Official 5th Generation Suspension Thread

[Zee199969]

Hi I just received my KONI inserts part 8610 1453Sport. My question is in regards to the rebound action for these new inserts. I was curious about it and compared it to the stock strut. I tested both that I received by compressing the damping rod and they did not move. There wasn't any rebound action. I had to pull them back out from the housing. Aren't they supposed to have some rebound right out of the box? Or do they need to be primed. Is this a defective pair?

 

Koni rebound video

 

I was kinda confused about this as well when I first got mine. The Konis are supposed to resist rebounding so that your car doesn't bounce after it hits an uneven surface. Don't be worried about pulling on them too hard as anything you can do with your hands will most likely be less stress than what your car could do. There's nothing wrong with the set you have as you described them. Now hurry up and install em!

[ripstik]

Don't be worried about pulling on them too hard as anything you can do with your hands will most likely be less stress than what your car could do.

 

IDK man kid's a beast!

[amidroc]

I emailed KONI and this is their response.

 

The 8610 inserts are hydraulic dampers, meaning they do not carry a gas pressure. So the rod will not self-extend after compressing the shock by hand. In low pressure gas or monotube shocks the shock rod with self-extend due only to the internal gas charge, that is not a working function of the shock absorber itself.

 

Good to know for anyone new to the insert game. This would be the same for the 8010s (rear) since they are the same design.

.

Edited March 29, 2016 by amidroc

[GTEASER]

^ Yes, Thanks for the info directly from Koni. I believe the same goes for the 8010 rears.

 

I was a little confused because they did not extend the first time I dealt with them, but by the time I assembled a set, I was aware of this. Because of this, it makes it a little tricky to get the tophats on with the springs compressed, you have to make sure they are all the way fully extended and then be careful not to accidentally push them in when you put the tophats on and are trying to get the tophat nut threaded on.

[amidroc]

Also found this rebound adjustment from the KONI site for the 8010 (rear) & 8610 (front)

 

Adjustment Procedure 8010, 8041, 8210, 8241, 8610, 8641, 8710, 8741 Series

 

Rebound Adjustment Procedures

 

Externally Adjustable. These dampers can be adjusted, literally at the turn of a knob(or sweep window as in figure 1), a technique borrowed from Formula-1 racing where KONI dampers have dominated the field for years. One can switch back and forth, in most cases in a matter of seconds, from a comfortable "touring" setting to a more firmer setting for a sporty drive. By means of a knob damping forces can be altered to driving conditions or personal preferences.

 

Rebound Adjusting knob

http://www.koni-na.com/getmedia/e21d306c-acfe-484b-83d3-135f0e12c9fc/Big-KONI-Knob.aspx?width=150&height=111

 

http://www.koni-na.com/getmedia/0b40eecf-7c04-42c3-8895-c6d2e6def830/80fig1.aspx?width=150&height=164

 

Figure 1: Move pin left or right to

increase rebound forces (counter-clockwise) Rebound - Insert a pin into the slotted adjuster located at the top eye (figure 1). Moving the pin from left to right (counterclockwise) will cause the forces to increase. From the minimum or factory positions, there are 12 possible sweeps of adjustment ( 1 sweep equals 1/4 turn).

 

REBOUND ADJUSTMENT DIRECTION

 

Clockwise = Softer

Counter Clockwise = Firmer

 

https://youtu.be/2HyBFWNB35o

[GTEASER]

FWIW, the 8610 and 8010 on our cars use the knob. Factory setting is softest (all the way clockwise) and then you have up to 2 full turns of the knob counter clockwise to firm it up to full firm. I usually go with 1/2 turn increments, but some people use quarter turn.

[amidroc]

Should there be a KONI sticky for info like this? I am sure there are members now and in the future that will benefit from it.

 

JS...There are several good posts full of info to sift through on this thread regarding the KONI inserts.

[GTEASER]

Yes, but who has the time, I don't. Heck, I never even really got my 5th Gen Koni Install thread more than just barely started. It's here somewhere, buried.

[GTEASER]

I will just leave this here.

 

Swift Lowering Springs WILL NOT work with Koni Yellow inserts

 

 

To give everyone the "technical" reason why Swift lowering springs don't work with the Koni's....here goes.... Swift springs are not a conventional progressive rate lowering spring, they are a linear rate spring and as so rely on their entire unsprung length to establish a given ride height for the car for which they are designed. So in a stock strut assembly, which is what they are designed for, with no weight on the spring, the spring has no (or at least an anticipated) preload. When a Koni insert is used in the Legacy donor strut housing, the Koni at full extension is 1/2" shorter than the stock strut (but also 1.25" shorter at full compression therefore more bump travel as stated above). When Swifts are put on a donor strut with a Koni insert, they are preloaded, or shortened by 1/2". This preload translates directly to ride height, so the unanticipated result of that is what Gary (blklgt05) found out, the car was 1/2" lower in the front after the Koni's were installed with the Swifts than it was prior on the stock struts.

 

[3.6R-2011]

Hi all! Does anyone have any first hand experience using the KW-V3 suspension kit on their 3.6R? I'm considering getting this setup. I know it's a bit on the pricy side and was wondering because a local shop recommended them to me. My car is completely stock right now and absolutely hate the ride feel and handling. It's ok on completely smooth pavement lol. I want something that will deliver good ride comfort under normal driving and want to have some fun with as well. Edited April 5, 2016 by 3.6R-2011

[Rutchard]

the KW V3 are great on a 5th gen.

[GTEASER]

I think DeltaSniper is on the KW's, and he's up in Canada. Blizzard is also on them. There are a few other guys, but I can't remember any names off hand. It's a great setup for the 5th Gen, but pricey. For half the price, I would consider Koni's and either stock or lowering springs, if you don't need height adjustability of course.

[fredrik94087]

Yep...the guys on here who have them love them.

 

I rode in an STI with KW V2 and that was a very planted ride as well.

[NorCal1657615595]

Just got my car aligned for the first time after the RCE/Koni install. How do these specs look?

 

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160406/44907f26cbf02221968a261a9b896a29.jpg

 

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

[GTEASER]

Haha! I got your front camber perfect just by guessing, and marking the camber bolts. I would personally like to see closer to 0 toe in the rear, but its good for a street alignment.

[NorCal1657615595]

Yeah, you were right on! I'll have to request for the toe to be 0 on my next alignment check.

[Rutchard]

0.02 isn't close enough to zero toe in the rear?

[GTEASER]

0.02 isn't close enough to zero toe in the rear?

 

Hey, between the right and the left, that's over half a tenth, or about 1/4 turn on each of the toe adjusters.

[legacyowner]

Hi guys, found out this week that my front struts are leaking, so here i am looking for a coilover set ! im not looking to track the car or nothing crazy, i just want a cheap setup.

I was wondering if it was cheaper to buy new front struts and lower spring or do a complete coilover set.

[Zee199969]

If you're gonna get lowering springs, you're likely going to have to replace your rear struts.

If you go with OEM struts with lowering springs, you'll have to replace the struts sooner than you would like.

My konis + RCE Blacks were ~$1k. You can probably get some coilovers for less than that but they might not perform as well.

[legacyowner]

i actually like the stock suspension ... i only daily drive the car, i was looking for these

https://www.rallysportdirect.com/fits/2011-subaru-legacy-2-5gt-2-5/coilovers/tei4-gss92-11ss2-tein-street-basis-coilovers

or similar, dont want to spend 1k !

[Zee199969]

A few members here have or are currently running those coilovers and they seem to like them Edited April 15, 2016 by Zee199969

[legacyowner]

only question is : do they fit on the 3.6 ?

[GTEASER]

only question is : do they fit on the 3.6 ?

 

Yes. 2010-2014 Legacy fitment is all the same regardless of model.

[Unsp0kn]

only question is : do they fit on the 3.6 ?

 

They ride good for me and gave me the stance I wanted for a DD. They should will fit a 3.6R, I don't see why not but I have no experience with the suspension on them. RSD says no when I put it in the car selector.

 

EDIT: GTEASER beat me to it.