My Konis have worn me out
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My Konis have worn me out
I have driven on my Koni SAs for 1 year now and I have finally decided they are too stiff. They seem like they would be perfect on a car with somewhat stiff springs but mine are stock. Although the DeCarbons handled poorly they actually were more comfortable. My work location changed and I have a really beat up road as part of my commute now and the car is just too rough with the Konis on it. I really wish the compression damping was lower.
Koni plusses
Not sure what to do.
Koni plusses
- Handling is great.
- Firm feel and good control
- Tiring on bad roads
- Rough ride
Not sure what to do.
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Originally Posted by BJM
I have driven on my Koni SAs for 1 year now and I have finally decided they are too stiff. I would switch to the Bilstein HDs but I have read that the rear shock settings are pretty bad. Not sure what to do.
#4
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No way in hell are decarbons more comfortable.. I remember those rattling my teeth over bumps on the freeway. When I went to konis I couldn't believe how much nicer the ride was, and I was expecting the opposite. It sounds like your Konis are set too stiff, I had mine 2 turns from full soft and it was a real nice ride, if you want an even softer ride set it to 0 soft. GL.
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From everything I have read, the stock shocks are the most "jarring" of them all on rough roads, next up are the Bilsteins and the best ride comes from Konis. Maybe they need some tweaking?
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Originally Posted by 02SS#406
I can't imagine finding a better shock for the rear, than the Koni's. Are they on "full soft"? Be sure they are adjusted properly.
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Originally Posted by Alex L.
No way in hell are decarbons more comfortable.. I remember those rattling my teeth over bumps on the freeway. When I went to konis I couldn't believe how much nicer the ride was, and I was expecting the opposite. It sounds like your Konis are set too stiff, I had mine 2 turns from full soft and it was a real nice ride, if you want an even softer ride set it to 0 soft. GL.
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#8
koni's will dampen the stock spring rates very well, with far greater comfort than the DeCarbon's. Let's get more information.... How many sweeps from full soft? What's the front tire pressure? Do you have a larger front bar (greater than 32mm)?
Scott.
Scott.
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Originally Posted by May Spin
koni's will dampen the stock spring rates very well, with far greater comfort than the DeCarbon's. Let's get more information.... How many sweeps from full soft? What's the front tire pressure? Do you have a larger front bar (greater than 32mm)?
Scott.
Scott.
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Originally Posted by BJM
You make a good point, I think the rears are okay. They are all on full soft right now. The harshness is more from the front.
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Originally Posted by May Spin
koni's will dampen the stock spring rates very well, with far greater comfort than the DeCarbon's. Let's get more information.... How many sweeps from full soft? What's the front tire pressure? Do you have a larger front bar (greater than 32mm)?
Scott.
Scott.
For those who love their Konis, are any of you on stock springs?
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Inflation recommendation is 30 psi cold. I only inflate my tires to 35 psi cold for autocrossing. Daily driving they stay at 30.
Driving around at 35 psi will certainly result in a jarring ride.
Driving around at 35 psi will certainly result in a jarring ride.
#13
BJM, my vert is on stock (ws6) springs, Sam's sway bars and Konis. I'm using the using the lower perch on the front and heater hose mod on the rear. The front Konis are set 5 sweeps from full soft and rears are 1/4 turn from full soft. Tires are Goodyear GSD3 at 32 psi. My alignment is also a bit different than stock specs.
I'm very pleased with the ride of my car. One lovely road that is on my way to work has the bumps at just the right location to set up a nice harmonic motion at 60 mph. These shocks completely removed that. I've also driven across the US twice since making this change, on all types of road surfaces. I have no complaints about a rough ride.
I don't know what all you've tried, but I'd suggest:
1. Call Sam Strano. See what he can suggest.
2. Try lowering the psi in your tires.
3. Have you tried a firmer setting on the front? It may not help, but since it only takes a few minutes to set, I'd probably try that.
4. Not sure how much your sub box weighs, but does removing it make any difference?
Hope this helps...
I'm very pleased with the ride of my car. One lovely road that is on my way to work has the bumps at just the right location to set up a nice harmonic motion at 60 mph. These shocks completely removed that. I've also driven across the US twice since making this change, on all types of road surfaces. I have no complaints about a rough ride.
I don't know what all you've tried, but I'd suggest:
1. Call Sam Strano. See what he can suggest.
2. Try lowering the psi in your tires.
3. Have you tried a firmer setting on the front? It may not help, but since it only takes a few minutes to set, I'd probably try that.
4. Not sure how much your sub box weighs, but does removing it make any difference?
Hope this helps...
#15
Where is everyone located?
Harsh ride means different things to different people in the first place, but road surface quality just exacerbates that.
I'm in PA, for example, and the roads are so bad and poorly maintained, that in some places, the re-paved areas are WORSE than what was there before. There are loads of manhole covers all over the place, many recessed 2 to 3 inches below the road surface. And where there isn't a manhole cover ever 2 feet, there are potholes, cracked pavement and cement, uneven joins that result in a 1 or 2 inch differential, and all manner of other oddball ruts and jutting protuberances.
Areas of road that are not even, but gradual enough for the tire to roll gently over (larger than the tire basically with a ramp up) are not uncommon either, but result in a totally different feel.
From what I've heard (and breifly seen) roads elsewhere in the country are several orders of magnitude better. Could this be why some people say the Koni ride is great and others say it's too harsh?
Harsh ride means different things to different people in the first place, but road surface quality just exacerbates that.
I'm in PA, for example, and the roads are so bad and poorly maintained, that in some places, the re-paved areas are WORSE than what was there before. There are loads of manhole covers all over the place, many recessed 2 to 3 inches below the road surface. And where there isn't a manhole cover ever 2 feet, there are potholes, cracked pavement and cement, uneven joins that result in a 1 or 2 inch differential, and all manner of other oddball ruts and jutting protuberances.
Areas of road that are not even, but gradual enough for the tire to roll gently over (larger than the tire basically with a ramp up) are not uncommon either, but result in a totally different feel.
From what I've heard (and breifly seen) roads elsewhere in the country are several orders of magnitude better. Could this be why some people say the Koni ride is great and others say it's too harsh?
#17
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This is a perfect example of how no two people are the same, and why I insist on talking to people instead of just relying on e-mail to sell parts.
Are they too firm for this gentleman? Sure, could be. On the other hand we know the tire pressures are high, and having been in a car identical to mine (right down to shock settings) but with higher pressures and seeing what the difference was in impact harshness I'd say that might have something to do with it. Also, someone asked, but I didn't see an answer what settings have been tried on the shocks?
If you are running more pressure for crispness, but have never tried more rebound (even a little), which would give you more crispness, I think you're missing the boat. In other words you could be using air pressure to make up for shock valving.
In the end, he might not find anything he really likes. That's not impossible, but if you can't really find something you like with the Koni's, you probably aren't going to like much else better.
Are they too firm for this gentleman? Sure, could be. On the other hand we know the tire pressures are high, and having been in a car identical to mine (right down to shock settings) but with higher pressures and seeing what the difference was in impact harshness I'd say that might have something to do with it. Also, someone asked, but I didn't see an answer what settings have been tried on the shocks?
If you are running more pressure for crispness, but have never tried more rebound (even a little), which would give you more crispness, I think you're missing the boat. In other words you could be using air pressure to make up for shock valving.
In the end, he might not find anything he really likes. That's not impossible, but if you can't really find something you like with the Koni's, you probably aren't going to like much else better.
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#18
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Originally Posted by BJM
I have all 4 shocks at full soft right now. I have Fuzion ZRis and they seem more comfortable than the stock tires. All tires are at 35 psi. My springs and swat bars are stock. All stock bushings except in the rear LCAs which are 1LE bushings.
For those who love their Konis, are any of you on stock springs?
For those who love their Konis, are any of you on stock springs?
Originally Posted by kyle_l
4. Not sure how much your sub box weighs, but does removing it make any difference?
Originally Posted by HPP
Where is everyone located?
#19
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Originally Posted by Sam Strano
This is a perfect example of how no two people are the same, and why I insist on talking to people instead of just relying on e-mail to sell parts.
Are they too firm for this gentleman? Sure, could be. On the other hand we know the tire pressures are high, and having been in a car identical to mine (right down to shock settings) but with higher pressures and seeing what the difference was in impact harshness I'd say that might have something to do with it. Also, someone asked, but I didn't see an answer what settings have been tried on the shocks?
If you are running more pressure for crispness, but have never tried more rebound (even a little), which would give you more crispness, I think you're missing the boat. In other words you could be using air pressure to make up for shock valving.
In the end, he might not find anything he really likes. That's not impossible, but if you can't really find something you like with the Koni's, you probably aren't going to like much else better.
Are they too firm for this gentleman? Sure, could be. On the other hand we know the tire pressures are high, and having been in a car identical to mine (right down to shock settings) but with higher pressures and seeing what the difference was in impact harshness I'd say that might have something to do with it. Also, someone asked, but I didn't see an answer what settings have been tried on the shocks?
If you are running more pressure for crispness, but have never tried more rebound (even a little), which would give you more crispness, I think you're missing the boat. In other words you could be using air pressure to make up for shock valving.
In the end, he might not find anything he really likes. That's not impossible, but if you can't really find something you like with the Koni's, you probably aren't going to like much else better.
My sub enclosure weighs no more than 40 lbs, probably 30 lbs. My ride quality issue is not bump stop related but I do intend to shorten them. I am aware when I hit them. I tried to buy the non-SS style but the nearby dealer showed the SS style only in their system and in their online picture so I never got back to it. Does anyone have a part number?
Also overall, the more I pay attention while driving, the more I think my issue is the front of the car.
#20
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Try the pressures. I'd recommend 32 front, 30 rear.
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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