I've currently got 18" Pegasus Rims on 215/40 tires and I'm looking to replace the springs and struts. Anyone used IPD sport springs with 18"s before? How bad is the rub situation?

Also, whats the general consensus of Koni's vs. Bilstein struts? Which provides better performance for "harder" driving?

Many thank yous...

 

I doubt you will have any rub issues with 215s on an s70. the lowering springs shouldn't really make a difference as all that's doing is lowering the set point of the suspension's travel but the wheel will still move through the same arc. As to the choice of shock, that's an interesting question. Koni's and Bilstein both offer different models of shocks but generally speaking, the use two different approaches to damping. Bilstein offers the B6 and the B8 - which are monotube shocks which have a bigger piston to better transistion (= better ride quality since its more reactive when there are small changes) and use pressurized gas to eliminate oil cavitation in the shock. The B8s have a shorter piston rod and are designed for use with lowering springs where the B6 is designed for factory springs. As to the Koni's, their secret sauce is that they offer adjustable valving - which allows for the tuning of the shock by adjusting how much oil can flow between the tube chambers. They offer yellow and red - and typically match up well to lowering springs (often sold as a matched package with Eibachs - but that may be more of a marketing deal than matching of technology. Personally, I've only done B6s on my 850T wagon - I had stock springs but had the IPD HD sway bars which made for a huge improvement in cornering, partcularly in off camber curves.

 

Wow - thank you. Amazingly thorough response. I'm going to keep the stock springs for now and move to Bilsteins HDs I think. Again, much appreciated.

 

I think that's a good call. I'd strongly endorse the IPD sway bars as an install before doing the lowering spings. Just buy their HD end links as part of the kit as the HD bars will eat the OEMs.