Installed Koni FSDs
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,618
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From: Southport North Carolina
Installed Koni FSDs
After much research, I ordered Koni FSDs and installed. Running with FS WO RFTs, Base springs, Upgraded to z51 sways a few months ago. I had the base shocks until now. I was nervous about loosing ride comfort by switching shocks.
I am amazed that the car rides SO MUCH BETTER on FSDs with this set-up. Typical bridge joints on the highway have been minimized - better than the base shock. Downtown Raleigh tonight on the messed up roads felt much better than base shocks when measuring comfort. Cornering is simply amazing now. Reminds me of my wife's Honda s2000 in the corners.
The car seems flatter and in more control. Over steer due to the z51 sways has been minimized. My wife in the passenger seat (leisurely driving around city/highway tonight) said it feels no different - which is good, because if she lost any comfort she would let me know and never let me forget. Then I hit some high speed turns. She said wow and was amazed at how in control and flat the car felt. Her words - smooth, rear does not feel like its trying to push out (over steer), in control at all times, didn't body roll, like it rides on rails now.
Summary: Comfortable, Control, Good contact with the road in all situations
The install was easy, but you need to man handle the base shocks in the front to get them out. I used the zip tie method and I needed to use a crow bar to compress the shock upward and with my other hand, pull the zip ties. Jacking up the control arm didn't really compress the shock much. Then I needed to use both hands to continue compressing the shock and pull the zip ties. It worked, I was tired afterwards. Once out, the rest of the install for all 4 shocks took about an hour. 2 hours total, jacked up all tires removed.
Some more notes on the install: I dismounted the coolant overflow to get to the nut. Used a lisle tool, but don't think I needed it - could have used vice grip to hold it and a ratcheting box wrench to remove the top nut. Had a 24mm socket ($5) and 24mm box wrench ($5) that came in handy on the rear.
I reused all OEM hardware, bump stop and dust cover. The only other Koni part I used was the top nut.
This may be the best mod...
I am amazed that the car rides SO MUCH BETTER on FSDs with this set-up. Typical bridge joints on the highway have been minimized - better than the base shock. Downtown Raleigh tonight on the messed up roads felt much better than base shocks when measuring comfort. Cornering is simply amazing now. Reminds me of my wife's Honda s2000 in the corners.
The car seems flatter and in more control. Over steer due to the z51 sways has been minimized. My wife in the passenger seat (leisurely driving around city/highway tonight) said it feels no different - which is good, because if she lost any comfort she would let me know and never let me forget. Then I hit some high speed turns. She said wow and was amazed at how in control and flat the car felt. Her words - smooth, rear does not feel like its trying to push out (over steer), in control at all times, didn't body roll, like it rides on rails now.
Summary: Comfortable, Control, Good contact with the road in all situations
The install was easy, but you need to man handle the base shocks in the front to get them out. I used the zip tie method and I needed to use a crow bar to compress the shock upward and with my other hand, pull the zip ties. Jacking up the control arm didn't really compress the shock much. Then I needed to use both hands to continue compressing the shock and pull the zip ties. It worked, I was tired afterwards. Once out, the rest of the install for all 4 shocks took about an hour. 2 hours total, jacked up all tires removed.
Some more notes on the install: I dismounted the coolant overflow to get to the nut. Used a lisle tool, but don't think I needed it - could have used vice grip to hold it and a ratcheting box wrench to remove the top nut. Had a 24mm socket ($5) and 24mm box wrench ($5) that came in handy on the rear.
I reused all OEM hardware, bump stop and dust cover. The only other Koni part I used was the top nut.
This may be the best mod...
