09 Shocks... Side by side comparison to 04-08
06-03-2009, 09:59 AM
#26
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Just got of the phone with Paul at koni. They are ordering the rods to convert my rears to external adjustment and also reweld the perch to the correct specs. cost is 296 per shock plus shipping. They said it would take about 2 weeks to get the rods and about another week to get them done. Will post up when i get them back. if anyone needs it Pauls extension is 324
06-03-2009, 10:15 AM
#28
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Mine are out at koni as we speak. More than likely i will have them converted to double/external since they have to be taken apart anyways. i will have an answer hopefully today. They have already sent the info and measurements they gathered from my stock 09 rears to holland to start producing an 09 specific rear fitment
06-03-2009, 10:30 AM
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06-03-2009, 10:47 AM
#32
Allright, just got off the phone again. He said that it would be adjustable on the top of the strut shaft, which sucks *****. Said he is going to talk to someone about the shock and for me to call him back later to see if this is the best that can be done.
06-03-2009, 11:12 AM
#34
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Lee Grimes said they just sent the measurements to Holland today so I would not expect a 09 specific version soon.
06-03-2009, 12:09 PM
#35
I wonder if this was a production run change... Cut down on inventory by using a perch from another application - I still say this looks like the MX-5 Koni perch.
I don't recall my original set, that were right off the boat from Holland, being any different than OE.
I don't recall my original set, that were right off the boat from Holland, being any different than OE.
It is true that it has turned out to be difficult to build a shim that match the Koni perch and moves a match of the 09 perch to the correct position. We have failed so far. So we got a 04-08 shock for comparison since the perch on the Koni appeared to be so different from the 09 perch. It turns out that the OEM perches from a 09 and 04-08 are identical except for position on the shock and differ from the Koni stock class legal design. See picture: Koni top, 04-08 OEM middle and 09 OEM bottom. The Koni perch is not an exact replica of the OEM perch for any year as the rate of rise is less in the Koni 180 degrees from these pictures. This results in a section of the Koni perch being > 1/8 lower than OEM from in the middle of the rise to top perch height. This was identical for 4 Koni rears.
So the question is: If the low point and high point of the perch is identical to OEM are we OK. This is true for the Koni’s used but the rate of rise in the perch between these 2 points differs on the Koni vs OEM. Where in the rule book is the requirement for perch dead match?
So the question is: If the low point and high point of the perch is identical to OEM are we OK. This is true for the Koni’s used but the rate of rise in the perch between these 2 points differs on the Koni vs OEM. Where in the rule book is the requirement for perch dead match?
06-03-2009, 12:52 PM
#36
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To be honest i never even asked about the adjustment and where it would be, DOH! i do recall however that when we took the oe ones off and put the 04-08 oe ones on the rear that there is enough room if you peel the trunk carpet away to get to the top of the strut
06-04-2009, 12:36 AM
#38
it's been that way since forever, Search is your friend ...
i you want the adjustments at the bottom you'll need a custom monotube shock such as the Koni 2812, which then has it's own complications plus considerably higher cost
i you want the adjustments at the bottom you'll need a custom monotube shock such as the Koni 2812, which then has it's own complications plus considerably higher cost
Last edited by TeamRX8; 06-04-2009 at 12:38 AM.
06-17-2009, 05:06 PM
#39
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So I'm going to contribute a little to this thread now that I know that I fall into the same category after speaking with Koni - Apparently the change in rear suspension does not just apply to the '09's but also at least some '08's. I have a 40th Anniversary Edition, and it may be that it only happened for this limited production model with the Bilstein's but upon installing my Koni yellows the back end does indeed sit lower than the front. Koni reps have confirmed this possibility and may actually get me to send them my measurements and pictures of my Bilstein shocks (the perch looks almost identical to the pictures at the top of this thread). So, I can send them back to Koni and put the Bilstein's back on and run B Stock locally on street tires or I can buy the Mazdaspeed front springs and run in STX like I have been. I'm leaning towards the Mazdaspeed springs as the front is an easier swap than the rear and I like the adjustability of the Koni's. I've got a Racing Beat front and rear bar, but I had taken the rear bar off to try to run in B Stock again. With it set like it is, even with an alignment trying to compensate for the situation, the car still understeers - the lower ride height in the rear along with the big front bar and stock rear makes for NO movement in the back end at all - just plowing like a tractor. Anyway, opinions welcome and more than anything I wanted to share info so everyone else would know that this problem is not limited only to '09 models but at least some '08 models as well.
06-17-2009, 10:28 PM
#40
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By the way, does anyone have a link to a page or know off hand what the spring rates are on the stock springs vs the mazdaspeed - I want to make sure that the spring rate isn't stiffer or I'll just be creating another problem.
06-29-2009, 09:57 AM
#41
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FYI... For those of you that have your rears at koni. Just got a call from Paul and mine are being shipped back to me today. He said there are 4 more sets in line waiting to get worked on
Sacha
Sacha
10-03-2009, 07:08 PM
#46
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I don't think Koni has the right shocks yet. Different question is whether the Bilsteins on the R3 are legal for the base models. At least you could get the Bilsteins revalved and use the konis in front.
10-05-2009, 03:04 PM
#48
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10-30-2009, 08:25 PM
#49
Does anyone expect Koni to release a specific rear shock for the 09's, or should I go ahead and buy a used set when a good deal comes up? It will still cost more by the time I have the perches moved then it would buying an 09 specific set new, but if new is never available, then I guess there's no other choice.
