eduardmc

iTrader: (1)

i want to install my new purchase koni shocks but having second thoughts. i'm reading horrible stories about the shocks braking. I have stock shocks with h & r sport and have not had this problem.
what would you guys do. installed them or not since i already bought them.

this is one of the few stories i have been reading.

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...ght=koni+shock

eduardmc

iTrader: (1)

i would like to add that i also did a second search and see people having alot of problem with the c perch clips braking off from position, has anyone have this problem cause people are actually welding them so they would not brake or move. i believe i made a big mistake buying this koni shocks?

Bearcat94

Koni is probably the top after-market sport shock out there.

There are quite a few folks here with them and I've not read of many similar problems. A few, but they're rare and/or unusual; like crashing a slammed car over a major pothole. That might just as easily bust a stock shock.

There may be more risk with bad NYC roads, but I'll bet a lot of what you're reading is folks who are pushing the limits and could have the same trouble with any number of after-market shocks.

eduardmc

iTrader: (1)

when pushing the limit, what do you mean? i'll be using my h&r springs with the koni and using the lowest perch in the front since i only have 2 perch and in the rear i have the sp3 which i will be using the second lowest perch.

wasupdog

iTrader: (2)

it's my opinion that it's a design failure, although i'm not claiming to know how they design racing shock bodies. it should be like the oem shock where the shock body is thicker and thinner at the bottom so it can physically sit in the fork perch instead of being 100% supported by the fork bolt pressure. tein uses the same design as oem and you never hear once of this particular problem.

there are many of these same stories across car forums. i read one member said to tighten it 10 ft/lb's tighter than the recommended oem torque and it should be ok.

Bearcat94

meh. It was late. I was talking out my @$$.

Koni IS a huge after-market brand. And the threads linked there may be unusual circumstances. Beyond that,

corcraft

iTrader: (2)

I have 140k miles on my Koni shocks with h&r springs. front on the lowest perch and rear on the middle. Plus they have a lifetime warranty.... don't they?

NBPacuraTL

iTrader: (1)

lifetime warranty if you didn't cause the failure of the shock. they take it apart and see the damage and come to the conclusion as to what happened. I've had over 30k miles on mine and I'm doing great.

mmade22

As long as you are the original owner and have proof of purchase. If you buy them second hand, you're out of luck!

a.patel

a.patel

a.patel

I feel like the ride is too low so i am raising it up either today or tomorrow to the first height perch setting. not to mention the crappy ride when there are multiple passengers in the car.

I had a question to ask her on the forums.. after the 2.2 in drop in front and 1.75 in rear (H&R race springs+ koni neuspeed sp3), the ride feels like it bottoms out a lot and there's also a weird vibration coming from the front driver side. at first we thought it mightve just been the wheels not put on properly after we did all the work but that surely wasnt the case. I still havent gotten an alignment after sucha significant drop and i am hoping this vibration goes away once i have it aligned properly. the problem is that the front driver side feels like it vibrates when steering right past a certain speed.

eduardmc

iTrader: (1)

This is what i don't want, right now my ride feels smooth (factory smooth) with regular shocks and h & R springs, i don't want to spend all that money on installation and having a worse ride.

also i think your car is too low the installation might be wrong because in all the pictures i have seen with H & R sport with koni sport the drop is not so low, even in the lowest perch. check mmade22, he is using h & R sport and koni sport in the lowest perch in from + he has the a-spec lips and it looks higher than you.

check this picture out from mmade22 and same set up you have. at the lowest perch front, medium perch rear

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b6...2/IMG_2240.jpg

a.patel

bro, i have h&r race springs. and i know it is installed right because i did it myself.

Bearcat94

Race Spings AND the SP3, which has more (and lower) perch options.

mmade22 had H&R Sport (taller spring, by about 1/2, I think) with regular Koni, which have only 2 perch choices at the front - stock and (iirc) 10mm lower.

eduardmc

iTrader: (1)

How hard is to do your own istallation. I think u were better off with h & r sport.

eduardmc

iTrader: (1)

if you were referring from koni yellow to koni sp3, Koni yellows has a lower perch (by a few mm but is not even noticable) koni yellow in the front has 2 perch only, normal stand which will give you the height of the spring and a .75" drop (or close to it) in the second perch. i have both with me and took pictures so u can see what i'm talking about.


i'll be doing my installation in my father shop and avoid paying for installation fee, is there any DIY out there for installing koni shock on our TL?

One last question, how do you remove the perch ring for heigh adjustment, do i need a special tool or something.

Bearcat94

Thanks for the pics. DIY is a ~4 hr job. Maybe a bit more depending on tools, skill level and whether you run into problems. Here are the DIY's you need:

Back Seat Removal (PITA): https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-tires-wheels-suspension-97/how-remove-back-seats-put-suspension-3g-garage-f-070-a-567460/ - With Service Manual Scans

2G Suspension DIY with Pics (nearly identical to 3G TL): https://acurazine.com/forums/2g-tl-tires-wheels-suspension-100/diy-lowering-dropping-your-tl-623631/

3G TL Shock and Spring Replacment Service Manual Scans: https://acurazine.com/forums/car-parts-sale-361/fm-modulators-group-purchase-173827/


You can get a loaner spring compressor and torque wrench at AutoZone if you need them.

I hate cars

You didn't do your research on these shocks or you just skipped all of my posts on them.

They are designed to fail in that area. When you hit a giant pothole something has to give. Instead of bending the shock, rim, or suspension components, the tab breaks and the shock slides down into the arm. You can use them again, just reposition and torque it down. The tab was never designed to support the weight of the car, it's there to get the shock into correct position during installation. This is a good feature.

The ride with Konis on full soft feels just like stock. They get firmer from there but if you want a stock like ride, put them in full soft and you won't be able to tell the difference.

Of course, going for a stock like ride with the car being 2" or more lower than stock is horrible for performance.

eduardmc

iTrader: (1)

So u r telling that with this shocks i have to u have AAA number ready for toll my vehicle because of thia feature. Because here in ny i hit BIG pole holes everysingle day.

mmade22

I have to say, if you want a stock like ride, leave yours alone. I hate cars is correct on leaving them in the softest setting to get a nice ride but the car will handle worse than what you have now. I know, as I started out in the softest setting recommended by Koni for the first 500 miles. After they break in, then you can adjust them to whatever level you like. Being on the softest setting, the car rolled a lot and was sloppy! It has been discussed before that putting these shocks in and leaving them soft, you are not going to like the feel.

I grew up on LI NY so I know all about the roads up there. Nasty roads with major pot holes all around! I don't know how you guys with the lowered cars do it! NC has smooth roads and most pot holes can be avoided. I would be driving a Buick if I was back in NY. Good luck with the install!

I've hit big pot holes and bent my rims but I have never had the lower perch fall out on me. That would have to be one hell of a hit but living in NY, that can happen.

eduardmc

iTrader: (1)

Whar i meant about the stock ride is that while i did not notice he did H&R Race spring instaed of Sport spring i thought i was going to get the same harsh ride. I like my ride how smooth it feels in pole holes but i want to change it because my car feels like a boat when im driving in the highway. If i have to sacrify my ride for a stiffer ride ill do it. This is what i read the konis does but i dont really want a ride that drives like a tank aswell

a.patel

i just got an alignment done and it rides pretty smooth but it wont be as comfortable as the h&r sport obv. considering they have 1 inch of less drop or so. i knew i was gonna get a harsher ride with h&r race springs and thats why i bought the sp3 since they have a shorter rod.

eduardmc

iTrader: (1)

My last 2 question,

1) To change perch settings, what tools do you use to remove the perch from one setting to the next. i don't want to force it and brake the ring or weaken it because the perch would be what holds the weight of the vehicle.

2) The middle vase that hold the springs for the installation, does it have to be facing up or down see the pic below (i believe is down but would like confirmation)

i would be doing this in my father shop. They do alot of suspention but only oem version to different vehicle. i'll be doing my work with the workes and following koni directions. The only thing the koni manual do not specify on how are the 2 question i'm asking right now.

mmade22

Its a spring tool that has two points on it and as you press the tool, it opens up the ring just enough to get the ring out and you slide it up or down to the next setting. It looks like a pair of scissors...I have the tool but I forget the name of it.

Bearcat94

Snap Ring Pliers. Something like this:

I hate cars

You use snap ring pliers with the little grips on the end. I use only my fingers but I got very good at these rings when I used to rebuild transmissions. Open the ring only enough to slide it along the body. Clean out the yellow paint in the ring grooves before installation. This is critical for strength.

The perch goes with the inner part higher than the outsides. It will look like it's upside down when you have it in right. If you do it the other way the car will look like a 4x4 when you're done.

As for the potholes damaging the shocks, the only way you're going to break that tab off if they're installed correctly is if you hit a hole hard enough that it would damage the stock suspension. It's better that that tab gives then your control arm or ball joint or whatever. The shocks become the fuse in the system. They have to because it's assumed you're lowering the car and you're going to be much closer to the bumpstops.

JonathanTL

This is not 2 front and 1.75 rear

paperboy42190

iTrader: (7)

i actually changed the perches using a small flathead screwdriver. just be careful, but its definitely possible without breaking it