OG

iTrader: (1)

Hi guys,

The other day I picked up a set of cheap Koni (yellow? - they're an orange color though) 2 way adjustable struts which were built for the Evo 9 by Koni. Ralliart (which used to supply aftermarket parts for the Evo here in OZ) got Koni to design these struts specifically for the Evo 9, they also came with some "Ralliart" springs, I'm not sure who made these springs.

I also have some Bilstein MR suspension which I planned to equip with some Swift Spec-R springs however now I can't decide between the Bilstein MR + Swift Spec-R combo and the Koni 2 way adjustable + whatever spring combo.

Basically I want to know which shocks are better, it is almost impossible to find information on these "Ralliart" Konis as RRP for them was expensive here in Australia and hardly anyone has them so nobody can provide a comparison.

Would anyone be able to provide some insight, someone who has experience with Koni and Bilstein shocks in general?

n2oiroc

iTrader: (33)

Bilsteins will ride better and the konis will be better around a track, the konis are all around stiffer.

OG

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for the reply, answers my question perfectly.

Smike

iTrader: (8)

Ralliart: 280lbs f / 307lbs r. 0.5f / 0.5r

Swift Spec Rs MR: 358lbs f / 380lbs r. -1.4, -0.66 drop.

Orange are the Sport Konis. Different than the yellows.

For the track, I would run the Swift SpecRs.

And not completely true about stiffer being better around the track. Bilsteins do a great job taking in track imperfections. More your tires are on the ground, better you are.

n2oiroc

iTrader: (33)

On a rough track i agree, but assuming its smooth, i would think the extra rebound dampening would be beneficial.

Smike

iTrader: (8)

I wish they were all smooth

n2oiroc

iTrader: (33)

I have spec r's and hd's on my evo and love them, but the koni yellows on my wrx are nice too. The amount of rebound adjustment is over the top though, even half stiff it makes kyb's feel like buick roadmaster shocks.

211Ratsbud

iTrader: (1)

Had kyb and d specs on my subie. Dubstar12 @ nasioc with rce yellows.

Wish we had a d spec like options or similar for the evo.. granted bilsteins are not that expensive.

n2oiroc

iTrader: (33)

I would have liked the bilsteins for the wrx, but the konis were a bit cheaper. I need to spend the big money on the evo, not the daily driver!

OG

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for that! Where did you find those specs for the Ralliart springs?

Regarding the orange colour, I thought that the Sport ones (orange) weren't adjustable? This lead me to think that they might be Yellows (despite the orange colour).

OG

iTrader: (1)

After some research I've found that the Ralliart springs are:

Front 400-550lbs
Rear 400-500lbs
Progressive rate springs

Going by these figures would you now say that the Ralliart springs are actually better?

GTWORX.com

iTrader: (35)

Got any pictures?

Smike

iTrader: (8)

Not to call you out here. But I highly doubt those numbers. Way to high for the OE struts. RA would have made them to work with the OE valving (aka the spring rates I have posted).

GTWORX.com

iTrader: (35)

Seems like a translation/conversion error. The spring chart sticky has them at 5 kg front 5.5 kg rear, which makes a lot more sense. That's 280 lbs/in and 307 rear.

- Andrew

mutex12

A number of suspension options were developed in-house by TMR Australia.

You'll need to contact them to confim rates on your konis, but TMR did produce springs for the bilsteins with those rates because I have them in my car (note: they drop suspension a tad and are progressive).

These sound like your dampers:
http://www.tmraustralia.com.au/article.php?ref=90
http://www.tmraustralia.com.au/article.php?ref=63

Cheers.