Question from a customer: "So currently would you recommend the Stasis Track Sport or the PSS9's?"

[Tomasz@Startup]

Well frankly, neither.

TrackSports versus PSS9s.

TrackSports use a prooven but ancient shock technology. Koni Twin Tube shocks. Most OEMs use these, but high end cars and race cars pretty much standardized on mono tube. So when you get TrackSports you get pretty much the same technology as the $1,000 Konis but with linear springs, and spring hardware to fit our cars. I assume and hope that the shock is different, but I am not convinced as I have not seen these revalved for the high spring rates people want - 700/850 etc. Now STaSIS is pushing lower spring rates 500/600, which puts them squarely against suspensions costing hundreds less. But if you hack some holes in your car they are adjustable... OK.

Adjusters are overrated, that is how we can sell one shock with varying spring rates. Shocks should not be used in lieu of springs, springs work much better to add spring rate. Once set properly shocks should not be changed, not on street cars. I will bet that 50% of users of adjustable shocks have them set in a way that hurts not helps performance.

If you are buying a twin tube, relatively slow reacting, potentially overheating and cavitating shocks... make sure the kit is closer to $1,000 than $2,000.

OK, then. Maybe PSS9s. Well I will let the cat out of the bag on these. So far I only have results for one PSS9 I tested. The adjuster made no difference on settings 1-8, 9 was much stiffer on BOTH compression and rebound. (I may have this upside down, 1 was stiffer and 2-9 were the single softer setting) I bet that the stiffer setting will feel harsh and offer worse performance, but will see. But the adjuster is MUCH easier to reach than on the Konis... nice job. I just wish it worked little better.

But as you saw above PSS9s are a mono tube shock. Better technology - no doubt. (But is that technology needed for street?) Monotubes tend to be harsher that twin tube. Now with the spring rates in the 500 lbs range - they work well, but I am not sure why the premium over 1,000 coilovers. Adjusters? Well, I really see no point of these. Mono tube? Sure, but Eibach gives you monotubes for much less, and the benefits of monutube on the street IMHO do not outweight the problems. Monotube Bilsteins (H&R uses Bilstein) have a ton of pressure within the shock. Although they come with fancy seals, these brake and both the gas and oil leak out. IMHO monotube shock that is not maintained regularly will not last as long as the simple twin-tube. Yes it will cavitate (oil bubbles from heat and usage) less, and may offer quicker response to bumps keeping the tire on the ground.... but it needs to be maintained and will feel harsher. Pick your poison.

IMHO you are better off with a $1,000 coilovers that are non adjustable, prefereably twin-tube ones that work out of the box, and a rear sway bar. Stiffer rear spring is the right thing for track cars, little hard on the street.

If you want a step above that... Penskes or MotorSports are the only way to go. Sorry! Midle ground is so filled with compromises, that it is impossible for me to have a favorite.

I hope that this tirade, helps you decide what suspension to get. I also assume that lots of questions and arguments... let's talk.

[RKA]

with using Ohlins or Penske's on the street. Let's assume the myriad of environments cars generally see on the street, including winters.

What kind of maintenance or life cycle should one expect out of these multi-kilobuck suspension kits? Any idea?

[jprice@CPS]

I track maybe twice per summer, and will run HSport anti-sway bars (have just neuspeed 19mm rear sway right now). I want something that is comfy for the street, but decent on the track.

[SAC-CA-GTI]

being I am also coming from H&R Sport/Bilstein/ECS coilover sleeves. I track maybe 4-5 times a year and it's not that the susp. was bad...it was just not meant for the track. VERY floaty..and dangerous like turn 1 off the straight at Reno-Fernley. But I have driven 3 cars with Vogtlands and one of those had H-Sports(Hogothorpes) and I REALLY, REALLY liked the ride on my backroads and going around some sweeping corners near my house. I think you would be pleasantly surprised. I decided on the Penskes even tho I think they are going to be more maintenance than I wanted. But I couldn't decide on PSS9's, TS, MS, Adj-P, Non-Adj-P...so I went with the non-adj P and will do the maintenance. As far as I'm concerned if you are going to track the car 1-2 times a year the step up to Vogtland with H's will be OK. Me, I plan, and hope(if $$$ is on my side) to track a bit more in the future. Anyway..just .02..if I went for something like you want/need...I'd go Vogtlands with H's. Oh...your sig is hilarious...showed it to the woman and she like it too.

[néné]

[jprice@CPS]

[Z-Tuned (Alex)]

[Jason@STaSIS]

Tomasz makes some good points. I would like to clear up a few things about our kits in particular.

As far as the Tracksports go, they are VERY different from the standard Koni B5 valving. We run nearly double the damping force over the basic Koni kits with a different curve to boot. We also add the adjusters to adjust damping while still on the car - this serves two purposes.

1. one can adjust force to control diferent spring rates or suit different track situations. Best grip is generally had running as little force as you can get away with, unfortunately that feels loose to some drivers creating the need for more damping. Its also nice for rain/snow where too much damping can overwhelm the tire givin the low grip conditions.
2. you can adjust for wear. All dampers wear over time - the Koni adjusters can restore that like new feel to your worn dampers (even though we have a lifetime warranty on ours)

I also have issue with your term of "hack" referring to the adjustment holes. I wouldnt consider two 3/8" holes for our adjuster and a 1/8" slot in the rear shock housing hacked. Shoot, even your top of the line Penske's have holes drilled in the rear shock housings!

Also, in regards to "If you are buying a twin tube, relatively slow reacting, potentially overheating and cavitating shocks" is not really a valid statement. Any street car shock, even the cheapest POS available will never over heat on a public road or racetrack. ESPECIALLY the B5/B6/B7 Audis with the .7 to 1 motion ratios. Pretty much the only application that overheats/cavitates dampers is off road trucks and rally cars. Think about it - you have never seen a road or racing car with shock coolers have you??

That being said twin tube dampers have their limitations (as do monotubes) and I think we have both addressed that with our high end offerings.

[nord1899]

[djillusion]