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Old 03-06-2007, 05:29 PM   #1
DerekMD07
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Default Bouncy ride with Koni inserts and Tanabe springs

Hey all,

Just installed koni inserts with Tanable GF 210 springs on 06 WRX. The springs are the updated ones which lower the car 1" upfront and 0.5" at the back. Though the lowering is perfect (evens out the front and back perfectly), I found that this setup is so bouncy to the point it gives me headaches. I have used Tein basic coilover in the past on TSX, and it worked like magic.

FYI, I am riding on 205/55/17 Hankook W300 snowtires, rear and front koni dialed to half-stiff. I am skeptical that tophats would fix the bouciness. Is the bouciness related to high spring rate or that I need to soften up my koni?

Thanks all in advance
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Old 03-06-2007, 06:13 PM   #2
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You will definitely get a certain amount of bounciness due to the tall, soft sidewall winter tire. Your suspension is relatively stiff and your tires are basically an undamped spring. Have you played with all damping adjustment possbilities? Full soft even?
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Old 03-06-2007, 08:21 PM   #3
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I will give that a try. Hopefully that would solve the problem. I never imagined a stiff spring like Tanabe would give such a harsh ride.
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Old 03-06-2007, 08:24 PM   #4
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Well, stiffer springs will usually net a harsh ride. Depends more on the damper. If you are really curious (and can) throw on your summer meats and see how much smoother your ride will be, even at the same damper settings.
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Old 03-06-2007, 11:09 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DerekMD07 View Post
I will give that a try. Hopefully that would solve the problem. I never imagined a stiff spring like Tanabe would give such a harsh ride.
Good luck with it. I have konis now with my snow tires on now. If you really pay attention, it is more bouncy compared to summer tires.

But it's not nearly as bad as it was when I had konis with stiff springs (Ground Control 280lb) and STOCK top hats.

Once I put camber plates in the front, big improvement. No more 'jiggling' in the ride.

Hopefully you're change of tire will help, but if not, try to go to the stiffer top mounts. If you mark the struts, you should be able to do it without needing to realign the car.

More air pressure in your snow tires, might actually improve the ride also.
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Old 03-07-2007, 12:55 AM   #6
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Gonz, which springs do you have now then?
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Old 03-07-2007, 07:11 AM   #7
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....STOP tryin to compare other cars rides with yours with different suspension.

...and if ya using stock strut tops...THAT may account for much your issue...the stock tops are pure MUSH......as well as running a 205/55 tire
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Old 03-08-2007, 02:48 PM   #8
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That's very strange... I have Koni inserts with STi wagon pink springs and they soak up the bumps beautifully. You may have to tinker with the firmness but otherwise the ride should be quite nice. I also have the Group N tophats so that might be something else to consider...
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Old 03-08-2007, 04:21 PM   #9
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what is the spring rate on Tanable GF210 springs? maybe try turning up the dampening on the konis. i know if you have a really heavy spring with shocks that dont have much dampening that you will get a bouncy ride. higher dampening =harsher ride + less bouncing. less dampening= softer ride + more bounciness. BTW, i have koni yellows with RS-R Ti2000 down springs(216f/177r) and STi group-n top mounts on a 02 wrx.
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Old 03-09-2007, 02:07 AM   #10
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Thanks for all your valuable inputs.

I dialed my front koni to full soft. The ride is definitely less jarring but does not seem to solve the bounciness. Maybe I need to sit in a car with top hats to make a valid comparion. Or maybe my perception of bounciness is invalid? Perhaps the car is just more harsh b/c of higher dampening koni and stiffer springs. The springs are 5.8/4.4. Not sure how to convert them.

Can someone please enlighten me how tophats can solve the problem of bouciness?

Thanks in advance,
Derek
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Old 03-09-2007, 10:01 AM   #11
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You dialed them the wrong way: they need to be stiffened up in order to control the bounce. You can slowly work them up from full soft or start somewhere in the middle and go from there. Basically keep turning them up until the bounce goes away or is reduced to what is only produced by the stock strut tops. With mine I started in the middle and worked up until the bounce went away, then went a little on the high side and backed off until the ride was perfect.

It's easy to think because the bounce = poor ride quality that they are too stiff but basically it's the fact that they aren't damping enough that's causing the bounce.

I'm running them with 350/300 ground controls and have no bounce as well as room to go with higher spring rates if desired. According to Mark at ground control the Konis make the largest adjustment in the last 1/4 turn or so from full stiff so there is a wide range of adjustment and most of it happens toward the stiff end.
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Old 03-09-2007, 10:55 AM   #12
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Derek - have you tried installing your summer meats? Do that before throwing more money at the car. I believe the majority of your bounciness comes from your snow tires. And with those stiff springs, christ, your tires are bouncing all over the place.
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Old 03-09-2007, 10:57 AM   #13
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Turn up the Koni's and change those tires....just a suggestion.
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Old 03-09-2007, 11:08 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DerekMD07 View Post
Thanks for all your valuable inputs.

I dialed my front koni to full soft. The ride is definitely less jarring but does not seem to solve the bounciness. Maybe I need to sit in a car with top hats to make a valid comparion. Or maybe my perception of bounciness is invalid? Perhaps the car is just more harsh b/c of higher dampening koni and stiffer springs. The springs are 5.8/4.4. Not sure how to convert them.

Can someone please enlighten me how tophats can solve the problem of bouciness?

Thanks in advance,
Derek
Derek

Is it cold up your way right now? My personal experience with Konis has been that they do tend to get "bouncy" in the winter. The dampening gets VERY firm when they get cold, even at full-soft. Combine that with a soft-sidewall tire, and you get a bouncy tire and a stiff suspension. Perhaps this is what you're experiencing. If so, a stiffer damper setting will NOT improve things.

The term "bouncy" can mean different things to different people, so perhaps this isn't what you're experiencing.

_Jeff
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Old 03-09-2007, 11:54 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DerekMD07 View Post
Thanks for all your valuable inputs.

I dialed my front koni to full soft. The ride is definitely less jarring but does not seem to solve the bounciness. Maybe I need to sit in a car with top hats to make a valid comparion. Or maybe my perception of bounciness is invalid? Perhaps the car is just more harsh b/c of higher dampening koni and stiffer springs. The springs are 5.8/4.4. Not sure how to convert them.

Can someone please enlighten me how tophats can solve the problem of bouciness?

Thanks in advance,
Derek

325/246 springs are VERY stiff for street use(and those with coil overs, go away....it's different for strut/spring rates).....THAT and the MUSH tops and (too) tall tires is what ya dealing with.

talk about a fooked up setup ya got there.....no thanks.....no how, no way
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Old 03-09-2007, 12:56 PM   #16
DerekMD07
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris_Lee View Post
Turn up the Koni's and change those tires....just a suggestion.
As suggested, I will play with the koni to achieve better ride quality. All in all, I am quite impressed with the adjustability that Koni offers. It's really no bull$hit.

As for changing tires, I am waiting for Toronto's harsh winter to go away before swapping on my summer 225/40/17. Perhaps the cold weather does stiffen up the koni.

Any idea how much improvement I should expect from tophats? My understanding is that it could take away some of the bounciness, but might increase ride harshness.

I guess I want the performance but not the harsh ride LOL. My last car was a BMW 3 series coupe with sports package. Handling is top notch but so is the ride quality. I am always impressed with how BMW can achieve both simultaneously.

Thanks all,
Derek
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Old 03-09-2007, 01:07 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DerekMD07 View Post
I guess I want the performance but not the harsh ride LOL.
...GFL

Quote:
Originally Posted by DerekMD07 View Post
My last car was a BMW 3 series coupe with sports package. Handling is top notch but so is the ride quality. I am always impressed with how BMW can achieve both simultaneously.

Thanks all,
Derek
...'aint happen....not with those springs....nope
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