:

Bilstein’s seem more popular than Koni’s these days, but I don’t recall that being the case during the 1970’s. I ran and loved Koni’s — fortunately never experiencing Mike’s strut failure. I admit, today I have Bilsteins on both ‘02’s — hey, they were in stock everywhere when I needed shocks! ?

 

In my long view, however, Koni’s are also great shocks for an ‘02.

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

Yup, back in the day Koni's were all the rage. Those 02's would try anything to keep up with 911's. ; )

[tdskip]

Thanks gentlemen, will try to track done some Koni's

[d.hitchcock]

I really had to scour around to find a pair of Koni yellows when one of my billies blew. Oddly, it basically broke apart in the strut housing, similar to what Mike recounted above, a brand new Bilstein with under 3,000 miles!

Anyway, Blunt found a pair for me, but one was on one side of the planet, and the other was somewhere else.

We need dampers!!!

I really want some DA Konis, FTW!

 

Edited July 8, 2020 by d.hitchcock

[majdomo]

Ebay?

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Suspension-Strut-Cartridge-B6-Performance-Front-Bilstein-34-000236/402040347931?fits=Year%3A1970|Submodel%3ABase|Engine+-+Liter_Display%3A2.0L|Make%3ABMW|Trim%3ABase+Sedan+2-Door|Engine%3A2.0L+1990CC+121Cu.+In.+l4+GAS+SOHC+Naturally+Aspirated&epid=112833133&hash=item5d9b78dd1b:g:xVwAAOSwQFZbnKD8

[Son of Marty]

If you read his delivery information you'll see it's in excess of 45 days