I'm planning on campaigning in A-stock for the 05 Auto-X season. Right now it would seem a set of custom valved Koni's would be the best way to go for stock class. Anyone else have a better idea of how to get them most out of a setup under the stock restriction(read with the stock springs). Or is there anyone here that has gotten Koni's have feedback for them. Thanks.

can't even change the sway bar?

You can cahnge front sway, which I plan on doing soon. That is pretty simple though go with a big one and drive if needed get slightly smaller. THe struts are a little more complicated and exensive, so I'd like to be able to make an informed decision.

I'd run a moderately stiff rear compression with "stiff as piss" rear rebound. Couple that with a moderately stiff front compression and rebound and a "stiff as piss" front sway bar.

Oh... and spring for the double adjustable units. Its worth it. At least I think it is on the Penskes that my S2000 uses.

I would shoot for stiff rear compression, stiff front rebound. Big front bar, adjust rear toe as needed.

Chris H.

Stiff as piss rebound all around ;) but also stiff as piss rear compression and very little bit of front compression. Also degassed.

-Tom

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=660408&highlight=Koni

Even though they're for a WRX, you would still be better off with these.....(imo)

Jay Storm

I hadn't seen them for sale, but I'm with Jay. Buy someone else's R & D. If you need them revalvled later, at least you know where to start.

Andy H.

Thanks guys all good advice.

Tom- I'm still learning what do you mean "degassed"

degassed: Removing the charging gas (nitrogen or other inert gas) from the damper

Most dampers are charged with high pressure gas. When the damper is not loaded with a spring, its this gas pressure that returns the damper to full droop.

Through the ideal gas law, the charging gas works as a progressive spring. This is in addition to the mechanical springs that you think of as carrying the weight of the car. The higher the gas pressure, the higher the progressive spring rate. And consequently, with higher gas pressures, the ride height of the car increases. The theory behind degassing is that you can legally lower the ride height of the car by reducing the gas pressure in the dampers.

On my S2000, I worked the other way. I increased the gas pressure to increase the spring rates. I also was able to modify the effective balance of the car by running different pressures at the two ends of the car (I ran 200psi in the front and 175psi in the rear.) On the Penske 8100 series shocks ($750 a piece through Ankeny Racing Enterprises - don't know what a Subie build might cost) changing the gas pressure is a piece of cake... but they are remote reservior units.

Andy H.

Thanks, that makes sense. The trick is going to be figuring out what psi I guess.