I'm looking for some advice on aftermarket struts for my sedan. I have the car lowered with the Eibach pro-kit,and one of my front struts is blown because the guy that installed my springs gouged the strut, causing the seal to rupture.

I have heard the Koni's are good,and was wondering what else is out there for comparison.

I don't want to go with a coilover setup at this time, and was wondering who out there has changed to aftermarket struts.

 

I haven't priced many suspension items extensively but won't coilovers cost you around $800? New struts are going to run you at least $500 right? Put on coilovers and sell your Eibachs and you've upgraded for about $200. My numbers might be way off so if anyone has more accurate information please post them.

Russ

Black 6MT Coupe
Jax, FL
PS2 and Headrest Monitors Thread

 

Yes, Koni's would fix your car very nicely, offering greater shock control than your oem shocks. For a sedan owner, since the Koni's are spec'd off the Z, they will use slightly shorter shock bodies (3/4"), always a plus on a lowered vehicle. The valving on the Koni's will sit between the firmest G35 shocks and the 350Z shocks. Koni specifically reduced the compression dampning on them to be lower than the 350Z (which is part of the reason why they are not right for me).

Cheapest known price on the Koni's is $629.44 (4 shocks) with free shipping from www.shox.com, shox is located in California, so add Ca tax if live in the state. The Koni's are due out March 1. Their is another shock do out shortly, and it's the one I'm waiting for. It's by Tokico and it's a 45 way dual adustable shock that adjusts for both compression and rebound (the Koni's are single adjustable for rebound). The tokico shock will likely sell for more than the Koni's, @$800 vs $624 for Koni's.


Anyone that doesn't want any more ride firmness, should not get those $800 coilovers (Tein Basic's) and that would go for anyone that picked progressive lowering springs because of ride comfort. Plus the Tein Basics dampener is NOT adjustable, whereas the Koni's and Tokico shocks are adjustable. The other issue on the Tein basic, and frankly several coilovers concern's the spring rates they use, specifically how they alter the front to rear rate balance of the car vs oem. But that can be fixed with a pair of softer front springs for just $165 extra. And for sedan owners, some may not care for the drop range the Tein Basic's do on the sedan as tein recommends 2.5" drop front with a 1.1" rear drop. The highest the Tein basic can be raised in the front allows a 1.6" drop, curiously the MAX rear drop is 1.4".

Tein basics use 504lbs spring rates front and rear on linear springs.
Eibach lowering spring rates are:
G35s 259/334 front 359/413 rear
G35c 229/337 front 274/463 rear

Tein lowering spring rates are:
G35 Coupe and Sedan
H-Tech 324/263
S-Tech 358/274
A great coilover choice for those after ride comfort would be the Tein CS coilover, but that moves us to a $1600 price point and if you want to adjust the dampeners without having to uninstall the coilovers off the car, your looking at a additional $350 for the EDFC controller. The CS coilover use's spring rates of 392/392



"All that's necessary for the forces of evil to win in the world is for enough good men to do nothing.”
Edmund Burke

G35 6mt

 

Koni yellows are THE best....all those other shocks like Tokico Illumina and whatnot that boast 6 way 9 way...45 way adjustable- dont do jack! you can tell the difference in ride between 2-5 adjustments...and I bet the new 45 way will be the same...there is no need for a 45 way adjustable shock..none at all..the koni yellows have years and years and years of R&D behind them and are race proven and road proven....Theres a reason why exotics like ferrari and lambo and porsche only use Koni shocks on all there cars....Tokicos are garbage..and I guarantee if you so some online searches on forums for shocks or whatever you will agree.

"Dont start none, won't be none"

 

Nice review of the shock options,thanks.

03.5 Sedan/B. Silver/Prem/Winter/Aero/Tint/Rims
69 Chevelle Hard Top BB/4.11's/Posi

 

The Koni's in this application are tuned to be less aggressive than oem 350Z struts, not something I'm after, but something that a lot of people here might be greatfull for. Their's no doubt their valving is well done, but having less compression dampning does not suit my purpose. Most bad reports on Tokicos come from individual's that are running shocks with springs that are to stiff. Koni want's $350 PER SHOCK!!! to revalve them and convert to double adjustable. But yes is a normal situation I would side with Koni, but here they have choosen to deliver a product that does not suit my needs.

"All that's necessary for the forces of evil to win in the world is for enough good men to do nothing.”
Edmund Burke

G35 6mt

 

That has to be the best reason not to use Koni.

03.5 Sedan/B. Silver/Prem/Winter/Aero/Tint/Rims
69 Chevelle Hard Top BB/4.11's/Posi

 

Hmm.. Would 350z struts be a viable option in my situation? I would assume finding a used set would be cheaper than the Koni's.