Help On Koni's !~
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On The Tree
Joined: May 2006
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From: Fremont
Help On Koni's !~ Well not too long ago i jad my Koni's SA installed all round like 3 months ago. Now i notice when i went over a speed bump i felt something on the front driver side like it hit hard. . . then i we taking it for a test drive. . then i notice my driver side koni's wernt absorbing the impact like it should (both sides are max to stiffness).
I dont hear any noise like if the struts are bad. . so i decided to push down on the passanger side down onthe struts. . they are stiff/firm like they should be. . but on the driver side is all loose and bouncy.. . i was like WTF!~?. . took it to Big O's ( where i got them first). . they claim that the adjustment moved by it self ( dont know how) saying maybe didn't move it all the way. . like it was stuck on between a click or something. So the mechanics push it all the way to max. . but it stills feels the same. . does this mean it's Broken???? Please help me. . the owner of big o's is calling for tech. . im calling for help here. . has anyone exp this??? Will the koni's send me a replacement???
I dont hear any noise like if the struts are bad. . so i decided to push down on the passanger side down onthe struts. . they are stiff/firm like they should be. . but on the driver side is all loose and bouncy.. . i was like WTF!~?. . took it to Big O's ( where i got them first). . they claim that the adjustment moved by it self ( dont know how) saying maybe didn't move it all the way. . like it was stuck on between a click or something. So the mechanics push it all the way to max. . but it stills feels the same. . does this mean it's Broken???? Please help me. . the owner of big o's is calling for tech. . im calling for help here. . has anyone exp this??? Will the koni's send me a replacement???
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From: Boston, MA
I recently installed an advance replacement front koni for the same issue you have. The shock was only two months old. Koni has a lifetime warranty, but I'm not sure if the shock will be covered, as I have not heard back yet on the old part I shipped back to them.
The problem seems to be the the koni installed bump stop, under the black plastic cover, may not be long/hard enough to keep the shock from internally bottoming.
Koni slightly changed the original design of the shock which caused it to have a 1/8" less travel. This is not good, so I'm hoping they stand behind their product. I'm not sure why they don't put a 1/8" spacer in along with the bumpstop to prevent internal bottoming? I would do this myself, but pulling the top hat or removing the plastic cover will void the warranty.
The problem seems to be the the koni installed bump stop, under the black plastic cover, may not be long/hard enough to keep the shock from internally bottoming.
Koni slightly changed the original design of the shock which caused it to have a 1/8" less travel. This is not good, so I'm hoping they stand behind their product. I'm not sure why they don't put a 1/8" spacer in along with the bumpstop to prevent internal bottoming? I would do this myself, but pulling the top hat or removing the plastic cover will void the warranty.
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From: Boston, MA
I called koni direct.. ask for warranty help. You need a receipt for proof of purchase.
http://www.koni-na.com/index.cfm?
PHONE # AT BOTTOM OF PAGE
http://www.koni-na.com/index.cfm?
PHONE # AT BOTTOM OF PAGE
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Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Laguna Niguel, CA
Originally Posted by Greggy
I recently installed an advance replacement front koni for the same issue you have. The shock was only two months old. Koni has a lifetime warranty, but I'm not sure if the shock will be covered, as I have not heard back yet on the old part I shipped back to them.
The problem seems to be the the koni installed bump stop, under the black plastic cover, may not be long/hard enough to keep the shock from internally bottoming.
Koni slightly changed the original design of the shock which caused it to have a 1/8" less travel. This is not good, so I'm hoping they stand behind their product. I'm not sure why they don't put a 1/8" spacer in along with the bumpstop to prevent internal bottoming? I would do this myself, but pulling the top hat or removing the plastic cover will void the warranty.
The problem seems to be the the koni installed bump stop, under the black plastic cover, may not be long/hard enough to keep the shock from internally bottoming.
Koni slightly changed the original design of the shock which caused it to have a 1/8" less travel. This is not good, so I'm hoping they stand behind their product. I'm not sure why they don't put a 1/8" spacer in along with the bumpstop to prevent internal bottoming? I would do this myself, but pulling the top hat or removing the plastic cover will void the warranty.
So are you saying that my new Koni's from January are going to eventually destroy themselves because the bumpstop is too small??????
Can Sam confirm this?
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when you have the rebound set to maximum stiffness you are making the shock work very hard and in result putting a lot of pressure on the parts and shock itself. the fact that you had it full stiff and hit a bump (my guess is too hard?), that impact can hurt the shock and possibly blow it
if Sam chimes in hopefully he can confirm/elaboarte on this.
why do you have it at full stiff anyways? what springs are you running?
if Sam chimes in hopefully he can confirm/elaboarte on this.
why do you have it at full stiff anyways? what springs are you running?
just read you have sportlines in your other thread..that doesn't help either
2 things worked against you:
1) your car was too low and was putting a lot of un-do stress on the shock as-is
2) the set at stiffest as previously mentioned
2 things worked against you:
1) your car was too low and was putting a lot of un-do stress on the shock as-is
2) the set at stiffest as previously mentioned
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: May 2006
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From: Fremont
well im running on Sportlines. . i just order the Hotchkis springs. . so i can replace these sportline. . i install these in WA but then when i moved to Cali. . roads are rougher here. . so yea. .
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From: Boston, MA
I will talk to koni tech support about my claim at some point and chime in.
If the bumpstop is not sufficiant, a good size bump or pothole at highway speeds will kill the shock with any spring or shock setting. Although you should not be at full stiffness with any aftermarket spring kits I know of.
After 90k miles on stock shocks and bilstein HD's, both of which use the stock bumpstop, without a failure, I am a bit concerned as well. This car is my daily and winter car, and the potholes around Boston are everywhere late winter into spring.
greg
If the bumpstop is not sufficiant, a good size bump or pothole at highway speeds will kill the shock with any spring or shock setting. Although you should not be at full stiffness with any aftermarket spring kits I know of.
After 90k miles on stock shocks and bilstein HD's, both of which use the stock bumpstop, without a failure, I am a bit concerned as well. This car is my daily and winter car, and the potholes around Boston are everywhere late winter into spring.
greg
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From: Vancouver,[KITSILANO].B.C. Canada *WestCoast*
Had a friend with KONI SA's ....destroyed in 3 months..all four..were properly installed...sorry. These were with Pro-kit----NOT that it should MATTER at all. 
Originally Posted by NHRAMAN
Had a friend with KONI SA's ....destroyed in 3 months..all four..were properly installed...sorry. These were with Pro-kit----NOT that it should MATTER at all.
I'm not going to tell you Koni's don't break. I have a broken one myself, but the car was slammed over a curb so hard the LF tire left a black mark on inner fender just behind the shock location. That bottomed the shock. While Koni could but on a short and hard, hockey-puck like bumpstop, that causes havoc with the way the car works over bumps. And we take the SS/WS6 style rear stops that are blunt off and replace them with Z28 ones that are more progressive--they are doing the same on the front shocks.
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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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From: Boston, MA
By the way, I just got a letter from koni saying they are refunding my advanced replacement cost and honorring the warranty in my case. I wish they explained what the problem was. I may call tech. support to get more info.
