Koni Yellow coil-over conversion for AE92 + Swift Springs

[GeeEss]

Hi. . . .

Does anyone know the cheapest place I can locally / OS buy a Coil-over Conversion for an AE92 running Koni Yellows (or failing that where I can buy it) and same for Swift springs ?

I'm currently wearing above shocks + Whiteline lowering springs. AFAIK rates are ~ 6.5kg/mm @ front and ~ 5kg/mm at rear. Car sits about 30-35 mm lower at front & 25 mm at back

This setup is great on the track; where I can easily induce over steer and drift the thing but after 5+ years I'm over it - it's just too harsh for Sydney roads.

I've spent quite a few hours researching what springs would give me a close to OEM ride but retain the roll control / handling of my current set-up.

I considered OEM replacement lowering springs like Eibach, H&R and relatively cheap Japan sourced Espelir or RS-R Ti2000's; which have similar rates to TRD's at about 3.5kg/mm (F) & 3.1 / 2.6 KG/MM (R) respective. These would be the easiest solution but I'm worried I'd then lose the flatness & fast steering response I've got now.

Having said that I'd like to be able to do the (very) occasional track day w/o having to disassemble the suspension & swap back to current springs so am also considering a Coilover conversion for my existing Koni struts.

One product in particular seems to have been given a universal thumbs-up as coming closest to having my cake & eating it > Swift springs.

Another reason I'm interested in the Koni Coilover Kit is that AFAIK; Swift OEM replacement springs are only available for a select variety of chassis (certainly not the trusty ol' AE92) but their range of linear-rate coil-over springs however is much greater and does include an AE92 compatible spring

PS: Would also welcome informed comments regarding the best Front / Rear rate bias for street / (very occasional) track use. As stated current setup is great on the track but has caused me a couple of close shaves w.r.t. nearly losing the rear end on off camber sweepers (that rear end can really snap out - especially in the wet) so I'm possibly looking for more of a front biased set-up; say Rear Rate = 75% Front Rate < i.e. F ~ 40 N/mm and R ~ 30 N/mm >.

PPS: I want to utilize my existing struts so not interested in buy-as-is coil-overs with Chinese / Korean / Taiwanese shocks. . .

PPPS: Can anyone tell me the O.D. / I.D. / L of the OEM springs?

[GeeEss]

Wow answering my own post; and at this time - how sad / OCD. . .

Ground Control / USA offer a solution but it seems only supply kit with Eibach springs so it looks like I'll have to fork out extra for the Swift's. . .

[RACINROLLA]

You can buy the weld on sleeve kits locally from many places......
They come in a few different sizes depending on strut size, I think yours will be 51mm od.

Springs also come in a few sizes and depends on free lengths and a few other things you need to work out.

If you need more info I am happy to help out.

Cheers Matt

[GeeEss]

Hi Matt,

Yes please; where can I buy these kits and what spring I.D.* & Length would I need to specify (to Swift) for a drop* of F 40mm / R 30mm. . . ?

* GC have told me that their kit includes 63.5mm I.D. race springs.

** Which I think is what I've got but can't say 100% until I've confirm STD ride height & therefore drop. I'm trying to Google specs for JDM AE92 FX-GT standard ride height w/o luck - should be the same as ADM AE92/93 SX but haven't found that info yet either.

I'd rather ask a dumb question than not know so. . .

PS: AFAIK unlike other systems this set-up utilizes one spring only so how is the ride comfort maintained with just one linear spring if there's no concentric helper spring?

PPS: Do you know what post work / machining / welding has to be done to the Koni's. .

[knightrous]

Otomoto have HSD universal sleeve kits. Gives you the choice of rates between 3kg - 18kg for $120/pair.

http://otomoto.com.au/c/4037307/1/sleeve-kits.html

[GeeEss]

I'll pass on those; they need welding which means $$$ as I can't weld + need to be certified as they're not made specifically for AE92.

GC units are specifically made for AE92 and AFAIK don't need welding; I.D. matches Strut O.D so they just slide up/ down till they hit the circlip.

[RACINROLLA]

I'll pass on those; they need welding which means $$$ as I can't weld + need to be certified as they're not made specifically for AE92.

GC units are specifically made for AE92 and AFAIK don't need welding; I.D. matches Strut O.D so they just slide up/ down till they hit the circlip.

Post some pictures of what you have and I will tell you if it can be done.

I think you will find that all of them will require welding as the Koni is a insert and not a strut complete strut leg with a circlip.

Please note that most aftermarket shock brands list inserts for SX only and complete legs for all other variants.

The Koni variant from memory is insert only. Therefor there is no circlip.

You would have to cut of the original spring seat and weld on the height adjustable sleeve.

Free length of springs depends on travel required which will change what ID spring you go for also. You may need (depending on height required) be forced to run a "tender" or helper coil to keep the spring trapped.

Unfortunately it is not as simple as it looks to get a custom coilover correct.

Cheers Matt

[GeeEss]

OK; give me 1/2 hr - I'll go & take some pictures now. . .

[knightrous]

I'll pass on those; they need welding which means $$$ as I can't weld + need to be certified as they're not made specifically for AE92.
GC units are specifically made for AE92 and AFAIK don't need welding; I.D. matches Strut O.D so they just slide up/ down till they hit the circlip.

Had zero issues putting them onto my AW11 with Koni's and it didn't need welding. The ID was gentle press on fitment (I did each strut with a block of wood and a hammer in a few minutes).


Duct tape was to protect the threads from rust and eventually I fitted the supplied helper springs to correct issues with droop dislocating the springs.

[GeeEss]

OK; not sure what's going on but I'm unable to upload photos to ToyMods; just get red exclamation mark & gibberish error message.

>> NB: my files are all ~ 150Kb or smaller. . .

I wasn't able to upload for another recent post either so I had to can it. . .

Also noticed my text margins are sometimes much narrower than other posters with text being forced to a new line. .


Who do I contact regarding this?

[maj]

Just upload to imgur and use [ img ]<url>[ / img ] tags (without the spaces)

[GeeEss]

Already on Photobucket but ToyMods Site wouldn't let me input URL for that either; just gave me an "Invalid File" message again.

FWIW you should be able to view images by cut & paste of this link; http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/ge...2%20Suspension

[jondee86]

Yes, copy the "IMG" link from the list provided on the RHS of the screen when you are viewing the image you want to show in your thread, and paste it here. Then delete everything before and after the [ IMG ] ... [ /IMG ] tags in the pasted link to stop the image linking live back to Photobucket.

Cheers... jondee86

[GeeEss]

Thanks for that Jondee I now know how to post other / future photos but; referencing the 1st photo you posted I can now see that Racinrolla is correct and that this would be a redundant exercise as I will have to basically grind off the weld / remove the seat + weld on adjuster for this conversion.

That's OK from a DIY viewpoint but a deal-killer from a financial one as I can't weld so am out at least $250-300 to have said adjuster sleeves welded to the struts PLUS the fact that this kind of fabrication will then need to be certified for a street driven car which means another $500 on top of that going to some RMS sanctioned Engineer for 15 minutes work to inspect said welds before giving me a piece of paper for the RMS & Insurance company. . .

And I can't even pick my springs; with both GC & HSD its their springs or nothing so I then need to fork out another $500++? for a set of Swifts (which together with track-day adjustability was my main reason for wanting the conversion in the first place).

Cost for GC+Konis = USD $517 / AUD $720 + $300 + $500 + $500 = $2000+ . . . And that's using my existing struts. . .

WOW. . .So that's why people don't do this more often; I get it now. . .

[Classique71]

MRP in NZ do pretty much every possible angle of suspension and brake upgrades for the 92

have a peek at their website

http://www.mrpltd.co.nz/product/209/...coilovers.html

Barry was one of my customers when i worked over there for repco and was very very easy to deal with