Suspension & Brakes Theory, alignment, spring rates....

Koni GC problem...

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Old Nov 19, 2009 | 11:58 AM
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From: SoFlo
Default Koni GC problem...

i just installed new koni yellows on my hatch with some old ground controls that a friend gave me...i had the day off so i decided to install the koni's since my shocks were blown. When i took everything off i noticed i didnt have bumpstops but installed it anyways...now the car rides even worse now...everytime it does over a bump it sounds like its bottoming out...does bumpstops make that much of a difference? is it even that? need your help...
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Old Nov 19, 2009 | 12:11 PM
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Default Re: Koni GC problem...

my car is on top of the tire when no ones in the car so its pretty slammed....i also put the circlip on the lower one on the front shocks and left it in the 2nd one on the rears...
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Old Nov 19, 2009 | 12:43 PM
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Default Re: Koni GC problem...

You need bumpstops to save the shocks, especially with the car dumped to flushed tires (or lower).
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Old Nov 19, 2009 | 01:17 PM
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Default Re: Koni GC problem...

Are you sure you have the correct kit for Koni shocks?
What spring rates/lengths do you have?
Pictures would help the most.
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Old Nov 19, 2009 | 02:05 PM
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Default Re: Koni GC problem...

hi trevor i was the guy who emailed u the pics of the shocks so get the GC sleeves for the konis... i have no clue on the spring rates...the length of the springs look tiny...very little loops..
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Old Nov 19, 2009 | 02:07 PM
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From: SoFlo
Default Re: Koni GC problem...

yea i will be ordering the bumpstops this weekend...the car rides smooth on the highway but when i get a little sewer ditch(not deep maybe like half an inch deep) it sounds like its bottoming out...god knows what car the springs are for...i got them from a friend that had them on a civic he bought...just sucks i spent all this money on new konis and gc sleeves and it still rides horrible...
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Old Nov 19, 2009 | 02:20 PM
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Default Re: Koni GC problem...

Can you tell us the numbers off the springs? If it's an Eibach spring it should tell us the rate and length.
Thanks
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Old Nov 19, 2009 | 07:24 PM
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Default Re: Koni GC problem...

Will do this weekend:.. Can GC trade me springs? I would love it!!!
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Old Nov 19, 2009 | 09:11 PM
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Default Re: Koni GC problem...

https://honda-tech.com/forums/honda-crx-ef-civic-1988-1991-3/how-petsmart-bumpstops-2203422/
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Old Nov 20, 2009 | 06:05 AM
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From: SoFlo
Default Re: Koni GC problem...

Awesome I will try that.. How come I see alot of people not using the metal seats provided by koni? I'm using it.. But the bumpstops only work if the shock is completely compressed right? The bumps I'm going over arent that big to be bottoming out so easily... Ima take them off and reinstall them... For some reason my front shocks had a metal piece under the tophat and ontop of the spring...so it's metal to metal.. Could it be that when I hit a bump the car jumps so the spring slams into that metal disk under the tophat... I'll try and find a pic of one..
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Old Nov 20, 2009 | 06:14 AM
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Default Re: Koni GC problem...

the metal seats are to hold the spring. gc's have a special collar to hold itself onto the metal circlip.
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Old Nov 20, 2009 | 06:57 AM
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From: SoFlo
Default Re: Koni GC problem...

So it's suppose to be there?
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Old Nov 20, 2009 | 07:36 AM
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Default Re: Koni GC problem...

Sounds like you have the wrong sleeves all together. If you are using the koni spring perches for an OEM sized spring, you have too many parts installed. I'm not 100% on who you are, but if I remember correctly you never bought the Koni specified sleeves and perches.
Like I said, pictures will help figure out the problem alot faster that trying to explain the problem.
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Old Nov 20, 2009 | 08:27 AM
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Default Re: Koni GC problem...

Yea I did get the right sleeves from u.. I sent u a pic of the iluminas with gc I had on the car.. U told me to shine a flashlight and send u the pic.. The sleeve fits the Koni like a glove...
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Old Nov 20, 2009 | 08:32 AM
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Default Re: Koni GC problem...

When I installed the gc on tHe konis, the spring has alot before it touchs the tophat... Is it suppose to be sitting on the gc gold ring and tophat when off the car or is it suppose to have like a few inches of play?
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Old Nov 20, 2009 | 08:51 AM
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Default Re: Koni GC problem...

Originally Posted by hialeahzbg
When I installed the gc on tHe konis, the spring has alot before it touchs the tophat... Is it suppose to be sitting on the gc gold ring and tophat when off the car or is it suppose to have like a few inches of play?
That depends on the length of the spring. If the spring is short then yes that could happen. I believe most of the civic and acura springs are 7-8" long and 2.5" wide.

Was there a metal circlip on the shocks when you put on the GC sleeve? It should be a little clip that went on the little indentations toward the bottom of the shock and lock into place. The GC koni specific sleeve rests on this clip. You shouldn't be using the large chrome spring perch from the koni shock.
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Old Nov 20, 2009 | 09:09 AM
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Default Re: Koni GC problem...

Originally Posted by hialeahzbg
Yea I did get the right sleeves from u.. I sent u a pic of the iluminas with gc I had on the car.. U told me to shine a flashlight and send u the pic.. The sleeve fits the Koni like a glove...
My appoligies, you must have used a different e-mail for the order. Anyhow, blaze the chemi is correct, the sleeves I sent you should be sitting on top of the circlip of the koni. There should not be anything between the sleeve and the clip.
If you can, get those spring rates off the springs and we'll see what we can come up with.
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Old Nov 20, 2009 | 10:19 AM
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From: SoFlo
Default Re: Koni GC problem...

ok tomm i will be taking them off so ill take a pic plus give u the number on it...
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Old Nov 20, 2009 | 10:34 AM
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Default Re: Koni GC problem...

just to be sure, youre not trying to use the stock dust boots, right?

and how low are you? if this is on a civic or integra, you can drop the shock down the fork a bit lower to get more shock travel if that is what is bottoming out. check if anything else is bottoming out under the fender, maybe its the upper arms.
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Old Nov 20, 2009 | 01:38 PM
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Default Re: Koni GC problem...

I'm not using the dust boot.. It's on the lower clip on the koni...
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Old Nov 20, 2009 | 01:38 PM
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Default Re: Koni GC problem...

My fender is right on the tire..
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Old Nov 20, 2009 | 02:56 PM
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Default Re: Koni GC problem...

thats kinda low. not horribly extreme, but low... you should do more to get some shock travel back than adding a bandaid bumpstop to soften the blow.
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Old Nov 20, 2009 | 05:38 PM
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Default Re: Koni GC problem...

so bumpstops would help?
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Old Nov 22, 2009 | 09:33 AM
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From: SoFlo
Default Re: Koni GC problem...

Do I have to cut the bumpstops in half? I saw a diy install that the guy cut them in half? Why?
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Old Nov 23, 2009 | 03:24 AM
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Default Re: Koni GC problem...

???
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