Hey guys!

I just purchased a 96 Integra LS a couple months ago and starting to modify it. My goal is to street drive it and take it about every other month to go road racing. I've been reading up on suspension setups and just want some input.

I'm on a tight budget but want some adjustability in the suspension. After talking with the guys at Eibach, I have determined that a coilover setup would be good so I can tune the spring rates. I figure I'd start with the standard Ground Control setup and then go from there.

Now it goes to shocks. Here I'd also like some adjustability and have been reading and searching. I know it seems that the prefered shock is the Koni Yellows, but I'm wondering if they are worth the extra $200 for the set vs. getting a set of KYB AGX shocks? The Ground Control kit would also be some extra money for the Koni's as well.

Opinions?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Marauder &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I'm wondering if they are worth the extra $200 for the set vs. getting a set of KYB AGX shocks? </TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Yes</TD></TR></TABLE>

Wow, not a man of many words!

So they are better, how much better? Would a novice road racer notice the difference?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Marauder &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
So they are better, how much better? Would a novice road racer notice the difference? </TD></TR></TABLE>

No

but don't bother with the AGX's

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Marauder &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Wow, not a man of many words!

So they are better, how much better? Would a novice road racer notice the difference? </TD></TR></TABLE>
What series are you planning on roadracing in? Or are you just going to be doing HPDE's and autoX?

Regardless of which one you're doing, the Koni's are a better choice as the can handle higher spring rates before needing to be re-valved. Additionally, there are several places that revlave Konis... not sure where you'd go for KYB's or if anyone even offers revlaving services

Christian, who says "pay a little more and do it correctly the first time"


Modified by Xian at 2:39 PM 6/23/2004

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Marauder &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Wow, not a man of many words!

So they are better, how much better? Would a novice road racer notice the difference? </TD></TR></TABLE>

In my experience the Konis have more adjustability, ride better, have a lifetime warranty, better support (Koni support just kicks ***), option to upgrade the shocks later (revalve) and they perform better.

The only reason I could see going with KYB is to save a few bucks. But is it worth it in the end?

 

Cool....I thought everyone would just say go with the Koni's!

Just planning on doing some fun weekend track days, like out at Willow Springs. Not really into autocrossing. Later, I may turn the car into a serious racecar, then it'll be a trailered car. That's long term of course.

 

Not Honda, but I had KYB AGXs with stock springs for 3 years.

Recently, I tripled the stock spring rates and installed DA Konis. Ride didn't change except over large bumps. I'm sold.

Andy

 

Buy Koni and be done with it. The extra $200 may be a lot of money now, but in terms of the quality, I wouldn't go with anything other than Koni.

The konis have a lifetime warranty to the original buyer, are re-buildable, and IMO will work better with a wider range of spring rates.

Do it right the first time and its cheaper than doing it all over again.


The AGX are not bad. The koni are just a better investment.

 

i've always supported the notion that you get what you pay for in terms of suspension. i have AGXs and lament over why i didn't just shell out the extra couple hundred for the Konis. I've driven on both setups too. Konis are hands down.

 

Now I'm regretting getting the KYB ...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jdmjunky &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i've always supported the notion that you get what you pay for in terms of suspension. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Same here....I just wanted to make sure its really worth the extra investment!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by HondaLaw &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Now I'm regretting getting the KYB ...</TD></TR></TABLE>

I like kyb's on hondas. They've worked great for me.

 

Everyone knows my opinion but here is some head to head shock dyno info on the front shocks for your Integra...http://www.koni-na.com/presentations/civic/ Look at not only curve shape but adjustment ranges min. to max.

Click the arrows on the right to advance pages. AGX comparison is after Tokico Illumina and Bilstein.

 

I have no complaints with the AGX'es... I have pretty good results with them on my Integra using H&R Sport springs (276 lbs/in front & rear). But if I were to go with stiffer springs, I'd probably invest in some Koni Yellows... I'd just trust them to handle it better than the AGX'es.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by CRX Lee &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">http://www.koni-na.com/presentations/civic/ Look at not only curve shape but adjustment ranges min. to max..</TD></TR></TABLE>

That's some really cool info! I can appreciate it too, being a mechanical engineer!

 

i had kyb's and GC's. and now have upgraded to the yellow's and higher spring rates.

i don't know how much better it will be because my car hasn't been driven since i put the koni's on, ill let you know though im going to be at thunderhill for the NASA HPDE event there. although this might be alil skewed since i will add a roll bar also.

 

The KONI will get you...

- better damping. Just ask MaddMatt what he thinks of the KONIs on his SE-R front suspension as compared to the KYBs he had before.

- rebound-only adjustment (which is actually a GOOD thing...why would you want one dial adjusting rebound and compression at god knows what curves??)

- Warranty. 'nuff said.

- Rebuildability. If you do something stupid like put the thing into a curb or otherwise blow it up, it can be rebuilt. The AGX you just throw away and replace.

- Support. The KONI guys really, seriously know their shocks. CRX Lee, in case you didn't know, is the head guy at KONI for race shocks. He posts here. 'nuff said.

- Quality. I ran stock KONIs for years with no problems.

- Upgradability. With the KONI, if you move to a race-only suspension (as in, super high rate springs), you just send them off to be revalved for like 100 bucks a corner (chump change in the grand scheme of things). With the KYBs, when you want to run race-rate springs...you throw the KYBs in the trash, order some KONIs, and get them revalved. Why bother with the first step?

A complete beginner won't notice the difference. But two years from now, when this complete beginner is running in advanced groups and possibly racing, the difference, both in performance and financials, make the KONI dampers a no-brainer.

--Karl &lt;-- been using KONIs since 1998

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by CRX Lee &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Everyone knows my opinion but here is some head to head shock dyno info on the front shocks for your Integra...http://www.koni-na.com/presentations/civic/ Look at not only curve shape but adjustment ranges min. to max.

Click the arrows on the right to advance pages. AGX comparison is after Tokico Illumina and Bilstein.</TD></TR></TABLE>

what kind of shock dyno was used?

 

Is this even a fair comparison? Koni Yellah's for sure.

And TEIN's are really nice... (wink' wink' )

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by NegativeLift &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
what kind of shock dyno was used?</TD></TR></TABLE>

A Roehrig computerized dyno (don't recall the model as we have several at the office) on a force vs. velocity graph testing at 0.0-0.33 meters/13.0 inches per second. Not one of the cheapy low end or DIY dynos, this cost in the $20K each range and is well respected in the industry.

 

I don't know much about the Konis, but I would never buy AGXs again. They just don't seem like they can go stiff enough for me.

 

Some really good info!

Even convinced my friend that he needs Koni's for his mustang cobra, which he was thinking of going with KYB AGX's

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by IntegraBoy04 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I don't know much about the Konis, but I would never buy AGXs again. They just don't seem like they can go stiff enough for me.</TD></TR></TABLE>

ever thought about increase the spring rate?


i had agx's and thought they were great for what they were, im not saying they are the ShiZZNezzel, but they worked very well for me

 

I've ridden in a few cars with AGXs, and one had GC. And I still thought they didn't go stiff enough.