cypher0117 Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 I found this thread that talks about extending the bump travel of the koni struts and was wondering if anyone on here had done this: http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=602326 the parts are found here: http://turninconcepts.com/product_info.php?products_id=458 and are only $45...might be a worthwhile purchase Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m sprank Posted May 6, 2011 Share Posted May 6, 2011 First, you obviously have never seen a bump stop actually work. That bump stop compresses to about 9/32 of an inch. You do NOT want to cut any off. It will cause the Koni to internally bottom out and blow a seal. If you need the travel lost by lowering springs back, either get a set of coil overs or get stock springs. The Epic springs are barely a drop. They are very mild. The mod you referenced was originally for a WRX. It has not been tested and is not DOT approved. If you are ever in an accident and their is an inspection you could have issues. Not likely, but... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cypher0117 Posted May 9, 2011 Share Posted May 9, 2011 thanks for the info m sprank. Your right, suspension is the part of a car I know least about and I didn't think the bump stop compressed that small...still learning. I'll follow the instructions from the first couple of posts and keep the bump stops how they are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m sprank Posted May 9, 2011 Share Posted May 9, 2011 I have seen frame by frame shots of bump stops in testing at Ohlins. Scary how small they compress. Would never have thought until they showed me. Bump stop is actually an engineered part of the strut. Not just a rubber bumper to stop from hitting the frame. Not saying the WRX trick wont work. Just dont want to be the guy that finds out the hard way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
triple_B Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 I have had Ralitek springs on my waggy stock struts for about a year now. finaly got the Koni's put on. but was blown away with a 2" lift in the rear! :eek::eek: honest. im a stickler for measure so ive done it with each change. the front dropped 1/8". my buddy and i sat and bounced in the trunk (ya we did) to see if anything would shift or settle. but no luck. so it was late and i needed to get home. loaded, up gear and tools (200#) in the trunk. drove 20 miles and stopped for gas. it lowered about an inch in that time. got home and went out right away and loaded 5 pees in the car. now it sagged. drove aobut 5 miles. eye balled it to be a bit lower still but ab out 1/4" higher than stock struts and Ralitek springs. i measured and the stock and Koni struts off the car and they are the same. any ideas whats up? there was a funny Dutch drawing instruction in the box for the rear struts that showed rotating the piston and said 180 degrees for +. 360 degrees for ++ and 720 for ++++. ill get a pic if needed, but what the hell did that mean??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KCwagon Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 I have had Ralitek springs on my waggy stock struts for about a year now. finaly got the Koni's put on. but was blown away with a 2" lift in the rear! :eek::eek: honest. im a stickler for measure so ive done it with each change. the front dropped 1/8". my buddy and i sat and bounced in the trunk (ya we did) to see if anything would shift or settle. but no luck. so it was late and i needed to get home. loaded, up gear and tools (200#) in the trunk. drove 20 miles and stopped for gas. it lowered about an inch in that time. got home and went out right away and loaded 5 pees in the car. now it sagged. drove aobut 5 miles. eye balled it to be a bit lower still but ab out 1/4" higher than stock struts and Ralitek springs. i measured and the stock and Koni struts off the car and they are the same. any ideas whats up? there was a funny Dutch drawing instruction in the box for the rear struts that showed rotating the piston and said 180 degrees for +. 360 degrees for ++ and 720 for ++++. ill get a pic if needed, but what the hell did that mean??? You may have the rear spring perchs on upside down. That would explain the lift. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m sprank Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 They are upside down. I am amazed at how many people do that. Break down your struts again. Flip the rear lower spring perches. If upside down they lift the car at least an inch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
triple_B Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 They are upside down. I am amazed at how many people do that. Break down your struts again. Flip the rear lower spring perches. If upside down they lift the car at least an inch. yaa, i dont know about that one. i dont want to say im above that but i looked at having them upside down. i.e. cupped up and that would just be odd. even more odd is that its almost settled to 'normal' height. would it take time for the oil to 'equalize' and have the piston settle? its just odd. so thought id ask thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m sprank Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 Did you drive the car before looking at ride height? Folks just an FYI. After swapping springs or struts you must roll the car back and forth at a minimum to settle the suspension enough to be at ride height. I usually drive the car at least back and forth 50 feet. I like to go around the block and over a bump or two. No amount of bouncing on the car will settle it. It takes driving. After installing lowering springs most cars look higher until you roll them. I try not to let customers see a car fresh on the ground after a suspension swap. Takes too much time to calm them down and explain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
triple_B Posted May 12, 2011 Share Posted May 12, 2011 Ralitek springs had already been on the car. all i did was take out stock struts and put in Koni. lowered, was 2"high. lifted, checked everything. lowered, bounced, rolled back and forth, drove 20 miles and about 1" high. drove 60 miles put 5 friends in and drove 5 miles, only 1/4" high now. so, i know my springs are not setteling, cause they did that a year ago. koni's are exact same dementions as stock. why was it 2" high? does the piston need to "settle" though all the oil or equalize? just curiose because it was observed and no one else has mentioned it. but then again i am extremely observant and record everything. just putting it out there for others to keep an eye out for. peace Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m sprank Posted May 12, 2011 Share Posted May 12, 2011 System needed to equalize and get worked in. Its new suspension. It happens. All the time. I swear. Even if you pull out and re-install exactly what was in the car, you need to drive around the block before it settles back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyT Posted May 13, 2011 Share Posted May 13, 2011 I just had Koni's w/Epic springs installed yesterday (Thurs.) and the drop after driving 20 miles was the same as when I picked it up, about two fingers width. It looks awesome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m sprank Posted May 13, 2011 Share Posted May 13, 2011 Thats about right. 1 and 1/2 to 2 finger gap. Might settle to 1 and 1/2 for you after a few weeks of driving. But it is a minimal change. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperhawkLGT Posted May 14, 2011 Share Posted May 14, 2011 So can you guys describe the ride? I drive on the worst roads imaginable and hate the ride now, harsh! I am on stock stuts with h-techs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m sprank Posted May 14, 2011 Share Posted May 14, 2011 Konis can be set softer than OEM or firmer. Epic springs give a very compliant ride over harsh surfaces. Once dialed in you would be very happy. Much happier than now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperhawkLGT Posted May 15, 2011 Share Posted May 15, 2011 Cool, thanks. This will be next springs purchase for me, can't swing it right now unfortunately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iNVAR Posted May 15, 2011 Share Posted May 15, 2011 Would it be okay to reuse the stock springs and get just the Koni dampers? Or would my springs be do for a replacement too? Not looking for a drop or anything... Do springs really get worn and have to be replaced? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m sprank Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 Springs can become worn. Depends on a few things. But Konis can be used with OEM springs too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cypher0117 Posted May 30, 2011 Share Posted May 30, 2011 (edited) I just finished my Koni install with some doner struts from a fellow forum member. I had put Eibach springs on back in February of this year and have been only moderately happy with them since. They were installed on stock struts. Yes body roll in corners was reduced and pitching/diving was reduced a lot but the car never felt...composed. That all changed when I took everything back apart and installed the Koni's. I did 1 full turn from soft in the front and back. All I can say is wow. I'm sad I had to do all this work twice. I should have done it all the first time. Ride height didn't change and was exactly how it sat with the stock struts. It corners much better now. Everything is a bit stiffer than with the stock struts, but there is no more oscillations after hitting bigger bumps. There isn't any more crashing or banging from the front end when I hit big bumps. Overall everything just feels better. The ride is just a bit stiffer than before but much less violent. A+ to FredBeans for this walk-through. It helped out a lot. Edited May 30, 2011 by cypher0117 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
triple_B Posted May 30, 2011 Share Posted May 30, 2011 had some "fun" this weekend with settings on the Koni's. in prep for loading 4 peeps, 2 bikes and camping gear in the Waggy i cranked all 4 corners. then plans changed and it was just the wife and i in the car. but before we left it was just me, and empty car and empty tank to run errands round seattle. that thing ghetto civic bumped all over the place! it was kind of fun. i laughed all over the place. it road and tracked well, but it had that supper quick bounce and stick. it was wicked in the corners. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smashcrunk Posted June 18, 2011 Share Posted June 18, 2011 i want to get this done to my legacy. Anyone know a place that can do this in the Chicagoland area!? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dustincredible Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 Subscribed. Thanks for the write up. Sold: 2006 Subaru Legacy GT Spec B #104 of 500 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperhawkLGT Posted December 28, 2011 Share Posted December 28, 2011 Bumped. M, you still have the complete kits? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m sprank Posted December 28, 2011 Share Posted December 28, 2011 I have 1 set of front bodies. The rest of my core parts are gone. Once again, cores never returned. I have a PM (or email) asking about a quote for the bodies I have with Konis installed. I just need to get a updated price on the konis as I have none in my own stock right now. But in general, the service is dead. Cant keep it up when I lose the cores. Sorry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ibr_adam09 Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 I'll be Highly interested in this in a few months or so. Funny that SuperhawkLGT asked the same question that I was about to ask. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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