I have a set of Koni SA's ready to go in the car this weekend and some Mazdaspeed springs in the mail. I wanted to get some input from some of you B stock and STU autocrossers on how you would adjust the shocks to be optimal. I know the MS springs are considerably stiffer than stock 280F/190R and want to adjust the Konis accordingly.

What do some of you guys run with the Konis and factory shocks as well as Konis and stiffer springs (Tein S tech etc). I'd like to get it close on the first shot as I understand it's a pain to remove and adjust the rears.

Car is 75% daily driven and autocrossed on most weekends. I can tolerate a stiffer ride as long as it's not overly harsh as a tradeoff for better handling at autocross. Something I noticed with the stock suspension is the rear gets a bit squirley trail braking and can sometimes oversteer a bit more than I like. Sway bars will be remain stock.

 

I would set the rear at halfway to start (50%)

the front is easily adjustable so you can set it to whatever you can live with, probably will be at 75% or higher for autox

 

Is that 1 turn up from full soft?

 

5.5 half-turns from end-to-end. If you listen to the experts, the adjustment on extreme ends are highly non-liner, so just do your best for ballpark middle ground.

 

So I'm guessing about 3-3.5 turns is still tolerable but probably plenty stiff for autocross? I wish someone has some experience with the stiffer springs and konis so I have a baseline to set them

 

i have the konis and the tein h springs along with the big rb bars. i dont autocross but i track. DPE(vendor on this forum) has some good info. I have found that on the rears 1/2 turn up from full soft works all around--track and street, while on the front I go 1/2 to 1 turn up from full soft. I do get a little full throttle exit understeer but on tracks i do (Roebling and Road Atlanta) being able to use the throttle to place the car is advantageous for me.
DPE is a good source--honest people and a real supporter
olddragger

 

I think you mean 5.0 half turns (2.5 total turns).

 

That would be true, going with Koni literature. In reality, I counted 990dg, not 900dg from end-to-end. This is confirmed by others too.

 

my (extensive) Koni experience is 2.75 total turns = 5.5 half turns

 

Good info.
Any thoughts on good lowering springs to go with Koni sport shocks? Looked at Koni's site and see they make a kit with shocks and springs. I like the single adjustable, since I'm just starting to play with suspensions - not sure I would know what to do with the multi-adjustments.
Car use is limited weekend and road track DE. Seldom on long trips. I have a daily driver with comfortable ride.
Is there a noticeable change in handling with this setup (as opposed to stock or going with the Mazdaspeed shocks/springs with warranty)? I thought the car did pretty well at the track the way it was.
Car is stock 06 w/6 sp.

Also noted recommendations against going with a really stiff strut brace?
Open for comments -
thanks!

 

I would go with MS, they're the stiffest of most of the aftermarket springs and make my car transition very well. I have stock swaybars and the springs/konis take care of most of the body roll as well. I have had many people comment on how flat the car corners. I also heard Swift makes a pretty good product although I haven't read anyone with first hand experience.

It's hard to beat the Mazdaspeeds for the price especially if you're signed up for the motorsports program in which case I think they're $220 new. You can snag Konis for $550 shipped from a few vendors and online. I'm setup at 2.75 turns front and rear and it's tolerable on the street and fun at the autocross.

 

suspenion setup is a highly personnel thing, according to driving style and tracks you are on. It also has to work together(and dont forget the tires/wheels you run). a couple of points I will throw in is
1- dont get the *** end to low--the chassis doesnt like it
2- strut bars dont matter over stock except one with a master brake cylinder support---you need that.
dont for get a professional alignment from a shop that knows performance.
olddragger

 

oh by the way as you can see on my advitar---that turn is a tight left sweeper and I am running about 100mph ahead of that track prepared 5 series. I run 17's so i am a little lower. my suspenion is sport koni's(1 turn up from full soft up front and 1/2 turn up from full soft in the rear, tein H springs and rb bars and endlinks. I am running a 45 sidewall hoosiers.
if there was a way of enlarging that picture you can see a very prominent heat signature!
olddragger

 

and shock adjuster access ...

 

thanks, really appreciate the input.

quote: "2- strut bars dont matter over stock except one with a master brake cylinder support---you need that." and shock adjustment access.

who makes these?

 

Team, how are you liking the Progress bars with the konis?

 

my Konis are quite different from these, but I'm big on the PT bars, highly recommended

 

Thanks.

I'm wavering between buying, installing, adapting, repeating...
or buying, buying, buying, buying (over time), installing all at once, adapting to a huge change instead of minute ones.

 

mazdaspeed makes a good front strut and there are others that their names escape me at the moment.
od

 

Mazdaspeed = JIC