Koni shocks

Originally Posted by victorofhavoc

Dampeners (or shocks) don't control ride height unless they are the wrong application. The konis won't change your height, but they absolutely will change your balance if you have them in just the front.

I would not recommend changing just the front

EDIT:
Just to add, quality dampening force is arguably more important than the spring itself because it controls the spring's natural frequency. Spend the money on the Konis if you want a more comfortable and stable ride, but be warned that they will involve some "tuning" to get adjusted for your needs and habits.

Also, I haven't looked in a while, but i believe there's a simpler solution to your dilemma. Maybe someone else here will know, but there are plates on most coilovers that prevent the winding that causes the noise. I forget what they're called though...