As my car sits in storage for the moment, the idea of popping the struts off and stiffening them up a bit crossed my mind. It SHOULD be pretty straight forward, but I figured I'd ask advice from anyone who has done this before.

I'm asking since I didn't install the cartridges myself...I had a shop do it 2 years back because I didn't have a Sawzall or spring compressors at the time. But I have since inherited a set of spring compressors and would like to stiffen the ole' Konis up a bit.

I'm also assuming an impact gun will be required to get the top nut off?

 

aside from the basic strut replacement procedures,
http://www.4dsc.com/articles/suspens...h_tokico.shtml
here are instructions on how to adjust the konis, in case you didnt know for sure.

http://www.koni-na.com/comp.html
btw, how you like the konis, and how did you drive your car(dd, track, etc...)

 

Just be prepared to drop your entire suspension.... That's a long job, IMO, even with pneumatics. All to turn 4 valves in your struts. I readjusted mine to a little less than half stiff because 60% stiff was WAY too much. But that was only because I was doing rear parallel links, rear wheel bearings, and the transmission swap...so I had them out already.

With that in mind I'd say that unless you're taking the suspension down for a reason, don't do it. I'd save it for a time when you really have to take them down again, or if you're at least changing a wheel bearing or something. That's just my opinion though.... Like I said it's a lot of work to just turn 4 valves about 40 degrees.

 

I'll be doing it when I swap the VG-5 for the VE-5 tranny. I've got to swap the hubs, anyway.

And yes, benstoked, the Konis are definitely worth the $$$ IMO...I just wanted a DD that OWNS in the corners and is pretty quick, too...

 

stop by my house in spring time, buy me a set craftman metric impact sockets, feed me and we can tackle this in less than 4 hours, maybe 2 if you're handy enough I've got all the tools to do struts yes air too, I've done all 4 struts and the rears twice oh and bring the compressors I dont have those lol

Brian I'm still waiting for those warranty struts

 

Funny, mine are currently at about 60% IIRC. They're just fine as they are, but I want them REALLY stiff...I'm not too concerned about ride quality.

 

thats what she said

 

Yes...yes it is...

 

when do you want them?

 

oh snap you got em?

bla too sick to care about em right now, just let me know if all the calls are done and I can just bring in the old ones. Once I know I'll make time once I'm back on my feet. I cant drive my max

thanks Brian :

 

they're basically a phone call away so let me know a couple of days in advance and I'll get them brought in.

 

I recall a while ago in a conversation I had with a Koni rep that our shocks do wear out to the point that they need revalving and then the holy grail came up in the conversation ... the shocks can be converted to in-car adjustables like the Sports (yellow) series! I don't know if they still do this as this was discussed almost 5 years ago or so. Mine are showing signs of needing some stiffening given that the car tends to wallow on some undulating roads which is comfortable but it almost feels like I'm riding on my Eibach's alone, until I hit a 55km/h bend at 150km/h and have the rear end oversteer on me without the handbrake.

Still, it's worth doing some local research if you can to find out if this can definitely be done as it would save you so much trouble in future. I'll be looking into it when I perform the engine swap later this year and replace all the bushes (still the original 16 year old rubbers which are holding up pretty well).