Suspension Springs, Shocks, Brakes

Koni shocks and struts. Info and how to adjust

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Old 11-05-2012, 05:32 PM
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Originally Posted by 09sscalicobalt
yea with the yyz and hardcore bar and konis all the way around you still recomend 1/2 turn off full soft or wutcha running now?
I'm at about 1 full turn in the back. I play with the front, usually settle around 1/2 for daily driving.
Old 12-21-2012, 03:11 PM
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I have the same problem as an earlier post. After putting in Koni's and Pedders all around, my car is way loud going over bumps, etc. The rear is squeaky sounding. I didn't even notice that until I was on a road trip and a friend was driving while I was in the back. Not sure what is going on. I plan on taking things out soon to see if I can't figure out the problem. I did the install myself so I hope I didn't mess something up.
Old 12-21-2012, 03:41 PM
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Should be silent. Not sure how people are getting any noise with this setup, unless things aren't properly tightened. That means not over-tightened too.
Old 01-04-2013, 09:32 PM
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Maybe I'll have to take everything off and give it a look. Things just seem really rough and really loud.

A quick question about endlinks, though. I'm in a 2.4L auto and the stock endlinks are the longer type. Should I have installed shorter endlinks after the pedders/koni install?
Old 01-04-2013, 09:44 PM
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No.
Old 01-06-2013, 07:49 AM
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Actually with pedders you need the shorter links. Test by disconnecting one and driving. If the noise is gone,you know what the deal is. The other thing is that you need to make sure the bottom Allen bolt is tight. It will loosen if you don't tighten it down pretty hard. If that happens you will get big clunks going over bumps.
Old 01-06-2013, 06:10 PM
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With yyz v2 about a full turn in the back and about 1/2 in the front for daily....what bout track duty in the front...more than a 1/2?
Old 01-06-2013, 06:24 PM
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Great info in here cant wait to upgrade one day... Right now just on springs my car is not happy on any road
Old 01-07-2013, 03:40 PM
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Originally Posted by alerosaint
With yyz v2 about a full turn in the back and about 1/2 in the front for daily....what bout track duty in the front...more than a 1/2?
I generally just leave it. Soft in front, stiffer in back is a good combination to create rotation. If you stiffen the front too much, you might lose traction, causing it to understeer.
Old 01-07-2013, 04:18 PM
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So I took one sway bar link off as suggested and drove around.. WAY better! So bought the new endlinks while I was out. Just finished installing them. Thanks for the info. I thought I was just gonna be stuck with the noise. The ride is much, much smoother as well. Thanks again!
Old 01-07-2013, 04:36 PM
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Make sure you get the shorter ones for the SS.
Old 01-31-2013, 12:24 AM
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Finally set my rears to 50%, they've been at 25% since I've owned them. I'm on yyzs and I definitely felt some skipping out back with the fronts on full soft. Need to try again when its above 40 degrees out, I just kinda understeered all day today
Old 01-31-2013, 04:34 PM
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You shouldn't experience skipping unless you've dialed up the shocks too high, not too low.
Old 01-31-2013, 05:52 PM
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I meticulously matched them at 50% each. Today's much warmer and the tires are happier. I feel of course a bit more highway stability now, haven't gotten a chance to re thrash them yet. So today so far so good
Old 02-12-2013, 11:50 AM
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Does anyone use these with Sportlines? I am looking to upgrade my shocks and I am hearing great things from these koni's.
Old 02-12-2013, 12:01 PM
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If you're willing to go all konis then you should change your sportlines too. That's just a lowering spring that's almost totally dead coils in the back. Not a performance option
Old 02-12-2013, 12:33 PM
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I ran Konis with sportlines on my LT, they're better than running Sportlines with stock shocks for sure. For sure recommend getting better springs at some point though. Need to send my rear Konis in for R&R, adjusters broke at some point. Then I need to purchase a pair of front Konis. Soon to be equipped with Pedders and a PRP Hardcore bar.
Old 02-12-2013, 12:49 PM
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Well I love the way my car sits with the sportline's, so I would want to keep that look. I just want a better ride, without losing the stiffness.
Old 02-12-2013, 03:54 PM
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You won't loose the look, the ride will be better though since you won't be bouncing off your bumpstops.
Old 02-15-2013, 10:43 PM
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What is a good spring to go with if I wanted to go that way.
Old 02-15-2013, 10:47 PM
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YYZ. is all
Old 02-15-2013, 10:49 PM
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Is CED the place to get the YYZ springs from?
Old 03-06-2013, 08:37 PM
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Originally Posted by Wangspeed
Maybe someone will make this a sticky. I get a question about this every few weeks. Thought I would share in a dedicated thread.

First, are they any good? Yes! They are better than FE5, especially the rears. If you lower your car or you put on an added rear sway bar, you need to add Koni yellows. It will make a tremendous difference. The stock FE5 are fine if you stay with stock springs and no added sway bar, but once you start changing those, you quickly run out of enough rebound damping.

Why do you care about increased low speed rebound damping? Because it helps control the "slow" body motions involved when doing things like turning, or keeping the car from having that slow undulating feeling from side to side.

Should you get the front strut inserts? They are an upgrade, but not a must, like the rears. I would strongly urge that you replace all 4 at the same time, but I understand some people run on tight budgets. If you want the best, soon John Powell will be coming out with some revalved front Koni inserts. Yes, the install is tougher, but it's worth it. My advice for the install would be to get a cheap pipe cutter, and drill the end of the strut, drain all oil, then cut the strut with the pipe cutter, AT THE APPROPRIATE LENGTH!

So, how and where do you set the damper settings? The fronts are quite easy. Just use the included knob, and turn them. The knob tells you which way is soft and which way is harder. I recommend about 1/3 turn away from full soft for typical street springs. Do not be tempted to run them full stiff. If you do, the car will feel awful as it jacks down to the bump stops, because the springs aren't strong enough.

The rears are a little harder. They must be adjusted off the car. Compress them against a piece of wood, all the way down. The wider part of the shock should be on top. Making sure that they stay compressed, turn it all the way counter clockwise. It should stop. This is full soft. Turn it 1/4 turn clockwise, and that is a good street setting with typical street springs. Anything about 1/2 turn from full soft will result in jack down, and an awful ride.

Here is Koni's official document on adjusting the rears, which are 8040:

Koni North America - ITT - Adjustment

I personally do not change my shock settings when I go to the track. You could add a little more rear rebound if you like, but I find that somewhere between 1/4 to 1/2 off full soft is good for both street and track.
Wang, are you running the same settings on the YYZ springs, or a little stiffer?

nvm, my lazy ass read the whole thread!

Last edited by r1owner; 03-06-2013 at 08:46 PM.
Old 03-06-2013, 08:58 PM
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Do you feel the adjuster "clicking" or is it simply a rotation amount on the rear shocks?
Old 03-06-2013, 11:05 PM
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I run slightly stiffer with the YYZ. I posted somewhere. Don't recall off the top of my head.

As far as the adjustment, no it's a smooth. You'll feel the foot catch, and that's when you start tracking the location. No clicking though.


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