Koni Adjustables

[poison]

Hi All

Does anyone know what difference in ride height the 3 positions on the Koni
adjustables make? Mine are on the top setting/groove as this was about the
same as my stock shocks which sat an OK height, but it's ended up about 10mm
higher than before, so obviously a tiny bit makes a big difference.

I am thinking of dropping it down a little but don't want to have to change
the setting more than once as it will be a pain. If no ones knows I'll have to
get out my geometry notes and strain the grey matter

I assume I can do this "on the car" using axle stands on the chassis and a
combination of spring compressors and a hydraulic jack to make it easier. The
problem is the MX5 sprigs are so small and close it's hard to get a good
spread when trying to fit the spring compressors. Any ideas on how to easily
achieve this would also be appreciated.

Then it's back to the Archives to find the good wheel aligners.

Cheers

Gazza
"PO1SON"

[garry]

Hmm i wouldnt have thought that shock settings would effect ride height unless
you were talking some sort of adjustable platform height on the shock like you
find on spax shocks and the likes.

A neat trick for compressing tricky springs is to use wire, jack the car up
remove the wheel or wheels, and lower it back down with axle stands under the
lower arms, this puts the weight back on the springs compressing them and
allows you access.

Now tie the springs with wire on each side you will need some decent wire for
this and jack the car back up, as the weight is reduced the springs want to
expand again but cant due to the wire.

To put back together reverse the process and cut the wire after you put the
weight of the car back down on the springs.

This method saves a lot of time as you can do both sides at the same time and
dont need to take the compressors off to get the second side out or use them
to put the springs back in.

Hope this helps.

Garry

[garry]

Hmm i wouldnt have thought that shock settings would effect ride height unless
you were talking some sort of adjustable platform height on the shock like you
find on spax shocks and the likes.

A neat trick for compressing tricky springs is to use wire, jack the car up
remove the wheel or wheels, and lower it back down with axle stands under the
lower arms, this puts the weight back on the springs compressing them and
allows you access.

Now tie the springs with wire on each side you will need some decent wire for
this and jack the car back up, as the weight is reduced the springs want to
expand again but cant due to the wire.

To put back together reverse the process and cut the wire after you put the
weight of the car back down on the springs.

This method saves a lot of time as you can do both sides at the same time and
dont need to take the compressors off to get the second side out or use them
to put the springs back in.

Hope this helps.

Garry

[Badcat]

hi gazza - centreline in grey lynn are excellent and open sat morning.
i knew they were serious when they asked me what i weighed and how much
gas was in the car before they aligned it.

k

[Badcat]

hi gazza - centreline in grey lynn are excellent and open sat morning.
i knew they were serious when they asked me what i weighed and how much
gas was in the car before they aligned it.

k

[poison]

Hi Garry

Thanks for that, the Koni's are height adjustable (3 steps)
and of course you can adjust the rebound too. They have
circlips that sit below the spring basket. There are three
steps factory, the 1st and 2nd are very close and the 3rd a
long way apart, so I machined in a 4th groove between the
two.

I was going to do it using this method but using the spring
compressors rather than wire as I've seen a spring let loose
when the wire snapped, and my fingers will be underneath.
Mind you if you go insane with the wire it may be OK, the
miata springs are so small the spring compressors barely fit
in.

Cheers

Gazza
"PO1SON"


[...]

[DBM58]

Hello to you

I hear a lot of talk about upgrading to Koni adjustable shocks. After your
initial drive around, what sort of difference have they made?

David

From conf@waipunahotel.co.nz Fri Apr 27 17:05:54 2007
Content-class: urn:content-classes:message
MIME-Version: 1.0
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Subject: RE: Manfield open day this Sunday: MX5's welcome
Date: Thu, 28 Apr 2005 13:54:03 +1200
Thread-Topic: Manfield open day this Sunday: MX5's welcome
Thread-Index: AcVLj+qcPrOrAv3sQCG5N8emll4dZQAAx6rw
From: "Nicky Patchett" <conf@waipunahotel.co.nz>
To: "MX5List" <mx5list@mx5club.org.nz>
Precedence: list
Message-ID: <QgdpV.A.O3.TdYMGB@L733>

ummm, yeah... that's right Mike,... none of us Manfeild Driver Trainees
exceeded the 100 k/hr restriction... sounds like Colin can corroborate my
story... D

[DBM58]

Hello to you

I hear a lot of talk about upgrading to Koni adjustable shocks. After your
initial drive around, what sort of difference have they made?

David

From conf@waipunahotel.co.nz Fri Apr 27 17:05:54 2007
Content-class: urn:content-classes:message
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Subject: RE: Manfield open day this Sunday: MX5's welcome
Date: Thu, 28 Apr 2005 13:54:03 +1200
Thread-Topic: Manfield open day this Sunday: MX5's welcome
Thread-Index: AcVLj+qcPrOrAv3sQCG5N8emll4dZQAAx6rw
From: "Nicky Patchett" <conf@waipunahotel.co.nz>
To: "MX5List" <mx5list@mx5club.org.nz>
Precedence: list
Message-ID: <QgdpV.A.O3.TdYMGB@L733>

ummm, yeah... that's right Mike,... none of us Manfeild Driver Trainees
exceeded the 100 k/hr restriction... sounds like Colin can corroborate my
story... D

[poison]

Yup, without a doubt, I went to Albany industrial Estate on
Sunday morning as there are many empty and wide bendy roads
where you can see round the corners. I found by changing the
front to rear settings I could alter the over/under steer.
My original front shocks were still quite hard and damping
well but my back ones were very soft and bouncy. Anyway
after about 15 mins I was squeeling around a corner, I had
just straightened up and there comes a police car the other
way. He could not have seen me do anything out of the
ordinary but turned around and followed me a while none the
less, I hoped just to do a QVR (Query Vehicle Rego). While
some police are switched on there are some real dumb ass
cops out there, I have been stopped a few times and
questioned about drugs just because my plate reads PO1SON.
Anyway, fortunately my friend in uniform lost interest and
went North so I could continue with my testing. The back of
the car is still a little jumpy (although much better than
before) abut I can put this down to wear in the sway bar D
bushes.

IMHO I wish Id got the Tokiko (sp?) set-up rather than
the Konis as you get more options for your bucks. And
unless youre hard out rallying I cant believe you
would wear them out. And you can adjust the height with much
more ease. I kind of view Koni like Sony, ie; brand brand
brand = $$$ Also the paint finish quality on the Konis
is absolutely shit, a thin coat of ugly yellow, not anodised
or 2 pack painted like many brands. And it scrapes off way
too easily during the install. I know a few Koni owners will
write in and wank on how Konis are the best etc etc, but
I bet everything they have ever bought is the best (if you
get my drift). If anyone wants to do a swap talk to me, my
shocks have one hours use Id like to be able to play
around with the height.

By the way, what are most people setting their Koni shocks
on? I have been told that 1 = turns is the maximum setting
but the difference between 1 = turns to 2 turns was quite
noticeable along a bumpy road. Currently I have 1 = turns
rear and 1 turn front. = a turn more each and it bounces
like a fat baby.

Gazza

PO1SON


[...]

[SLYDIT]

Gazza.
The koni adjustment only affects rebound, not bump.
I think you'd be better getting some higher rate
springs... Thats what i came to realise, the cars
stock springs are just too soft for a stiff ride that
i was used to in my other cars.
I thought that getting konis would solve the softness
of my stock suspension, which it has to a degree, but
not enough...
Ive read some posts where turning the shocks beyond
1-1.5 turns when new can cause them to leak from over
pressure. Don't know how true this is but i wouldnt
risk it
Im running 1/2 turn all round and thats pretty hard on
the rebound.The car needs more bump resistance.


Glenn "SLYDIT"
http://miata.cardomain.com/id/supasparky
Currently building a DIY Turbo..Subaru VF10 Turbo, Weld el manifold, 2.5"exhaust,subaru BOV, Isuzu intercooler, 330cc GTX injectors, dual feed fuel rail,RX7 air flow meter, Greddy Emanage piggy back computor.Custom full length cold air box...YEEEEEHHHAAA
Hopefully finished by summer:)

[SLYDIT]

Gazza.
The koni adjustment only affects rebound, not bump.
I think you'd be better getting some higher rate
springs... Thats what i came to realise, the cars
stock springs are just too soft for a stiff ride that
i was used to in my other cars.
I thought that getting konis would solve the softness
of my stock suspension, which it has to a degree, but
not enough...
Ive read some posts where turning the shocks beyond
1-1.5 turns when new can cause them to leak from over
pressure. Don't know how true this is but i wouldnt
risk it
Im running 1/2 turn all round and thats pretty hard on
the rebound.The car needs more bump resistance.


Glenn "SLYDIT"
http://miata.cardomain.com/id/supasparky
Currently building a DIY Turbo..Subaru VF10 Turbo, Weld el manifold, 2.5"exhaust,subaru BOV, Isuzu intercooler, 330cc GTX injectors, dual feed fuel rail,RX7 air flow meter, Greddy Emanage piggy back computor.Custom full length cold air box...YEEEEEHHHAAA
Hopefully finished by summer:)

[poison]

Hi Glenn

Cheers for that, I hear that there are two types of spring, variable rate (a
more comfortable ride, soft initially then harder as they compress) and
constant which is hard all the way (but more bumpy). I imagine the variable
are better for NZ roads as if he spring rate is too hard the car will lose
traction on corners of rough roads. Have you any thoughts on this, or brands
etc.

Cheers

Gazza
"PO1SON"

[Mike Jolley]

Have driven mx with koni and king springs,corners nice but to stiff.Just
love my smooth adjustable tokiko luminers very plush. mike

[Mike Jolley]

Have driven mx with koni and king springs,corners nice but to stiff.Just
love my smooth adjustable tokiko luminers very plush. mike