edvancedengines

Ed,
It is called caring with attention to quality control. In my opinion over the past two years Koni is at the bottom as far as quality control goes. I have seen a couple of new very high dollar shock setups from them that were junk right out of the box. Or almnost out of the box. Matched paiers of electric shocks with completely different charastics as delivered. Guys don't know this and install them and their cars get really screwey until they find what the problem is. I know of only two guys I personally know though that experienced this. There agtain not too many peoiple are spending several thousand dollars on shocks either. In both of those the shocks were sent to Roger Lamb and he made them work perfect. I have also seen a few of the Koni that taking them form the box and adjusting the loose just by a hand feel do feel different. So I prefer either the Strange or the Afco in Double Adjustables if Santhuffs are out of the budget.

To answer the original question in my opinion;
If you can afford them and will use the additional tuning capabilities a good set of Double Adjustables is probably the best money you will spend in suspension parts. Like Esd said though, if you are just going to leave them set in one place and not use the tuning capabilities you have with them, save your money.

Double adjustable front shocks and front struts are also very helpful if you can afford them and will use the tuning they give. I have a customer now that has the Strange Aluminum Struts but with no adjustments. He could sure benefit from the adjustable ones if he had had them.

I personally like a raer shock to ride soft and the front shock to also ride soft if possible. Problem with front shocks is that you need them stiff to a point in cokmpression for when coming down off wheelies and you can also use a rebound or extension adjustment to help tame the front down when you have already tyed the front travel down as far as you can and still have some down track suspension.

WEith the rear double adjustable, once you get the bars in somewhat of a baseline, in most instances from track to track or changing track conditions, a rear shock adjustment just may be all you need to make it work.

I would say that your pretty smart chassis man is maybe a little too smart. There is no way possible to begin to compare the needs and the requirements of shocks for drag racing to those of FR1, Can Am or etc. To begin with most of those shocks are computer controlled and cost over $50,000.00 each. Greg Anderson and Jason Line's cars had them for a very short time this season until NHRA said a BIG NO.

The Penske Hydraulic Shock is infinetly Double Adjustable and doesa require a separate resorvoir. That shock is as far as I know still NHRA legal and is used on some of the Pro teams. The Koni Electric and the Strange Electric is legal is is used on many of the Pro Teams after they have been gone througgh by Lamb. Roger Lamb also builds his own shocks and they arew sweet and are pricey.

Bear in mind that all 4 shocks used in NHRA Pro racing to have sensors sending load and travel information to Data Logs so they can see what is talking place.

Your chassis expert is far smater than anyone I know in High Horsepopwer racing. The shocks we refer to now as off the shelf double adjustables a few years back were the best you could get for drag racing and were heavily used by everyone at the top. The very top guys took thaose same shocks from Koni, Strange and even Monroe(Made drag shocks at one time) and would send them to Roger Lamb with all car specs and Roger would calibrate them for the car's needs. Lamb Industries does have a shock absorber dyno to test the clibrations and dampening forces.

I vehemently disagree with anyone who thinks that using simple single adjustable shocks in high horsepowered cars is the best idea. You will not finbd any on anything that is quick and has excessive power. I do work with customers having 1,000 to 3,000 hp. I consider a good doubgle adjustable to be a requirement when cars get this powerful and with the chassis setups we have to do to keep them hooked and not unloading the tires.

With lower powered cars, single adjustable is ok.

Never equate suspension needs or even engines used for serious drag racing with FR1 stuff.

Bilstien Shocks arew unique in that they do not use a pressurised chamber that holds a pressure against the piston with a force toward extension like most gas chagred shocks do. The Bilstien is a gas cushion shock and has unique valving that comes into play when the dampening needs require it. In my opinion the Bilstien is the best for all around driving needs. Not for Drag Racing.

I shudder to even think about a 1,500 hp to 3,000 hp car going down the track with only a single adjutment capability which cay only be adjusted for eithe launch or ride but not both. I would bet that most Pro drivers would refuse to drive it.

Also tell your chassis expert to do some research into performace shocks. None will have only one chamber or cavity inside them. Just becuase it looks like a round tube don't be fooled. Inside is multiple cavities, chambers and valves.

Ed