I'm stoopid

[2Fass240us]

Please help me understand why Koni's rock the face so much. I never heard much about them before I joined, and it seems like that's all we talk about.

[veilside180sx]

Digressive valving, better low speed control, and adjustability that does something.

[AceInHole]

It was all yellow.

[2Fass240us]

It was all yellow.
WAT?!

[ecugrad]

WAT?!


Anything Yellow IMMEDIATELY gives you an extra 20hp

[a_ahmed]

and it makes u in with da ladies ;)

[turtl631]

Haha- I'll leave that alone.

The damping curves are way better than anything else out there for our cars. Reasonable force levels and digressive character. Competition proven. Easily serviceable. What's not to like? I always wanted Konis, but the Yellows just seemed like a bad option since the rears were not externally adjustable, the fronts required cutting stock housings, and the front would still be travel limited. After a few years of dealing with Stance coilover skitteriness and obnoxious street manners, I'm definitely ready for something that will soak up bumps and provide serious mechanical grip. My only real complaint about them is that I've read that Konis aren't super consistent from damper to damper, so without a dyno you can't be sure that 2 clicks from soft is relatively similar on your 2 rear dampers. I think the positives outweigh that concern though.

[ecugrad]

Easily serviceable.

That is debatable.

Any Joe Schmoe can rebuild/revalve a Bilstein, only 3 places in the US can do that to Koni's

I have a friend who has got HOSED by service on Koni's at Solo Nats, TWICE.

[AceInHole]

That is debatable.

Any Joe Schmoe can rebuild/revalve a Bilstein, only 3 places in the US can do that to Koni's

I have a friend who has got HOSED by service on Koni's at Solo Nats, TWICE.

I thought the Koni guys at Nats did service for cost by parts-only, no labor charge?

[spool_sample]

I thought the Koni guys at Nats did service for cost by parts-only, no labor charge?

They do.

Strange.

[turtl631]

Well, at least you can actually get them revalved and rebuilt. I imagine getting anything done with JDM coilovers is pretty impossible, other than replacement of the dampers. And of course, it's internet hearsay, but weren't there a bunch of JIC coilovers that were supposed to be custom valved and were just the same, off the shelf stuff?

[ecugrad]

They do.

Strange.


They do but I don't think they had the stuff to do their pimpy 30 series shocks.

[Def]

Well, at least you can actually get them revalved and rebuilt. I imagine getting anything done with JDM coilovers is pretty impossible, other than replacement of the dampers. And of course, it's internet hearsay, but weren't there a bunch of JIC coilovers that were supposed to be custom valved and were just the same, off the shelf stuff?

It's true. Happened to a bunch of guys on Honda-Tech.com. Some even spec'd out force levels at a given piston speed and it was just the run of the mill valving(which sucks anyway), so you can tell they never had them on a dyno. I don't think it was cheap getting them custom valved either - definitely at least a few hundred bucks.

[BigOdom1]

the thing that kills me is i have been running GC with Koni Yellow since 2003. same springs and shocks. back then everyone was like dude you should get some coilovers. then about a year ago vielside came through and made it a common option. you know how long i have been waiting for some other people to get this setup so that i could compare with out spending a grip changing springs rates and shock valving. now all you fools need to get them on and we can work togethor to narrow down different setups depending on usage. so thanks again to Veilside.

[turtl631]

Ha! I knew there was SOMEBODY out there with Yellows. I just didn't want to deal with limited front travel and no rear adjustability, and when I bought my coilovers, I was more averse to fabrication than I am now.

[ecugrad]

Ha! I knew there was SOMEBODY out there with Yellows. I just didn't want to deal with limited front travel and no rear adjustability, and when I bought my coilovers, I was more averse to fabrication than I am now.


I have yelllows and am happy as well. The key is to keep REASONABLE spring rates.

[Blair]

My only real complaint about them is that I've read that Konis aren't super consistent from damper to damper, so without a dyno you can't be sure that 2 clicks from soft is relatively similar on your 2 rear dampers. I think the positives outweigh that concern though.


Are you talking about from individual damper to damper of the same type/series? Or between different type/series? I got the dyno plots from my old set of 8611's and they are *so* close that there is no way you could tell the difference.

[turtl631]

Yes, differences between individual dampers. This is what I've read- I don't have a shock dyno and haven't tested any myself.

http://farnorthracing.com/autocross_secrets6.html

I guess he was referring specifically to Yellows here: "Koni's quality control on the Yellows is such that the odds on any two shocks with the same part number matching forces are very small - there's quite a bit of shock-to-shock variation. But bought as a group buy and then dyno matched, it is possible to put together matched sets. Be aware that I've seen Koni Yellows with the same part number that matched perfectly when one was 1/2 turn off full hard, and the other was at full soft - I consider the adjuster knob a way to match shocks on the dyno, NOT a tuning tool."

[WishIHadaSilvia]

It's true. Happened to a bunch of guys on Honda-Tech.com. Some even spec'd out force levels at a given piston speed and it was just the run of the mill valving(which sucks anyway), so you can tell they never had them on a dyno. I don't think it was cheap getting them custom valved either - definitely at least a few hundred bucks.

The funny part about that is I've emailed JIC several times (as I have some JIC coilovers - for now) and they've always written or called me back right away. The second I sent an email asking about getting them custom valved - I through the line in "I assume you would be sending me the shock dynos for each individual shock right?" - and I have yet to hear back from them. I was just curious because it would only be ~750 bucks to get all 4 coilovers rebuilt and custom valved - which if you could get them to match a shock dyno would be an awesome price.

[spool_sample]

Yes, differences between individual dampers. This is what I've read- I don't have a shock dyno and haven't tested any myself.

http://farnorthracing.com/autocross_secrets6.html

I guess he was referring specifically to Yellows here: "Koni's quality control on the Yellows is such that the odds on any two shocks with the same part number matching forces are very small - there's quite a bit of shock-to-shock variation. But bought as a group buy and then dyno matched, it is possible to put together matched sets. Be aware that I've seen Koni Yellows with the same part number that matched perfectly when one was 1/2 turn off full hard, and the other was at full soft - I consider the adjuster knob a way to match shocks on the dyno, NOT a tuning tool."

I've read that before, but you have to remember that 86xx are not really Yellows. I don't work for Koni (obviously :p), but I would think that there would be more emphasis on matching special-order motorsports shocks than mass-produced street car variants.

I'll bet DG has worked with some of the more elaborate Koni variants, but since he makes no mention of them, I wonder what his thoughts/findings are.

[ecugrad]

Ill bet DG has worked with some of the more elaborate Koni variants, but since he makes no mention of them, I wonder what his thoughts/findings are.

Actually, back when that was wrote, I owed a DSM and have read most of what he as wrote.

DG was on the Koni bandwagon to begin with but then went to Bilsteins. He liked the fact that he could rebuild/revalve the Bilsteins himself (among other things)

[veilside180sx]

His site was updated at the end of last year from what I recall, although most changes were pretty minor.