Shocks

[s3racing]

What's the best bet for shocks, for the front I have a pair of KYB gas-a-just. Which I might swap out as well.

- 1975 IRS standard Beetle. With Full roll cage etc. Will be a daily driver, and used on the odd hillclimb event.

- front end will be lowered 2.5" with drop spindles and adjusters added to my beam. I'm considering going to koni Reds

- rear is the bigger problem as I would need a shorter shock I think. It will be lowered 2 - 2.5"
2" with my cool new drop plates and to bring it to a level I might index it another .5" or just might leave it with the slight rake. Was considering koni Reds there to but they only have factory length available. Or would that have little to no effect with the Hight that I'm going with. Any experience here?

Anyone have any other good suggestions / experience eg. Qa1 or fox racing part Nr.s that would work for me??thanks for any help.

Bilastines might be great shocks but the color scheme on them really would look gross with my dark red undercarriage and dark green painted body.

[s3racing]

While I'm at asking questions about suspension. Does it make sense to add in adjusters in front beam when your using drop spindles? Not really Planing on going lower than the 2.5" from the drop spindles

[Bruce]

Take the KYB gas-a-just shocks and throw them away.  They might be ok for a heavy off road car, but on the street they are EVIL!

If you're only using dropped spindles, Koni reds should work fine.  80-1787 is the number for BJ Beetles.
If you're going to lower the car by adjusting the beam down, the normal Beetle Koni red is a bit too long and you have to cut the bump stop down in length.

For the rear, because there is a lot of weight back there, it doesn't matter what shock you use, ride will be good.  Bilsteins are ajdustable so they might work for you. 
I have used stock 944 Koni yellows on the rear of my Beetle.  Stiffer than a Red, the ride is still good.

[Randy]

Bilastines might be great shocks but the color scheme on them really would look gross with my dark red undercarriage and dark green painted body.

Rattle can solves that.

[s3racing]

tikitime , where is the like button for your comment :-) lol

[bwaz]

Randy's got a million of em! comments that is

[s3racing]

Bruce,

Your rear shocks you wrote they are for a 944 (Koni yellow's) do you know the part Nr. From them?
Is you car lowered at all in the rear? I'm lowering the rear of my IRS beetle approx. 2" maybe 2.5" at the most. Any idea if they would work on my car as well. I understand the rear suspension is really interchangeable from the 944 to the beetle and ghia. Are the 944 shocks shorter ev. Than the stock VW's that they might be the idea combo for a lowered beetle. Is that how you got to the 944 shocks. Thanks Bruce for your help!

Cheers René

[Bruce]

Don't know the part number of the Koni Yellows for 944.  Found them in the wreckers.  It is an option on 944s (not common).  There is one difference in fitting them.  The top bushing is longer than a Beetle shock.  I just took out all the stock washers and it worked ok.  Bottom might be different too, I don't remember.  I'll have a look.
Don't worry about lengths.  All shocks will work.  The TA will hit the shock tower long before you bottom the shock.

[s3racing]

I ordered up a complete set of Koni Red's for my Car. So if anyone needs a pair on KYB's for the rear I should still have the set up for grabs.