OK guys...I've been doing a lot of research on struts lately. I've got a '93 240 base (no HICAS, no ABS) and I'm looking to replace my struts, which are trashed after 97K miles of use.
I'm looking for something that's going to pair well with some Eibach springs (future purchase), so I've narrowed it down to the AGX's and the Koni Yellows.
Question is...how do they compare? It would be awesome if someone familiar with both products could post a comparison.
I'm currently leaning towards the KYB's, but the extra $$$ involved in buying the Koni's isn't a problem. If they're worth an extra $100-150, I'll get 'em.
Does the fact that the Koni's are inserts (at least for the fronts) make any difference in the performance of the strut? I'm thinking of replacing the front strut mounts too, since it seems like they've probably taken a real beating after almost 100K miles, so would I need to get OE mounts if I went with the Koni's?
Thanks in advance!
KYB AGX vs. Koni Adjustables
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Redline240
- Posts: 892
- Joined: Sun Dec 08, 2002 1:34 pm
- Car: 95 240sx
Call up a company like Ground Control and ask them what they prefer. They work with many race teams and have their own cars. They work with all kinds of struts. They will tell you Koni. I know from my experiance with both, I like the Koni's better. I have never driven with either in a 240 though, but my Koni adjustables will be here in a couple days, along with my ground controls (custom spring rates) and hks pms. One good thing about ground control; they gave me a set of poly bushings to pop into my rear strut tops for free. 
Thanks, Dori Dori. The more I read, the more I'm leaning towards the Koni's. It's not that I've read a lot of bad things about the AGX's, it's that I've yet to see anyone complain about the Koni stuff.
I'm going to need to replace all of my strut boots since they're torn. Do you think it would be wise to replace the front strut mounts since they've got almost 98K miles on 'em?
Would I need to get OE mounts, or would there be aftermarket that would work with the Koni's? Possibly Nismo?
I'm going to need to replace all of my strut boots since they're torn. Do you think it would be wise to replace the front strut mounts since they've got almost 98K miles on 'em?
Would I need to get OE mounts, or would there be aftermarket that would work with the Koni's? Possibly Nismo?
Projekt wrote:Don't let him polute you with his koni propaganda!
I do agree that modifying the OE strut housing looks like a real pain. It all depends on what kind of price I can get on the Koni's. I *might* have my local alignment place install everything if I get the Koni's. I could just have 'em drop shipped from Tirerack, I suppose.
I think the Koni's might be rebuildable, which is nice. The AGX, on the other hand, aren't rebuildable but are priced low. If the KYB blows, I'll just get another one and install it myself. The KYB install looks like a breeze compared to the Koni install.
I've still got a few weeks to decide. I don't think either the Koni's or the KYB's would be a bad choice. Maybe I'll just flip a coin to decide.
As I said before, I also need to decide on what to do with my front strut mounts. My first instinct is to just go ahead and replace 'em, but I'm not sure what I'll replace them with.
FYI, the cheapest I could find KYB's for was $350 from http://www.k2rd.com and the cheapest I found the Konis for was $520 from http://www.importhorizon.com .
The install will be more of a pain w/ the Koni's but for me, it's worth it.
The install will be more of a pain w/ the Koni's but for me, it's worth it.
Dori Dori wrote:FYI, the cheapest I could find KYB's for was $350 from http://www.k2rd.com and the cheapest I found the Konis for was $520 from http://www.importhorizon.com .
Was that $520 shipped? If so, that's a good price. If I do the install myself, I can probably afford another suspension upgrade. I've been coveting those HKS pillow ball mounts that you're buying. I'll be curious to see how the ride changes after you install them. I really want to get rid of my 10 year old rubbery OE mounts. I've noticed that HKS, Tein, Cusco and Nismo all make some replacement mounts.
Are you just installing the front mounts for now?
My issue is, Can you use AGX's with a low drop? I live in a little town called gig harbor were the roads are all nice and new . when i had my prelude i had it droped 2 inches off the road and rarely ever scraped "let me tell you about camber issues, when your -3.7 in the rear.
basicly should i shell out the 1300 for the tein's or just do cheaper setup, i auto X alot and am new to 240's so not too sure if the extra cash is worth it.
basicly should i shell out the 1300 for the tein's or just do cheaper setup, i auto X alot and am new to 240's so not too sure if the extra cash is worth it.
Justice wrote:basicly should i shell out the 1300 for the tein's or just do cheaper setup, i auto X alot and am new to 240's so not too sure if the extra cash is worth it.
I'm by no means an expert in this stuff, but if I had the money and I was going to do auto-x, I'd go with the Teins or another true coilover setup. $1300 is a big chunk of change compared to $300+ for the AGX's. As with most things in life, you get what you pay for.
As for reliability, I think you might have problems with the AGX once your drop is past 2".
BadMojo wrote:Was that $520 shipped? If so, that's a good price. If I do the install myself, I can probably afford another suspension upgrade. I've been coveting those HKS pillow ball mounts that you're buying. I'll be curious to see how the ride changes after you install them. I really want to get rid of my 10 year old rubbery OE mounts. I've noticed that HKS, Tein, Cusco and Nismo all make some replacement mounts.
Are you just installing the front mounts for now?
Yes, $520 shipped.
The PBMs won't change your ride comfort too much, they just add a lot of road noise. I got them for $200...they were a display item.
I am just installing the fronts b/c there is really no need for the rear. I wanted the fronts for their camber adjustability. In the rears, ground control supplied me with polyurethane bushings for the stock top mounts (for free), so I won't have to worry about the 10+years of wear and tear.
Justice wrote:My issue is, Can you use AGX's with a low drop? I live in a little town called gig harbor were the roads are all nice and new . when i had my prelude i had it droped 2 inches off the road and rarely ever scraped "let me tell you about camber issues, when your -3.7 in the rear.
basicly should i shell out the 1300 for the tein's or just do cheaper setup, i auto X alot and am new to 240's so not too sure if the extra cash is worth it.
I'd say no...but that's just me. I had coilovers on my last car and have driven in muliple cars with them and IMO they are just too rough for the street. Everyone has their own opinions on this stuff though so you really need to take a ride in someone else's car w/ a particular setup that you are interested in and base your own judgement. I know that when I bought my last set of coilovers, the internet forum I was on labeled them as 'smoother than stock'...some people even said 'my wife couldn't even tell they were there'...what a crock of BS. Projekt can tell you...he rode in my last car plenty of times...the car handled nice, but was just too rough for the streets IMO.
What I'm buying isn't much less than a full coilover setup...$520 for the Konis, $400 for the ground controls, $200 for the PBMs (front only). It's actually more than some. But I based my suspension decision on my experiance...and that's what you need to do.
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240 Trainee
- Posts: 749
- Joined: Mon Apr 14, 2003 5:41 am
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well i bought this 91 240 that is BASE no AC, no moonroof, no power anything hell... no cruise controll. she is pretty light and ran pretty close to a lightly modded VTEC prelude.
my plan for this car is SR20 running 14 lbs of boost , striped with plexi windows "sides and rear" all i need is a R200v and some good tires and i got a nice race car for soloII.
I think i will go with the tien's probably the HE's
my plan for this car is SR20 running 14 lbs of boost , striped with plexi windows "sides and rear" all i need is a R200v and some good tires and i got a nice race car for soloII.
I think i will go with the tien's probably the HE's
Dori Dori wrote:The Koni's should adjust on the top of all four. I don't know though yet...but they should be here any day now.
From what I've seen, the front's are externally adjustable, but the rears are not. The fronts have the little dial, but you need to remove the rear struts to adjust them.
I believe 8040 series are the ones used on the rear and 8041 on the fronts for our cars.
http://www.koni-na.com/adjustment.html
It looks like you just compress the shock and twist. Seems pretty simple.
I got my Konis yesterday. I'm sending them back though today. I wish I would have noticed this earlier.
Well, as luck has it, I found a set of KYB Buzz Spec struts. For those that don't know, they are a short stroke strut (like a coilover damper)...about 1 inch shorter than the AGX...and can handle a lower drop. They are made for curcuit racing. I should have them in a couple weeks. I will also need to send ground control some parts back in exchange for parts that work with the AGX. Hopefully, they will also work with the buzz specs...
Well, as luck has it, I found a set of KYB Buzz Spec struts.
For those that don't know, they are a short stroke strut (like a coilover damper)...about 1 inch shorter than the AGX...and can handle a lower drop. They are made for curcuit racing. I should have them in a couple weeks. I will also need to send ground control some parts back in exchange for parts that work with the AGX. Hopefully, they will also work with the buzz specs...In my opinion the KYBs have bad settings. They are either too stiff, or too soft.
I just switched to Koni's though, and I like them a LOT more. The install is a pain, at least for me (I have stock springs for my SCCA class) but the end result is worth it.
If a little extra time and money are worth it to you for better performance, get the Konis.
I just switched to Koni's though, and I like them a LOT more. The install is a pain, at least for me (I have stock springs for my SCCA class) but the end result is worth it.
If a little extra time and money are worth it to you for better performance, get the Konis.
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skydragoness
- Posts: 9394
- Joined: Wed Jul 24, 2002 6:49 am
- Car: 03' 350z Touring 6spd
92' 240sx 60k survivor :) - Location: North DFW, TEJAS
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yeah, Koni's are the best you could buy as far as struts go (not including coilovers/tein/etc etc) but agx's are good for the money if you work on a budget
i have agx's w/ sportlines. the ride isn't harsh to me. just particularly jarring over rough roads, but that was on the 3/6 setting and that was to be expected. i have it on 2/2 now, and it feels much nicer for daily driving. (of course blow stock struts before, so anything will feel better!
) and adjusting them is a snap. i had to crawl under my car to reach the rear dials, and the front you adjust a dial with a flathead they provide.
i autocross as well, but i haven't autocrossed with the new setup, from what i can already tell it will be great. need to get a bushing kit now/sway bars and better tires/wheels. since the tires have to work harder now. hehe
if you have the money for Koni's though, i'd get them
i have agx's w/ sportlines. the ride isn't harsh to me. just particularly jarring over rough roads, but that was on the 3/6 setting and that was to be expected. i have it on 2/2 now, and it feels much nicer for daily driving. (of course blow stock struts before, so anything will feel better!
) and adjusting them is a snap. i had to crawl under my car to reach the rear dials, and the front you adjust a dial with a flathead they provide.i autocross as well, but i haven't autocrossed with the new setup, from what i can already tell it will be great. need to get a bushing kit now/sway bars and better tires/wheels. since the tires have to work harder now. hehe
if you have the money for Koni's though, i'd get them
I got them on ebay. I was never able to find them anywhere else. You can get Gab Super Strokes (which are the same and maybe even made w/ higher quality parts) from http://www.cyberauto.com