Suspension & Brakes Springs | Shocks | Handling | Rotors

Valving to spring rate in Koni's

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 23, 2009 | 07:10 AM
  #1  
Racin'Z28's Avatar
Thread Starter
Launching!
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 217
Likes: 0
From: Calumet Region (Chicagoland)
Default Valving to spring rate in Koni's

I have a question about the valving in my Koni DA's. This may be a question for Sam. I bought my springs from Sam this summer and installed them with some used DA Koni shocks I got from a CMC racer. I also have a 1le front sway bar and a 21mm rear bar. I put an adjustable PH on it to center the rear after i lowered it with Sams' springs. The used Koni's are valved to 800lb fronts (maybe 1000,i can't recall for sure) and 250lb rear springs. Sams' springs are 550/150. I realize i will need to revalve them over this winter to match the spring rate of Sam's rates. One, does Sam do re-valving of Koni's or does he send them out to Koni? Two, Since they are valved for a much higher spring rate, are they over damping like crazy right now? Does that spring rate make them super stiff right now compared to what they should be? I have them on full soft and it they seem to hit hard on bumps in the road but overall the car handles like it's on rails. Turn in is incredible especially on r-comps.
I'm looking to understand more about how they are valved now and what i need to do to get them valved to better match Sam's springs. I love the springs, they totally transformed the car. I bought the koni's used because it was too good of a deal to pass up even if i end up having them revalved.
I'm curious about if Sam revalves and any other thoughts on the type of valving i will need for sams springs. I know that Koni rebuilds them, but is this something you can do yourself or do i just need to send them to Sam if he does them since i have his springs already?

Thanks for any guidance.
Reply
Old Aug 24, 2009 | 04:08 AM
  #2  
Racin'Z28's Avatar
Thread Starter
Launching!
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 217
Likes: 0
From: Calumet Region (Chicagoland)
Default

Any insight to my questions? Anybody?
Reply
Old Aug 24, 2009 | 10:22 AM
  #3  
Sam Strano's Avatar
LS1TECH Sponsor
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (41)
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 9,614
Likes: 152
From: Brookville, PA
Default

I don't revalve the shocks. In fact my shocks are off the shelf valving in my car. The fact your shocks have been valved, would mean they have been made stiffer. How much? Can't say, that's not a set in stone number. And for that matter who even knows how stiff you are running them. For instance, maybe the range got moved up say 25% over stock. What was the full soft is now +25% stiffer so on an so forth. If that's the case then the "setting" I use if you matched it position wise--is not really the same, but the same 25% different. Again, I can't know how much the damping was changed, or for that matter if the curve was......

Here's why I don't think that the shocks were too good a deal to pass up. By the time you valve them to known, added to the cost of what you paid--my bet is they won't have been any cheaper (unless you got them for literally next to nothing). But even them it's at minimum about 6 weeks for Koni to do any work, often longer this time of year since they are so busy in their shop.
__________________
www.stranoparts.com --814-849-3450
Results matter. Talk is cheap. We are miles beyond the success anyone else has had with the 4th gens, and C5, C6, C7 Corvettes,
10 SCCA Solo National Championships, 2008 Driver of they Year, 2012 Driver of Eminence
13 SCCA Pro Solo Nationals Championships
2023 UMI King of the Mountain Champion
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:27 PM.

story-0
Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

Slideshow: We take a close look at the ONE and Artidiag 800BT2 diagnostic tools from Topdon and the reasons to buy one over the other.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 11:05:11


VIEW MORE
story-1
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

Slideshow: The controversial Ferrari F6 swaps its original flat-12 for a Corvette Z06-derived LT4 V8 and sends power to four rear wheels through a custom-built drivetrain.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-26 18:23:54


VIEW MORE
story-2
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

Slideshow:These GM engines didn't just make huge power, they survived abuse, boost, track days, and six-digit mileage with a reputation for refusing to quit.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-21 16:45:27


VIEW MORE
story-3
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-4
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-5
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-8
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-9
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE