Now have Konis and Stranos and I dont feel happy....
09-23-2010, 12:50 AM
#1
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Now have Konis and Stranos and I dont feel happy.... So I replaced the stock shocks and springs with Konis and Stranos.
Car had 100k miles. I had to buy new upper shocks mounts from monroe.
The rear went very easy and fast. Fronts were a different story. Followed Strano's instructions.
After I finished, I went for a drive. I had the fronts on 4 sweeps from full soft. Rears were half a turn from full soft.
The car still felt jittery when I would go over holes in the road. Feels like the whole front end shakes.
I then started playing with the settings but I was never able to make the car feel like a solid and stable car. I expected much more from the Konis.
Another thing that still goes on is that when I go on lets say dips or on road parts where they are not at the same level, my car bounces alot after I go over them.
My rear also sounds like I dont have shocks and like its hitting metal to metal when I go over bumps and road imperfections.
I dont know if I did something wrong during the install but im kinda disapointed.
Just my experience....
Car had 100k miles. I had to buy new upper shocks mounts from monroe.
The rear went very easy and fast. Fronts were a different story. Followed Strano's instructions.
After I finished, I went for a drive. I had the fronts on 4 sweeps from full soft. Rears were half a turn from full soft.
The car still felt jittery when I would go over holes in the road. Feels like the whole front end shakes.
I then started playing with the settings but I was never able to make the car feel like a solid and stable car. I expected much more from the Konis.
Another thing that still goes on is that when I go on lets say dips or on road parts where they are not at the same level, my car bounces alot after I go over them.
My rear also sounds like I dont have shocks and like its hitting metal to metal when I go over bumps and road imperfections.
I dont know if I did something wrong during the install but im kinda disapointed.
Just my experience....
09-23-2010, 01:08 AM
#2
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Rear...make sure your upper shock bolt is tightened all the way down and I'm sure you have the rubber bushings there with the cups on top and bottom. I had the same issue with mine thinking I was going to overtighten them initially...after going crazy I went back there and tightened them all the way tight...problem solved.
Front...I could guess but Sam's the man when it comes to these so I'm not going to even step on his toes and let him chime in.
Front...I could guess but Sam's the man when it comes to these so I'm not going to even step on his toes and let him chime in.
09-23-2010, 06:01 AM
#3
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If you have a bunch of old worn out components in your front end, throwing shocks/springs at it isn't a miracle cure all. Did you replace anything else on the front end or just the shocks/springs?
09-23-2010, 08:46 AM
#5
Another thing to keep in mind, is that these shocks seem to appreciate a little break in period. My ride was quite a bit more forgiving about 200-300 miles after I installed them.
Like 01 ss vert said, the front end "shaking" over bumps kinda sounds like tie rod ends.
Like 01 ss vert said, the front end "shaking" over bumps kinda sounds like tie rod ends.
09-23-2010, 10:42 AM
#6
So I replaced the stock shocks and springs with Konis and Stranos.
Car had 100k miles. I had to buy new upper shocks mounts from monroe.
The rear went very easy and fast. Fronts were a different story. Followed Strano's instructions.
After I finished, I went for a drive. I had the fronts on 4 sweeps from full soft. Rears were half a turn from full soft.
The car still felt jittery when I would go over holes in the road. Feels like the whole front end shakes.
I then started playing with the settings but I was never able to make the car feel like a solid and stable car. I expected much more from the Konis.
Another thing that still goes on is that when I go on lets say dips or on road parts where they are not at the same level, my car bounces alot after I go over them.
My rear also sounds like I dont have shocks and like its hitting metal to metal when I go over bumps and road imperfections.
I dont know if I did something wrong during the install but im kinda disapointed.
Just my experience....
Car had 100k miles. I had to buy new upper shocks mounts from monroe.
The rear went very easy and fast. Fronts were a different story. Followed Strano's instructions.
After I finished, I went for a drive. I had the fronts on 4 sweeps from full soft. Rears were half a turn from full soft.
The car still felt jittery when I would go over holes in the road. Feels like the whole front end shakes.
I then started playing with the settings but I was never able to make the car feel like a solid and stable car. I expected much more from the Konis.
Another thing that still goes on is that when I go on lets say dips or on road parts where they are not at the same level, my car bounces alot after I go over them.
My rear also sounds like I dont have shocks and like its hitting metal to metal when I go over bumps and road imperfections.
I dont know if I did something wrong during the install but im kinda disapointed.
Just my experience....
The car should be much better over bumps than it was before. Make not mistake you have lowering springs and they ride firmly because they are both shorter and stiffer than stock, but the impact harshness should have been hugely improved. FWIW this is why I sometimes cringe a little when folks say "it rides better than stock". I agree with that to a large degree because impact harshness is much improved. But the springs firm things up. The BEST ride comes from good shocks like Koni's and stock springs to allow the softest wheel rate and greatest working travel.
You don't mention how you changed the shocks (and fwiw, you haven't called me that I can tell--maybe you left a voicemail I haven't gotten to yet?).
I can't help you much unless we speak and talk about what's up and what you did and what you expect. In the end, it's still a solid axle car. But your feelings are certainly not normal. So either you expect way, WAY too much or something is just amiss somewhere.
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Check out our KONI prices, our Master Cylinder Brace, and new Xtracker Hub/wheel bearing upgrade kits!
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09-23-2010, 04:01 PM
#9
Ahhhh, unless you have 4/3's there are no clicks (and that's only in the rears). Part of the issue is folks use different terms and that leads to confusion. Welcome to the internet where people are rarely on the same page. 
FWIW, one "click" up on the rears on a 4/3 from full soft is 20% stiffer which is tangible. About the same as 1/2 turn up up from soft on a 4/4 rear.
Also FWIW, leadfoot4's settings are a PERFECT example of why adjustable shocks are not not some pie-in-the-sky useless option as some would like you to believe. He found settings he like better, and runs them. With non-adjustables you don't have that option--period.
FWIW, one "click" up on the rears on a 4/3 from full soft is 20% stiffer which is tangible. About the same as 1/2 turn up up from soft on a 4/4 rear.
Also FWIW, leadfoot4's settings are a PERFECT example of why adjustable shocks are not not some pie-in-the-sky useless option as some would like you to believe. He found settings he like better, and runs them. With non-adjustables you don't have that option--period.
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www.stranoparts.com --814-849-3450
18 SCCA National Championships in house, many more for our customers prove we know our stuff.Talk is cheap, results matter.
Check out our KONI prices, our Master Cylinder Brace, and new Xtracker Hub/wheel bearing upgrade kits!
www.stranoparts.com --814-849-3450
18 SCCA National Championships in house, many more for our customers prove we know our stuff.Talk is cheap, results matter.
Check out our KONI prices, our Master Cylinder Brace, and new Xtracker Hub/wheel bearing upgrade kits!
09-23-2010, 09:51 PM
#11
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I installed some Koni SA 3rd gen rears (aka 4/3) but just the rears.. I was getting a lot of clunking in the rear. It killed me, I could push down on the hatch and hear a clunk.. Looked up under my car and noticed both springs were rubbing against frame or stock panhard, I can't rememeber what exactly it was.. It looks like the spring was binding up, making it curl towards the rear. I rotated the spring to where the final lower coil was resting on the rear of the perch. Think of the geometry of it, it makes more sense to have the final coil on the rear.. I no longer have any clunking whatsoever. And, I'm sitting on Hotchkis springs (which I love)
Just something to try, I guess. My story of my clunking.. I also installed an adjustable panhard, and adjustable torque arm shortly after, but adjusting the spring gave me my fix.
Just something to try, I guess. My story of my clunking.. I also installed an adjustable panhard, and adjustable torque arm shortly after, but adjusting the spring gave me my fix.
09-24-2010, 12:25 AM
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Yup, definitely get an alignment at a reputable shop. They should also tell you if anything else is worn and needing replacement after going for a drive and inspection. If you ever go autocrossing (or any performance driving), this is where you will notice the konis/strano bars are big improvements. I autocrossed a year on a stock Z28, so I was able to see the light.
10-21-2010, 01:49 AM
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Rear...make sure your upper shock bolt is tightened all the way down and I'm sure you have the rubber bushings there with the cups on top and bottom. I had the same issue with mine thinking I was going to overtighten them initially...after going crazy I went back there and tightened them all the way tight...problem solved.
Front...I could guess but Sam's the man when it comes to these so I'm not going to even step on his toes and let him chime in.
Front...I could guess but Sam's the man when it comes to these so I'm not going to even step on his toes and let him chime in.
10-21-2010, 02:04 AM
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Did you get it aligned? If that's off, the car won't feel very stable as the toe out will be messed up.
The car should be much better over bumps than it was before. Make not mistake you have lowering springs and they ride firmly because they are both shorter and stiffer than stock, but the impact harshness should have been hugely improved. FWIW this is why I sometimes cringe a little when folks say "it rides better than stock". I agree with that to a large degree because impact harshness is much improved. But the springs firm things up. The BEST ride comes from good shocks like Koni's and stock springs to allow the softest wheel rate and greatest working travel.
You don't mention how you changed the shocks (and fwiw, you haven't called me that I can tell--maybe you left a voicemail I haven't gotten to yet?).
I can't help you much unless we speak and talk about what's up and what you did and what you expect. In the end, it's still a solid axle car. But your feelings are certainly not normal. So either you expect way, WAY too much or something is just amiss somewhere.
The car should be much better over bumps than it was before. Make not mistake you have lowering springs and they ride firmly because they are both shorter and stiffer than stock, but the impact harshness should have been hugely improved. FWIW this is why I sometimes cringe a little when folks say "it rides better than stock". I agree with that to a large degree because impact harshness is much improved. But the springs firm things up. The BEST ride comes from good shocks like Koni's and stock springs to allow the softest wheel rate and greatest working travel.
You don't mention how you changed the shocks (and fwiw, you haven't called me that I can tell--maybe you left a voicemail I haven't gotten to yet?).
I can't help you much unless we speak and talk about what's up and what you did and what you expect. In the end, it's still a solid axle car. But your feelings are certainly not normal. So either you expect way, WAY too much or something is just amiss somewhere.
And yes I did call you before you left racing and got install instructions from you.
I will call you again one of these days to discuss my install if thats ok with you.
