KW vs LEDA vs KONI vs BILSTEIN vs ??? Fast road/DE/Track (not race)

[stv951]

LETS MAKE THIS THE SUSPENSION COMPARISON THREAD

I have searched alot, but there is no such subject comparing these four suspension choices

I would like to hear from all of you your experiences and comparison on these.

I have a 924S which will have a 3,0 S2 engine soon. It now runs on yellow Konis and 15" Toyo R888s. Car is stripped and has a rollcage installed

I find it soft for track days so I am thinking to move on especially since I wii be putting the S2 engine (probably next week if time permits)


I appreciate all the suspension gurus - on our cars - respond

 

[stv951]

I forgot to add GAZ coilovers. I have recently seen a car for sale that had those on

 

[sawood12]

I think you'll find very few people if any who have experience of driving cars with all of those options so back to back comparisons may be few and far between.

I think all those options are going to offer advantages and disadvantages. For my two - penneth-worth with my feet squarely in the KW camp I can say that the advantages the KW brings over the others is their ability to bring stiffness with compliance which for a fast road application has got to be pretty high on the requirements list. Other advantages include being constructed from Stainless Steel and typical German build quality. Disadvantages might be seen to be poor aftersales service (though mine never went wrong so can't confirm) and cost (though I personally think they are a bargain relatively speaking and the other options are cheap rather than KW being expensive) and difficulty to adjust the damping rates (though in reality it isn't a problem as 99% of people set and forget no matter what their intentions are before installing these kits).

For me the other options may offer equivalent performance improvement, but when the roads get bumpy (like most of the UK road network) the KW comes into its own and no other kit can touch it. However I believe that Koni has now come out with a setup with the clever valving setup that KW has.

By the way, does Leda still exist? I thought Leda was now Gaz?

 

[CarreraRSR]

Too many variables, personal opinion and people who will confirm their purchase was the right one. Also whether the car is everyday, weekend warrior or specific track focused brings other requirements to the table. A stiff set up for one person will be a 'soft as a sofa' set up for another.

For what its worth I was suggested to speak with EMC Motorsport who put my car on their 944 spec Gaz Gold on my 924 Turbo. What Kev doesn't know about '24/'44/'68 fast road, track day and race car prep isn't worth knowing. I trusted their opinion and prices and have been happy with my purchase.

 

[944 man]

GAZ Gold for your car, I think.

 

[Diver944]

My personal comparisons in post #36 of this previous thread on the same subject:

http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/tm.asp?m=605718&mpage=2&key=leda򔀦

Lot's of other comparisons too

 

[944 man]

#35! #36 is more rubbish from our resident deluded sociopath! KW are nice, but they dont have an early car application, to the best of my knowledge. LEDA arent the firm that they once were either, again cutting down your options.

 

[blease]

+1 with CarerraRSR. Kevins entire business is built around setting these cars for fast road and track. Plus, its a pleasure doing business with him. His prices are excellent. I have not yet had the chance to track my car but the road behaviour is transformed by the Gaz Gold. It is doing the job for me thus far.

 

[sawood12]

All you've got to go off is the opinion of other's - including the opinions of the various performance companies out there, some others of which may have a different preference to others - with these commercial outfits it is often their recommendation to go for the setup they have the most experience with and therefore most confidence in (and also have the greatest margins in - the more of one kit they buy the better bulk discount they get - this is the real world and businesses have to make their ends meet).

The best thing to do is look for opportunities to test drive cars with different setups. The advantage of a forum like this is there are plenty of people who would be willing to let you have a go - I know I would have if I still had the old girl. Maybe the up and coming dyno day might be a good opportunity for you to ask nicely for a go in others cars?

Ultimately though I think you'd be hard pressed to find any significant differences between any of the options - anything is better than the standard setup, even a refreshed standard setup, so ultimately there is no wrong answer.

 

[Neil Haughey]

Its worth bearing in mind with EMC that no matter what anyone says about them, last season Pete Morris in their blue 968 went faster than anyone on many of the tracks, and by that I mean faster than anyone has managed in a 968.

 

[Paz]

ORIGINAL: Neil Haughey

Its worth bearing in mind with EMC that no matter what anyone says about them, last season Pete Morris in their blue 968 went faster than anyone on many of the tracks, and by that I mean faster than anyone has managed in a 968.

I would say that's more as a result of Mad Pete's skill, experience and BIG Kahuna's than his suspension setup []

 

[MarkK]

in reply to the original question,This is my input...
For best road suspension,bump ironing out and yet firm on turn in,KW V3s are a great set-up and will work fine for occasional more gentle track day use in a more road focused car.
944 M030 feels a bit unsophisticated in comparison,Would put 968 M030 in the same box,if it is set-up firmer for track the car still rolls and yet on the road same set-up it is a bit unrefined and crashy,but it is period and original as some people might have said...[]
GAZ coil overs set-up is a fantastic Value suspension for the money and that is why it is popular you get what you pay for though quality wise,it is true some of the quickest transaxle cars had them fitted.They do need rebuilding quite a bit I thought.
For all year use in a road car the construction of KWs is maybe more suitable against salt corrosion from pictures I have seen of other brands and represents good value for the quality received.
Dunno what conclusion I reached here it depends on your bias of use and budget I suppose.
I have KWS,Konis of both types,GAZ and JRZ.So have driven them a lot back to back,on different cars though.

 

[nick_968]

If you want something that is comparable to modern day tech and built to last through winters of salt etc then KW is the best option. I have fitted it to my 968 and to the now gone 993 C2. The results when fitting it to the 993 were nothing short of transformational for a road car that gets used on track, I have yet to try it out properly on the 968 but have no doubt it will be good when set up. KW is also the fast road setup of choice for many newer Porsches as well. There are better setups out there for pure track use, but for both I dont think there is anything else out there that is as good. The other thing it handles well is more power so if you are a serial modder then it makes even more sense.

 

[Lizard]

I had Ledas on my 924S & thought it was a really really ace track set up, the car handled brillantly, think it was same spec springs & damper rates etc up as the 924 racers, was done by EMC, they seem to prefer the Gaz set up now over Ledas tho.

 

[blease]

Is that because Leda became Gaz?

 

[edh]

ORIGINAL: blease

Is that because Leda became Gaz?

Leda went under & were bought by a firm near me
http://www.epmtechnology.com/index.html

A number of the ex-Leda staff went to work for Gaz


I'd definitely agree that for a road car doing occasional track days KW is the one to have. My Ledas were good (and better than 030), but the KW were much more complete on the road. The decision will always be influenced by budget though..

 

[DivineE]

I've only been in one KW v3 equipped car on a track and that may/may not have been set up properly at the time but I thought the KW's still felt way too soft for track use. Perhaps the perfect option for a fast road car but not really in the track day bracket.

On the other side I've heard people say the Gaz shocks are great for track work but not so great on the road. Perhaps as with everything it's horses for courses.

 

[944 man]

I will say again, that I dont think that KW offer a product to suit the 924S or series one 944. They certainly didnt use to.

So as comfy as they are, I think that GAZ is going to be your best solution.

 

[charlieb]

944 man,

Would you suggest GAZ over the KWV3 for a later car also? Strictly for road use?

If anybody is interested and seeing as the topic is suspension. Possible bargain here on some Bilsteins on ebay not mine I add just found them this afternoon.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Porsche-944s2-944-turbo-968-Bilstien-Coil-Overs-Shocks-/220758840339?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item3366409413

cheers

 

[944 man]

Probably not, no; if budget wasnt a restraint. Sorry for my tardy reply.