Rear Stock shocks leaking. Looking at Koni Yellow or Mazdaspeed.I track my car 2-3 times a year. Looking to improve slight performance while keeping comfortable ride daily.

Which do you prefer and recommend? Should I replace my springs at the same time or wait till the stock springs go bad?

 

Bilstein HD's. Decent springs would help, the Progress Tech springs are nice. or just get the Bilstein B14 coilover kit.

 

I went with the Bilstein HDs on my 2009, combined with Swift Sport springs. Unfortunately, I'm still waiting for the car to come out of storage and get them installed (at the same location). Supposedly, that's going to happen this week sometime. I'm going nuts waiting to get my RX-8 back. This was the first winter that I paid to put the car in storage. Normally I would have already driven it several times by this time in the year.

 

I'm going to try the Mazdaspeed Shocks. They are almost the same cost as the Bilstein. My buddy said the HD's are almost like stock shocks from KYB.

Any thoughts on going with Mazdaspeed springs vs. stock? I hope the ride is not too rough.

 

The Mazdaspeed shocks are just rebranded Tokico's IIRC. I had them with tein S techs and they were okay but I also had KYB gas adjusts with S techs as well and preferred them much more than the Mazdaspeed shocks.

I can't compare the HD's to the R shocks but I have driven a few R3's and S1 with HD's, and a 40th AE with factory Bilsteins and they all drove great in the canyons IMO.

 

The Mazdaspeed shocks are inferior to the Bilsteins, IMHO. They are rebranded Tokiko twin tubes, whereas the Bilsteins are monotubes with better valving. Get the Bilstein HDs or the B14 coilovers as previously suggested. They are better and will last longer. You can get the coilovers for $1000 shipped if you shop around.

 

Thanks guys, I'll take another look.