Koni Hypercoil Pkg. Installed...!
10-07-2005, 06:21 PM
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Koni Hypercoil Pkg. Installed...!
Hi Everyone,
I wanted to give you an update on the new suspension pkg I bought from from Carl..
Install:
The install is a bit of work, as the front adjuster mounts have to be JB welded to the shock body, and the boots needed to be modified to fit inside the springs. I cut the boot and used a rubber boot instead of the ABS plastic, and it seems fine.
The rear was easier, however, the boot had to be modified, as it rubbed on the springs, and actually still does.. I should pull them, and replace them with rubber boots, but then I have to put the car on a lift etc... And I want to drive... The slight rubbing does not bother me that much, but if it gets to me, I'll pull the assemblies and use rubber boots..
Ride:
The ride height was adjusted to about 160mm front, and rear, and I think I can drop the front another 5mm.. I plan on doing that, and see if it bottoms.. Currently it does not, as I tested it on a few hard bumps and dips, and nothing..
The front shocks are set to 80% stiff rebound, and the rears are at 50%.. I will be moving the rears to 75% stiff, as the car feels a bit springy in the rear..
BTW, I am using 600# Front, and 400# Rear springs with Internally Adjustable Konis. The tool provided makes it quite easy to adjust the rear shock, and I bought a set of T Handle metric wrenches from Harbor Freight to adjust the front.. Also very easy considering the placement of the towers in front.
The ride is verrrrrry different from how it was with the Factory Sport Setup.. Granted the suspension is now very new, and I can remember the old one being a bit soft in comparison.. I am unsure I will use the car as much in winter (rain), as it is a bit on the stiff side. (Mercedes now happy to be no parked as rainy season coming up...) Once I get the rebound dialed in on the rear, I think it will make a canyon carver out of this 3500 # U Boat....
I also have 285/30-18 all around, and this I am sure helps to exascerbate the go-kart feeling. The ride is not bad over bumps and freeway joints... not as smooth as prior, but not uncomfortable.. However, I have the pleasure of having smooth roads in CA, and many of them are recently redone. (If I lived in NYC, I would not do this pkg.......!)
Pixx of the rears ar in the "a few mods in and out" post. I will post front pixx when I adjust the ride height this weekend..
HTH
Thanks Carl,
Hope I was not much of a pain...
I wanted to give you an update on the new suspension pkg I bought from from Carl..
Install:
The install is a bit of work, as the front adjuster mounts have to be JB welded to the shock body, and the boots needed to be modified to fit inside the springs. I cut the boot and used a rubber boot instead of the ABS plastic, and it seems fine.
The rear was easier, however, the boot had to be modified, as it rubbed on the springs, and actually still does.. I should pull them, and replace them with rubber boots, but then I have to put the car on a lift etc... And I want to drive... The slight rubbing does not bother me that much, but if it gets to me, I'll pull the assemblies and use rubber boots..
Ride:
The ride height was adjusted to about 160mm front, and rear, and I think I can drop the front another 5mm.. I plan on doing that, and see if it bottoms.. Currently it does not, as I tested it on a few hard bumps and dips, and nothing..
The front shocks are set to 80% stiff rebound, and the rears are at 50%.. I will be moving the rears to 75% stiff, as the car feels a bit springy in the rear..
BTW, I am using 600# Front, and 400# Rear springs with Internally Adjustable Konis. The tool provided makes it quite easy to adjust the rear shock, and I bought a set of T Handle metric wrenches from Harbor Freight to adjust the front.. Also very easy considering the placement of the towers in front.
The ride is verrrrrry different from how it was with the Factory Sport Setup.. Granted the suspension is now very new, and I can remember the old one being a bit soft in comparison.. I am unsure I will use the car as much in winter (rain), as it is a bit on the stiff side. (Mercedes now happy to be no parked as rainy season coming up...) Once I get the rebound dialed in on the rear, I think it will make a canyon carver out of this 3500 # U Boat....
I also have 285/30-18 all around, and this I am sure helps to exascerbate the go-kart feeling. The ride is not bad over bumps and freeway joints... not as smooth as prior, but not uncomfortable.. However, I have the pleasure of having smooth roads in CA, and many of them are recently redone. (If I lived in NYC, I would not do this pkg.......!)
Pixx of the rears ar in the "a few mods in and out" post. I will post front pixx when I adjust the ride height this weekend..
HTH
Thanks Carl,
Hope I was not much of a pain...
10-07-2005, 06:35 PM
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Originally Posted by blau928
Install:
The install is a bit of work, as the front adjuster mounts have to be JB welded to the shock body,
The install is a bit of work, as the front adjuster mounts have to be JB welded to the shock body,
10-10-2005, 02:30 PM
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I will snap some pixx of the fronts and post them.. I should have done it on the weekend when I was tweaking the ride height on Sat.. I forgot.. In essence, I had to modify the front spring to fit the hats, and JB weld the threaded adjuster collar to the Koni Shocks in Front. The stuff had to be apart and on the lift for an added 24 hrs.. I think it would be better to ship the kits with extra collars already welded to the shock. This would minimize the down time. In addition, if the springs do not exactly fit into the hats, and you do not have a grinder, then you will need one...
I also had to modify the dust boots in Front and rear, as they did not easily fit the inside of the spring. The rears rub, and I have lubed them some more so they are a bit quieter now. The fronts had to be modified completely, and I am now using the upper part of the original dust boot with a rubber boot I got from the Shop which was on a Monroe Truck Shock....
I would not want to run without dust boots on the street.. Track car maybe... Street car... No..
Regards,
I also had to modify the dust boots in Front and rear, as they did not easily fit the inside of the spring. The rears rub, and I have lubed them some more so they are a bit quieter now. The fronts had to be modified completely, and I am now using the upper part of the original dust boot with a rubber boot I got from the Shop which was on a Monroe Truck Shock....
I would not want to run without dust boots on the street.. Track car maybe... Street car... No..
Regards,
10-10-2005, 03:24 PM
#4
Drifting
hey richard, that sounds very cool! its a shame you had a fiddle building up the struts, i dont think there are as many issues with the bilsteins, but then you loose out on ajustment. sounds like a significant step up from the factory springs in terms of stiffness, but this will make a welcome improvement in lessening body roll and also help prevent bottoming out. i was using the eibach progressive springs but still thought the car needed more, especialy if you want to push it. i know what you mean about aproaching winter more cautiously once you stiffen the ride but you might find it makes drifting more controlable, just put some stickier rubber on! mind you those big fronts are going to want to aquaplane... i will let you know how my 550 front 350 rears work out, ive also dropped a lot of weight from the car but im hoping it wont be bone jarringly stiff!
10-10-2005, 03:40 PM
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Hi Nick,
It's now very stiff.. not bone jarring, but very stiff.. Drifits are controllable, and I am still in process of learning the car's altered limits.. Toyo RA-1's are on the list for tire replacements..!
No bottoming, and yes, a reason I'm concerned about rain etc. is the steamrollers on the front..
The car also tramlines more at lower speeds, which is fully understandable.. At higher speeds, it steeles down quite nicely.. I was tweaking the setup this weekend.. I have them set to 87.5% Stiff Front, and 75% Stiff Rear... I also had a locknut come loose on the left front, but snugged it up and all seems to be well now. I may adjust the rear to be a bit stiffer as it seems just a hair jittery on turns with ripples....
Let me know how yours turn out...!
Cheers,
It's now very stiff.. not bone jarring, but very stiff.. Drifits are controllable, and I am still in process of learning the car's altered limits.. Toyo RA-1's are on the list for tire replacements..!
No bottoming, and yes, a reason I'm concerned about rain etc. is the steamrollers on the front..
The car also tramlines more at lower speeds, which is fully understandable.. At higher speeds, it steeles down quite nicely.. I was tweaking the setup this weekend.. I have them set to 87.5% Stiff Front, and 75% Stiff Rear... I also had a locknut come loose on the left front, but snugged it up and all seems to be well now. I may adjust the rear to be a bit stiffer as it seems just a hair jittery on turns with ripples....
Let me know how yours turn out...!
Cheers,
