(4) Koni SA's are on!!
Thread Starter
TECH Regular
iTrader: (25)
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 460
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From: Douglasville,Ga
(4) Koni SA's are on!! First i need to tip my hat to Mr. Sam Strano. He has spent more than 4 hours on the phone with me, to educate me on the pro's and con's of the koni's for my "specific" car and my driving conditions. Even after i started to second guess myself, he showed me the reasons why i didn't need buy other parts at this time. He even found the missing washers and rubber bushings that "weren't" included with the rear shocks! 
They got err,ahh *cough* misplaced*cough* Thanks Sam! 
The rear installed after about an hour, with no problems.
The fronts installed in about six hours, with me taking a lunch break and me taking the stock decarbons/springs up to Midas, where i had them swapped out with the koni's for $40. I know, i could have rented a spring compressor, but as it turned out, they had to cut the stock shock off because the nut had rusted so bad. Ehh, it was worth it to me.
After i had it back together, it was too late to get the front end alignment so i'll have to wait till monday. But i drove it today and it's a noticable improvement over the stock decarbons. According to the butt-o-meter, the ride is better over small surface imperfections, like they are no longer there. Where as the medium to large "potholes" are now felt, they are so only mildly. I don't feel disconnected to the road surface like i do in my parents Lincoln, nore do i feel like i'm in a vehicle designed by the spanish inquisition. It's a nice middle ground.
Now for the cost.
$800.00 for (4) koni SA's.(+$40.00 i spent at Midas)
Since i've never owned the bilsteins, i can't say if one is better than the other. Are they worth eating peanut butter and jelly sandwichies for a month? Ask me in three weeks. I will say, spend "some" money and get those decarbons off ASAP! 
They got err,ahh *cough* misplaced*cough* Thanks Sam! The rear installed after about an hour, with no problems.
The fronts installed in about six hours, with me taking a lunch break and me taking the stock decarbons/springs up to Midas, where i had them swapped out with the koni's for $40. I know, i could have rented a spring compressor, but as it turned out, they had to cut the stock shock off because the nut had rusted so bad. Ehh, it was worth it to me.
After i had it back together, it was too late to get the front end alignment so i'll have to wait till monday. But i drove it today and it's a noticable improvement over the stock decarbons. According to the butt-o-meter, the ride is better over small surface imperfections, like they are no longer there. Where as the medium to large "potholes" are now felt, they are so only mildly. I don't feel disconnected to the road surface like i do in my parents Lincoln, nore do i feel like i'm in a vehicle designed by the spanish inquisition. It's a nice middle ground.
Now for the cost.
$800.00 for (4) koni SA's.(+$40.00 i spent at Midas)
Since i've never owned the bilsteins, i can't say if one is better than the other. Are they worth eating peanut butter and jelly sandwichies for a month? Ask me in three weeks.
I will say, spend "some" money and get those decarbons off ASAP! 
Thread Starter
TECH Regular
iTrader: (25)
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 460
Likes: 0
From: Douglasville,Ga
Thanks guys!
I do have one problem now.
This afternoon, i (finally) installed my line lock brake line i had stripped a few weeks ago ( i posted it was leaking ). I got it on, bleed my brakes, and tried it out.
It works great. Big puffy white clouds.
So i look at the lines to make sure nothing is leaking, and sure enough, where i had loosened the master cylinder from the brake booster so i could swap the shocks, is leaking. I tighened them down, pushed the brake, and it still leaks. Is there a gasket on the M/C that i might have pinched?
I do have one problem now.
This afternoon, i (finally) installed my line lock brake line i had stripped a few weeks ago ( i posted it was leaking ). I got it on, bleed my brakes, and tried it out.
It works great. Big puffy white clouds.
So i look at the lines to make sure nothing is leaking, and sure enough, where i had loosened the master cylinder from the brake booster so i could swap the shocks, is leaking. I tighened them down, pushed the brake, and it still leaks. Is there a gasket on the M/C that i might have pinched?
Glad you got everything installed alright.. And no problem on the "misplaced" bushings.... You aren't the first person to have all the parts but think you didn't. 
Mess around with the adjustments for a while, learn what they do and how they change the car and let us know how it's going. And if you want to get an idea of what HD would have been like (not the same, but an idea). Turn all the shocks down, rears to full soft, fronts damn close to it. That'll roughly replicate HD's for you. Bet you don't like it as much.
Can't help you on the brake fluid leak........
Mess around with the adjustments for a while, learn what they do and how they change the car and let us know how it's going. And if you want to get an idea of what HD would have been like (not the same, but an idea). Turn all the shocks down, rears to full soft, fronts damn close to it. That'll roughly replicate HD's for you. Bet you don't like it as much.
Can't help you on the brake fluid leak........
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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
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
