Hey

Just buying all the suspension bits and pieces for the beetle and wondered what people had used and had success with? The three that I am considering are: Koni special (adjustable only by removing from the car), AVO (fully adjustable while on the car, 22 settings), and Bilstein with race kit adaption (as the AVO for adjustability I am pretty sure).
It is for hillclimb, lap sprint, maybe a targa or road rally one day.

Appreciate your knowledgable feedback.

Marcus

id put bilstein at the top of the list followed by Koni
prices reflect the quality of them
i havent had any exp with AVO tho

heres various ones ive tried tho and wouldnt go back to

KYB
Monroe
Empi....shoulda known better....
Boge
cofap

altho they would all be perfectly fine on a stock car just not much chop once u start improving everything else around them

konis for me before bilsteins........add pedders to the crap list

I run koni's but might have a look at Bilsteins. (thats on a super and iam upgrading to porker konis soon, with full adjsutability)

Also see what else you can get for the beetle. I think rallydave on here put some hilux fronts on and they fit fine. Could give you more options.... really need to find a good suspension shop with somebody who knows what they are on about!

Keep in mind most standard shocks run out of travel on lowered Beetles

When you talk to a shop about shocks they only need to know the weight of the vehicle per wheel ie. front light than rear and the distance between the two mounts when fully compressed and fully extended. From this the choices are yours as to the number of valves and stages of loading in the shockies

AVO's are an excellent choice but do cost a pretty penny. A lot of formula vees guys run them. Lots of finite adjustment. I'd put the koni's in as my second choice of the ones you have mentioned.

Bilsteins for me! but KWs are setting some pace as a top quality shock with 3 variant level set ups.

I ran Bilsteins on my hillclimb beetle..................but I have to say I've been impressed with the Koni's on the ragtop.

KYB's are ok (just)but are like Pogo sticks IMO.

Hi

I had Bilsteins on my rally car and Konis on my yellow bug, I think that those two compaines really ecell with R&D etc.

Steve

The Koni's that seem to be cropping up as recommended... people are meaning the red Special-D ones, yes ???

Hi

On my yellow bug I ran Koni yellow sports all round. The fronts were from a early RX7.

Steve

Thanks for your input.

Keep it coming!

Any input from the current hillclimb class leaders in NSW??

well I set all records for over 10 years on Bilsteins !!!

I run Koni yellow shockies on the rear of my Beetle.
Have done for years, soft for the street and can be firmed right up for track work if wanted.

Cheers Col

Ta Col.

We all know it was only your superior driving skills Craig!!

Have checked Koni's site, and they don't list the yellow's there for BJ beetles.... does anyone happen to know the part numbers for them ???

Hey Dave,

Koni only make the off-car adjustable shock now for the BJ IRS beetle. It is the special (not sport that used to be available and on-car adjustable according to my info).
I have a set of AVO shocks coming out for mine. Under $900 for all four and on car adjustable 22 settings.
The Shock absorber reconditioners in Slack Creek is the spot to get these. The falling Aussie dollar could play havoc with parts prices.
cheers
Marcus

OK, thanks Marcus.

Don't suppose you know the part numbers for the AVO's so I can sound at least halfway edumacated when I ring them ???

Just ask for Mohamed (he will probably answer the phone anyhow) and tell him you want the same shocks that Marcus has coming in. The rears are for swing axle but according to my sources it will only be the bottom bushing is a little wider.
If you are uncertain you could wait until I have mine?
cheers
Marcus

Shock Absorber Recondtioners
Tel: +61 7 3808 2455
Fax: +61 7 3209 1083
E-mail: sales@shockreco.com.au
http://www.shockreco.com.au/index.htm 

Actually yeah - if you can keep us posted Marcus, that'd be great.

try deamon-tweeks.co.uk i think for the AVO shocks pretty cheap and very reliable.

reading in an article sometime last year there was a shockie write up, and the kyb's, koni's and bilstiens were just as good across the board as each other which was good to read.
i have kyb's, dont have to do much with them.