Notices
Brakes & Suspension 350Z stoppers, coils, shocks/dampers

Koni shocks - spring perch height adjustment

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 01-25-2005, 10:43 PM
  #1  
jreiter
New Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (6)
 
jreiter's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: san luis obispo, ca
Posts: 1,580
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Koni shocks - spring perch height adjustment

I just opened up my Koni shocks and noticed that the front shocks have two slots to allow for two different spring perch height adjustments. They are maybe .25" inch apart. They came stock in the lower of the two grooves.

Has anyone moved these to the higher groove? Or has anyone else had their Konis come set to the higher groove by default?

I ask because one of the things I don't like about the Z is that it is slightly lower in the front than in the rear. (Just a tiny bit.) It's not bad, but I certainly don't want the front getting any *lower* in relation to the rear when I install these shocks. The trick is that the setting on the shocks looks like *too* much lift if I move it up. I don't want the front end suddenly higher than the back.
Old 01-26-2005, 08:48 AM
  #2  
Gsedan35
New Member
iTrader: (10)
 
Gsedan35's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Central California
Posts: 3,121
Likes: 0
Received 7 Likes on 7 Posts
Default

I sorta recall that someone may have touched on the issue, but to find out would require searching a mountain of Koni posts from the past.

IMO, I would use the lower position. But I don't know if your self installing, if your not and you don't like it, it would mean $$ to reinstall.
Old 01-26-2005, 12:27 PM
  #3  
jreiter
New Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (6)
 
jreiter's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: san luis obispo, ca
Posts: 1,580
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

I'm having a buddy install it has his shop. I get a great deal, but it still costs me.

I'm only concerned because of my prior experience installing aftermarket shocks on my last car. I had Bilsteins, and they also had those spring perch adjustments on the front and rear shocks. (The Z Konis only have them on the front.) Anyway, the factory setting on the Bilsteins dropped the front end like crazy, and left the back end up high. Looked stupid. Had to remove the shocks (which involved removing the entire suspension again), adjust the fronts all the way to the top and drop the rears all the way down to get it even! Needless to say, I was frustrated.
Old 01-26-2005, 02:48 PM
  #4  
christoc
New Member
iTrader: (2)
 
christoc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Wildwood, MO
Posts: 1,085
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

I wrote up a Koni install article back in June when I installed mine. It's really an easy install, even point out something that I f'd up and had to go back and fix!

http://www.solo2.org/blogs/christoc/...06/08/374.aspx
Old 01-26-2005, 02:54 PM
  #5  
zwindsor
Twisty addict
iTrader: (6)
 
zwindsor's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Upper Nor_Cal
Posts: 2,427
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

If I remember my install correctly you can only use the lower position. If you reverse the ring you can't get the shaft nut on.
Old 01-26-2005, 05:10 PM
  #6  
jreiter
New Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (6)
 
jreiter's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: san luis obispo, ca
Posts: 1,580
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally posted by zwindsor
If I remember my install correctly you can only use the lower position. If you reverse the ring you can't get the shaft nut on.
Really? You mean if you use the higher groove rather than the lower one? I just want to use the one that doesn't change the perch height compared to stock.
Old 01-26-2005, 05:11 PM
  #7  
jreiter
New Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (6)
 
jreiter's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: san luis obispo, ca
Posts: 1,580
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally posted by christoc
I wrote up a Koni install article back in June when I installed mine. It's really an easy install, even point out something that I f'd up and had to go back and fix!
http://www.solo2.org/blogs/christoc/...06/08/374.aspx
Excellent, thanks for the link. I'll keep that with me with we do the install.
Old 01-27-2005, 07:45 AM
  #8  
zwindsor
Twisty addict
iTrader: (6)
 
zwindsor's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Upper Nor_Cal
Posts: 2,427
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally posted by jreiter
Really? You mean if you use the higher groove rather than the lower one? I just want to use the one that doesn't change the perch height compared to stock.
All I can remember is that when I slide the perch over the strut on the first one I did it upsidedown and was no longer able to get the nut on without having to compress the springs. This wasn't necessary when I put the Eibach springs on with the OEM struts so I figured something had to have raised the spring. The logical change was the perch position so I flipped it and that solved the problem.
Old 01-27-2005, 01:18 PM
  #9  
jreiter
New Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (6)
 
jreiter's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: san luis obispo, ca
Posts: 1,580
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally posted by zwindsor
The logical change was the perch position so I flipped it and that solved the problem.
I think I might be misunderstanding what you're saying. Did you actually have the spring perch itself on *upside down*? Or did you have it correct side up the whole time, and only experimented with the two spring perch height grooves? I think what is confusing me here is your use of the word "flipped."
Old 01-27-2005, 01:39 PM
  #10  
zwindsor
Twisty addict
iTrader: (6)
 
zwindsor's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Upper Nor_Cal
Posts: 2,427
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally posted by jreiter
I think I might be misunderstanding what you're saying. Did you actually have the spring perch itself on *upside down*? Or did you have it correct side up the whole time, and only experimented with the two spring perch height grooves? I think what is confusing me here is your use of the word "flipped."
The spring perch was upside down. I left the "grove height" as it came from the factory and I believe it was in the lower setting.
Old 01-28-2005, 01:38 AM
  #11  
jreiter
New Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (6)
 
jreiter's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: san luis obispo, ca
Posts: 1,580
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Yeah, installed the springs and shocks tonight. I wasn't aware of just how easy the Z's suspension is to work on, especially the rear. Compared to my previous Audi A4, this thing is cake!

But anyway, the lower groove does indeed appear to be right. The front and rear heights are about even.
Old 01-28-2005, 07:41 AM
  #12  
zwindsor
Twisty addict
iTrader: (6)
 
zwindsor's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Upper Nor_Cal
Posts: 2,427
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Glad you got it all together. Enjoy the improved ride.
Old 01-28-2005, 12:22 PM
  #13  
jreiter
New Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (6)
 
jreiter's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: san luis obispo, ca
Posts: 1,580
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Definitely. I've only had it on since last night (and it's been raining), but already I can tell that it's more solid than stock. I set the Konis at 25%, so that's probably the biggest improvement to be honest.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Lt_Ballzacki
Brakes & Suspension
39
08-06-2021 06:19 AM
MM'08_350Z
VQ35HR
225
04-22-2021 09:42 PM
Rowlett
Misc.
3
10-02-2015 10:38 AM
EnjukuRacing
Engine
0
09-30-2015 06:55 AM



Quick Reply: Koni shocks - spring perch height adjustment



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 02:08 PM.