I'm planning on having some custom made double adjustable struts made for my AS STi. The snag is it's gonna be awhile before I can get everything lined up. I can get a pretty good price on the Koni single adjustable struts for the WRX. I know this is not the best option but I can get them cheap enough to hold me over. My question would be this. Are the Koni single adjustables better or enough better than the stockers to even worry about getting them for the time I'm waiting? Idealy I would have them custom valved so I know they would work well but that would push me over budget for this. I want to learn how to tune the shocks and have some experience driving with the different feel of the adjustables. I'm hoping this could provide me with that untill I can get the fancy ones. Thanks in advance.

Are the Koni single adjustables better or enough better than the stockers to even worry about getting them for the time I'm waiting?My gut feeling says it won't be worth it for a 'temporary' suspension. Have you done eveything else to prep for AS, like a front swaybar & a good alignment and good tires?

I'm new to adjustable struts. I just put Zeal Coilovers on my car & I have been learning shock tuning over the last few months. It has taken a lot of seat time to feel what behavior it is actually changing. I was expecting a hugh revelation, but was slightly disappointed at first. After about 10 events, I went to a test & tune, and finally noticed a change in corner entry when adjusting the front too stiff. Knowing that, I would be patient & only buy one set of struts.

btw, here is one of the best articles I've found so far. It breaks down the corner into phases & explains what adjustment will affect what part of the corner: http://www.smithees-racetech.com.au/theory/shocktune1.html

yeah I've done everything you mentioned and a few other things to prep...the struts is really all I have left that i can do.

So what is the timeframe on the custom DA's?

Wait for the DA's?

Do you really need a Guru for this? :p

Wait for the DA's?

Do you really need a Guru for this? :p
Agreed. :)

-Biggly

Well the DA's would be after NATs and I really don't want to show up totally unprepared. The times I have been beat this was a big factor ie: not having adjustables or runing Victoracers instead of Hoosiers or 710's . I just don't want that to happen. I guess really I'm asking if the WRX struts will be any better that the stock ones without them being revalved.

Here's a thread discussing STI struts versus Konis for use on a DS WRX and the general concensus is that Konis are better.

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=665616&highlight=koni+sti

IMHO, the question comes down to whether the $$$ and effort to do the swap are worth the potential change in results. If you anticipate competing for an AS win at Nats, you must do everything possible. If you hope the struts will take you from 20th to 19th, it doesn't seem that useful.

I don't know if anyone has numbers to quantify the gains. My guess is that its a couple of tenths, not a huge amount.

Virgil,
Then you have to determine how much a few spots at Nationals is worth to you with the Koni inserts vs. the stock struts. They are better; no doubt. How much better? Well it depends on how much you can get out of them as a driver. You could be good enough to not need them, I dunno. It's really more up to the driver than anything but likely the shocks would cost you a few spots at Nationals is my guess. :)

-Biggly

Thanks guys I hear what you are saying. I don't know that going with the inserts I could have an all out win but I think it could be the difference in a throphy. Also remember that you don't have to win the class to win Subaru money. If I managed that it would more than pay for the struts.

edit: I read that other thread good info. My only thing is your talking about a Koni that is designed to work with the WRX spring. My whole concern is that the Koni valved for the WRX rates wouldn't be any better than the stock strut with the STi rates.