New Koni SA and more, but rides like a tank. Why? Help!
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Hopefully Sam can chime in.
My car rides so stiff it's not enjoyable to drive, at all. It basically slaps potholes, cracks in the pavement, and hits everythig extremely hard. I am looking for help to resolve this. It might be the Koni SA's.
I replaced everything back to OEM to get some suspension travel back in the car. I had it lowered on Bilstein and lowering springs and decided I just want some ride quality back. That is why I replaced everything. The car originally came with the 1LE springs (1998 WS6) so the closest I could find to stock ride and spring rate was the SLP Level II fronts. I did put new rear 1LE springs back in. The car when new never drove this hard or evern when I had it lowered and with Bilsteins.
Now, the dash, outside mirrors, sterring wheel and hood shake when I hit bumps. When the car is sitting still you can push down on all corners easily, there is plenty of travel in the suspension. It appears that if the suspesion is compressed slowly it is fine but if it needs to react fast the then there is no compression at all, just ssmacks bumps and cracks.
Example 1: If I go over a bump/pothole very very slow you can feel the suspension take it easliy. If I go over it faster it's like there is no give in the struts, it just smacks it hard and rattles everything.
Example 2: When driving on the same curved off-ramps or curved on-ramps as before and I hit the seams or expansion joints in the pavement, the car now smacks these so hard the steering gets increbily loose for an isntance becuase it basically goes airborn skipping over the crack instead of absorbing it. This is not a bump steer issue and of course scarry as hell.
I have replaced everything in the front and rear of the car with new parts, this includes:
Front upper and lower control arms (OEM)
Front steering knuckles (OEM)
Front rotors (Baer)
Front springs (SLP Level II)
Front struts (Koni SA 4th gen)
Rear lower control arms
Rear springs (OEM 1LE)
Rear sway bar, bushings and endlinks (OEM)
Rear rotors (Baer)
Rear shocks (Koni SA 4th gen)
The Koni SA's went on the car out of the box. As far as I know there we no adjustments made on them so they are on the factory settings.
Maybe this can give you and idea of the time and money invested here so you understand how frustrating this is.
My car rides so stiff it's not enjoyable to drive, at all. It basically slaps potholes, cracks in the pavement, and hits everythig extremely hard. I am looking for help to resolve this. It might be the Koni SA's.
I replaced everything back to OEM to get some suspension travel back in the car. I had it lowered on Bilstein and lowering springs and decided I just want some ride quality back. That is why I replaced everything. The car originally came with the 1LE springs (1998 WS6) so the closest I could find to stock ride and spring rate was the SLP Level II fronts. I did put new rear 1LE springs back in. The car when new never drove this hard or evern when I had it lowered and with Bilsteins.
Now, the dash, outside mirrors, sterring wheel and hood shake when I hit bumps. When the car is sitting still you can push down on all corners easily, there is plenty of travel in the suspension. It appears that if the suspesion is compressed slowly it is fine but if it needs to react fast the then there is no compression at all, just ssmacks bumps and cracks.
Example 1: If I go over a bump/pothole very very slow you can feel the suspension take it easliy. If I go over it faster it's like there is no give in the struts, it just smacks it hard and rattles everything.
Example 2: When driving on the same curved off-ramps or curved on-ramps as before and I hit the seams or expansion joints in the pavement, the car now smacks these so hard the steering gets increbily loose for an isntance becuase it basically goes airborn skipping over the crack instead of absorbing it. This is not a bump steer issue and of course scarry as hell.
I have replaced everything in the front and rear of the car with new parts, this includes:
Front upper and lower control arms (OEM)
Front steering knuckles (OEM)
Front rotors (Baer)
Front springs (SLP Level II)
Front struts (Koni SA 4th gen)
Rear lower control arms
Rear springs (OEM 1LE)
Rear sway bar, bushings and endlinks (OEM)
Rear rotors (Baer)
Rear shocks (Koni SA 4th gen)
The Koni SA's went on the car out of the box. As far as I know there we no adjustments made on them so they are on the factory settings.
Maybe this can give you and idea of the time and money invested here so you understand how frustrating this is.
![](http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/881/lftfrontsmqq5.jpg)
![](http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/6392/underfrtbcksmalllv0.jpg)
Last edited by Mark A. Rogalski; 05-12-2007 at 03:34 PM.
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Just installed my koni's today. I noticed a world of difference. Problem might be the springs. Give sam a call with the springs. Also with the problem. Im sure he could steer you in the right direction. For what its worth you car looks great from underneath.
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Originally Posted by Mark A. Rogalski
The Koni SA's went on the car out of the box. As far as I know there we no adjustments made on them so they are on the factory settings.
What is your tire pressure?
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When I put my SA's on the felt really stiff in the front.I think Sam explained that the rears came out of the box at full soft and the fronts at full firm. I drove around with the out of the box settings for awhile and it felt like SH*T! Adj. them now and its all
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Originally Posted by RUDE SS
When I put my SA's on the felt really stiff in the front.I think Sam explained that the rears came out of the box at full soft and the fronts at full firm. I drove around with the out of the box settings for awhile and it felt like SH*T! Adj. them now and its all
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Also, the way it appears is that the struts need to come off to get to the adjustment.
Thanks everyone.
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I wish I could help you. I installed my fronts today. And didnt have a damn 2.5 mm only standard allen's. I can tell you the rears come from the factory at full soft. And I left mine there. I drove mine around with no problem. Once I pick up an alan Im gonna go and play with the settings till I find the right one.
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Originally Posted by speed_demon24
It takes 2 seconds to adjust the shocks before you put them on the car, why the hell didn't you make sure they were at the settings you want them at?
Check the settings on your shocks instead of bitching about the shocks without even knowing how they are setup.
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Originally Posted by speed_demon24
It takes 2 seconds to adjust the shocks before you put them on the car, why the hell didn't you make sure they were at the settings you want them at?
Check the settings on your shocks instead of bitching about the shocks without even knowing how they are setup.
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Originally Posted by Mark A. Rogalski
Can anyone or mulitple people actually confirm that the fronts come from the factory with the firmest settings?
Last edited by vikingramair; 05-13-2007 at 05:49 AM.
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Mark,
My Koni's came with the fronts at the firmest setting. (I don't remember what the rear were at.)
Our cars are similiar. Mine is an '01 WS6 vert, with the stock springs, which are softer than yours (wish I had your rear 1LE springs) and I don't have the added weight in the rear that you have (exhaust and sub), though I do have the sound deadening. I've played with the shocks a bit and am running the front shocks at six sweeps from full firm. The ride is a bit firm, but not harsh at all. I am thinking about trying a little softer though, just to see how it feels.
As far as adjusting your front shocks, if they were installed correctly, the adjustment window should be facing towards the outside of the car and be between two of the coils. From the picture, the coils seem to be spaced far enough apart that they shouldn't be in the way. If they're installed this way, you can adjust them on your car in about 5 minutes. Just turn your wheel to full lock one way, adjust the shock, turn the wheel the other way and adjust the other shock.
Hope this helps.
My Koni's came with the fronts at the firmest setting. (I don't remember what the rear were at.)
Our cars are similiar. Mine is an '01 WS6 vert, with the stock springs, which are softer than yours (wish I had your rear 1LE springs) and I don't have the added weight in the rear that you have (exhaust and sub), though I do have the sound deadening. I've played with the shocks a bit and am running the front shocks at six sweeps from full firm. The ride is a bit firm, but not harsh at all. I am thinking about trying a little softer though, just to see how it feels.
As far as adjusting your front shocks, if they were installed correctly, the adjustment window should be facing towards the outside of the car and be between two of the coils. From the picture, the coils seem to be spaced far enough apart that they shouldn't be in the way. If they're installed this way, you can adjust them on your car in about 5 minutes. Just turn your wheel to full lock one way, adjust the shock, turn the wheel the other way and adjust the other shock.
Hope this helps.
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Originally Posted by Mark A. Rogalski
Hopefully Sam can chime in.
My car rides so stiff it's not enjoyable to drive, at all. It basically slaps potholes, cracks in the pavement, and hits everythig extremely hard. I am looking for help to resolve this. It might be the Koni SA's.
I have replaced everything in the front and rear of the car with new parts, this includes:
Front upper and lower control arms (OEM)
Front steering knuckles (OEM)
Front rotors (Baer)
Front springs (SLP Level II)
Front struts (Koni SA 4th gen)
Rear lower control arms
Rear springs (OEM 1LE)
Rear sway bar, bushings and endlinks (OEM)
Rear rotors (Baer)
Rear shocks (Koni SA 4th gen)
The Koni SA's went on the car out of the box. As far as I know there we no adjustments made on them so they are on the factory settings.
Maybe this can give you and idea of the time and money invested here so you understand how frustrating this is.
My car rides so stiff it's not enjoyable to drive, at all. It basically slaps potholes, cracks in the pavement, and hits everythig extremely hard. I am looking for help to resolve this. It might be the Koni SA's.
I have replaced everything in the front and rear of the car with new parts, this includes:
Front upper and lower control arms (OEM)
Front steering knuckles (OEM)
Front rotors (Baer)
Front springs (SLP Level II)
Front struts (Koni SA 4th gen)
Rear lower control arms
Rear springs (OEM 1LE)
Rear sway bar, bushings and endlinks (OEM)
Rear rotors (Baer)
Rear shocks (Koni SA 4th gen)
The Koni SA's went on the car out of the box. As far as I know there we no adjustments made on them so they are on the factory settings.
Maybe this can give you and idea of the time and money invested here so you understand how frustrating this is.
I'll say this, you shouldn't have jumped on the guy who told you to check your settings. That's the first thing I tell all my customers (as well as recommendations, and what happens when you change them). So don't attack him because you didn't do your homework, or got the shocks from a place that either didn't care to, or can't tell you any good information.
I sincerely hope you can dial in the car more to your liking, but I can't help you do it.
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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
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I too seem to be having a rough ride with my Koni's. Any expansion joint or pothole will rattle the whole corner of the car that hits the bump.
I have relinquished my efforts to try and make it ride smooth and figure it is just from the 17 inch rims and old springs and bushings (125K miles on my car).
I have relinquished my efforts to try and make it ride smooth and figure it is just from the 17 inch rims and old springs and bushings (125K miles on my car).