stilsons koni king spring combo!

stilson

stilson

Forum Member
Joined
Dec 27, 2011
Messages
1,790
Location
Sunny Balga WA
Today I got the phone call I've been waiting for, original SG struts have been modified to fit new koni inserts, standard height king springs had arrived and everything was ready for me to pick up.

Unfortunately the shock travel is still the same as no longer travel konis exist that will fit.

The replacement standard height kings will lift my car back up to what it was new and I couldn't find standard spring rates so have had to go with the +30%. Unloaded they may even sit slightly higher than stock ~10mm.

Pics and part numbers to follow shortly and review as soon as I have put them through their paces.
 
Koni 8610-1351sport
Koni 8610-1408sport
Kings KSFR28
Kings KSRS43

Bump stops are Kings KSBS04
 
Gidday ST

Any comments on the new ride/handling?

Hope it's worked out how you wanted it to ... :).
 
Not yet fitted RB, I have to drill holes in my lift blocks so the damper rebound adjustment is accessible then powdercoat them. Then fit it up and perhaps get an alignment.
 
:lol:

I didn't think of that ... :poke:

Must be all the cold galvanising paint fumes I have been inhaling yesterday and today.

BTW, it seems that Killrust have made a bad batch of this stuff. I have had to take a few cans back in the last couple of weeks. Been using it in either ordinary can or spray can form since the mid-1970s, so I guess they are allowed to have an off batch occasionally :iconwink:. Anyway, Morgans swapped them over without the slightest quibble. Good mob to deal with IME.
 
Bugger, rear shocks have 30mm less stroke and fronts have 10mm less.

Back to the drawing board!
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by stilson View Post
Longer koni inserts and threaded extensions on factory struts.
Haven't found any longer than 205 mm stroke Koni inserts…SG oem struts have 190 mm.

I ordered custom Hotbits coil-overs with 240 mm stroke front and 260 mm stroke rear, they have just been finished and should arrive within a week, I'll give you more details
__________________
Quaife f/r, Proflex, DCCD, 1,59:1

We have already written about the Koni inserts…and I looked at them in the past but they just don't have more stroke than oems.

I'll put my Hotbits in my Foz very soon (doing the engine swap right now) and will report on my members journal.
 
Inserts refitted with spacers, I'm told they have the same stroke but the bodies are shorter but I'm not sure i believe them. Problem is first 2 times I went in to discuss they didn't want to know about it and the last 2 times I had the kids with me and couldn't really hang around in the workshop and check everything was what I wanted. Getting pretty tired of this "it's just a forester" crap. I think what I have now is better than what I had before but I'm sure it's not as good as it could have been. My mate works there and they did it all without charging labour and there was very little mark up on the springs, (unsure about the dampers) now I feel like they've done me a favour (which they have) and I don't want to keep going back and being a pain in their arse.

Initial impression on the road is that it handles much better, body roll is almost non existent and ride is firm boardering on harsh.

Car is sitting about 20mm higher i guesstimate. Hopefully the springs soften a little over time.

Will report back once it goes off road.

What I've learned: an expert shop is really no match for a passionate enthusiast when it comes to researching a custom setup.

Even though I got the whole lot done for under $1300 I wish I had just ordered the parts myself online.
 
Last edited:
Monster Energy: Ballistic BJ Baldwin Recoil 2 - U…: https://youtu.be/JXMyZ929lpY this is how my car feels now :)

May have jumped the gun.

These are values taken with sus fitted and a plastic rule and I wont re measure in case I am wrong because I am happy again:

Front +3mm compressed and +10mm extended = +7mm travel.

Rear -5mm compressed and + 12mm extended = +17mm travel.

Car feels so tight I think I could disconnect both sway bars and it would still be way better onroad and I would gain all my articulation back, maybe even some extra to boot.
 
Are the values taken VS oem SG struts ? With the same springs on both setups ?
 




Some comparisons between my car and Red XS.

Mine has 37mm blocks fitted and +29mm radius tyres.
His has 25mm blocks fitted and standard tyres.

Allow a decent margin of error as the ramps we were using wouldn't stay under the wheels on the floor in my shed so we had to take measurements on the grass for reds car. The ramp was also not high enough once the swaybars were disconnected so we had to add blocks of wood on and under the ramp.

The rectangle in the diagrams in the position of the ramp.
Limited time meant we only used the ramp under rear wheels for most tests as shown.
 
Nice comparison with Red XS.

If I understand, Red has more wheel travel (37mm) because he is on the oem springs, is that right ?

Do you usually drive your car loaded ? If so, the stiffer springs are ok.
 
Correct JF1.

Unfortunately I am usually travelling light.

Interestingly my front wheel centre to fender measurement is the same as Reds despite my 37mm blocks and his 25. Looks like they have used SF standard height springs as there are no SG ones. Problem is the SF front spring seats sit 15mm higher. Rang them again and they will try to track down some springs 15 to 25mm longer, otherwise I guess I am on the lookout for a set of SF front struts to cannibalise.
 
Last edited:
Not sure that the SF struts is a good idea as they have 170mm stroke VS 190mm stroke for the SG's but if you put your Koni inserts into the SF's, then you'll have the best of both, long stroke and high spring perches. Is that the idea ?
 
Hey stilson, just picked up my car from an alignment by the suspension shop that built Douglas' koni setup last year - https://offroadsubarus.com/showthread.php?t=5083&highlight=douglas+ferrier

Douglas mentions an internal restrictor in post #8. Did you have that removed on your inserts? Any chance of an update on your overall travel with these shocks?

Apparently I am in need of new shocks and would appreciate your thoughts.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top