I decided to leave my TC front FE5 struts as stock and simply replace the rears with Konis. Couple reasons for this...the fronts are pretty damn good as is and are a *pain* to replace with the Konis (cut struts..remove springs..align car).... added cost...I don't race the car and don't require adjustability.
The rears are easy to replace and adjust (if required) and they could offer some enhanced handling over the stock shocks with Pedders on. So I put em on.
Here's my experience setting them. I decided to set them around 30% stiff, which according to Koni, is at ONE TURN from full soft (there are 2.5 turns total). Seems logical.
Well it's too damn stiff! Yep. The comfort was OK, but I got knocking in the rear..prolly from the Pedder coils not unloading enough on rebound and hitting one another (there is some collapse of coils on compression).
SOOOOO....I reset em on full soft. WHAT A DIFFERENCE! No noise...still firm (no bounce) and handles very well. For anyone with Pedders thinking of adding Konis, they may want to consider my experience and leave them on the SOFT setting, which is FIRMER than the stockers on rebound. Wangspeed here will soon put up shock dynos which will be more specific on this topic.

 

One turn is too much for daily driving, but that knock you're hearing is the ark exhaust hitting the twisting beam, not the springs.

1/2 to 3/4 off full soft, like I told ya

 

It's not the exhaust. I have Agency cat back 2.5" (not 3') with TONS of clearance.

Here's the Agency compared to stock...same clearance over axel:



Stock

Agency:

It's a quasi JACK DOWN situation where the springs don't release enough to allow subsequent wheel travel over bumps, so the wheels slam back into the already partially compressed springs. My thought was that it was the partially collapsed coils collapsing again by being slammed together. Maybe its hitting something else here...but it's not the exhaust hitting the axel. I know you have the Hahn? Now THAT is very close to the axel.
Yes..you were correct... These Pedders (200lbs or so) will NOT like heavy duty rebound damping for sure.

 

nice. and i got the stock ones

 

Those will be a HUGE improvement on your car.

 

i sure hope so. i only dd it, but with our roads i need fe5 lol. they just fall apart after winter, road crew fixes it (somewhat, if you call throwing asphalt into a pot hole fixing it) then it falls apart again next winter.

 

Oops, yeah I meant the Agency. You can't judge the clearance by taking a pic while it's up in the air. I would at least run them 1/4 off full soft in the back. Full soft is too soft for the shorter springs and bigger bar.

 

Maybe...
Man the Konis are wonderful! I wound up turning close to 1/4 turn from full soft. No bounce at all over big bumps and the ride is smooth and controlled. Thing is, these springs (Pedders) are still relatively *soft*..maybe 200-220 Lbs? The Konis, even at full soft, can easily handle these. As far as shorter springs..only 3/4"-1" at most for the rear. I also have the *Street* bar not Hardcore.
As I recall, you have Hahn exhaust, so if you're right, you might want to dial back a little more (for the street) and see.

 

Yeah, they're much better than the stockers. There are a lot of folks that are missing out. Are they the end all and be all? No, of course not, but they're a reasonably priced step up from the stock FE5 shocks.

 

I'm very impressed with these....even if just on the rear. I would recommend that, at a minimum, all TC guys with aftermarket springs use these on the rear. I have you to thank for bringing them to my attention.

 

hows the overall ride quality compared to the fe5 shocks?

 

I have Pedders on so keep that in mind. The Pedders definitely give a firmer ride over stock. The stock rear shocks are pretty good, but these are silky smooth with less bounce and a bit more road isolation on rough roads. I have them just a tad off full soft. It's really amazing how stiff these get with just one turn off soft. I do not recommend going more than maybe 1/2 turn from full soft with the Pedders (or even stock springs). Well worth the $$. I paid $228 Shipped for the pair.

 

Ronn,

Where did you buy from to get that price?

Thanks!

 

ya ronn where? need to get some been too busy to research it

 

Price: $145.00 (each)
Estimated Availability: Fewer than 3
Manufacturer Part #: 8040-1364SPORT
Qty:
12345678
tire rack. 290 not shipped lol

 

Hey John,

Ran my first full autocross event today, after going to autox school last month. Because my SSC springs have given up, and I couldn't find replacements in time for today, I ran with footballs in the springs as airbags. Car had almost no roll and the rear became pretty loose, but still ok to control. Used it to my advantage to drift around a few gates actually.

Based on what I've read in some other threads, and todays experience, I'm pricing a pedders, koni yellow rear, PRP xxx bar setup....

Am I crazy to jump straight to this? Money is very tight so if I'm going to make a big purchase I want to just get the right stuff the first time and not have to buy another bar in the future.

 

i have pedders and hardcore bar and its awesome setup cabs are on the way and koni yellows later or kw coilovers

id go with the pedders and hardcore bar first and then the shocks/struts later to be honesst

 

I need springs right away because my SSC's are junk. I just bought a set of OEM replacement shocks that have been on the car for 2 days, and I can re-sell them to my buddy for what I paid, if I sell them to him soon. Plus from everything I read it seems like the koni's on a 1/4 turn off full soft is just what the pedders need, LOL.

 

You do know KW uses Koni yellows for their rear shocks, right?

 

Not crazy, crazy like a fox. I would do just that, if money is tight skip the konis at first. go cabs /pedders /bar/rear shocks.

congrats on the autox event its a lot of fun . Your SSC are just not stiff enough. In fact, once you get into it, u will qwikly run out of spring and want more, but it will make ur car ride like crap on the street. You need about 450 front 600 rear front rear spring rate ideally but that is , for you, a season or two away before youwant to get that extreme i think.

 

so what would u say the diff was from full soft to 1/4 off?

 

My first run of the day was 49.6 and we got 8 scored runs and then had time left for 3 "fun runs" that were timed but not scored.

My very last run of the day was my best clean time, 42.8, no penalty. During the scored runs, my best clean time was 43.1.

I'm running stock size Azenis 615's at 41lbs front and rear. It's one thing to do all this reading and research but there really is no substitute for seat time!