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Since I have never seen a complete Koni/Gymkhana thread...

76K views 345 replies 56 participants last post by  scruff3333 
#1 · (Edited)
I am going to start one...



Below is a summary of this thread, please read through for install photos and more.

A full gallery of photos is available here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/acquacow/sets/72157602922993566/


Costs (if re-using stock parts):
$50 Stock RS Struts (Carisma)
$329.24 Koni Fronts (Horsepowerfreaks.com)
$223.73 Koni Rears (Ebay, Thanks kmltick for the link.)
$379.00 Gymkhana Springs (RaceComp Engineering)
Total: $981.97
You can stop there, or continue spending money on more upgraded parts...


Optional Costs (if not re-using any existing parts):
2 Group N front top hats
2 Stock rear top hats
2 Front Conical washers
4 upper spring pads
4 upper spring perches
2 Front Bumpstop "helper" 20321AA201 $25ea.
2 Rear Bumpstop "helper" 20371AA041 $17ea.
2 Front Dust boot 20322AE01A $13.25ea.
2 Rear Dust boot 20372AA031 $11.50ea.
Sum of optional parts: $507.45
Note: I had a 30% Subaru discount on these optional parts, they are ~$700 otherwise.
Grand total if building this from scratch: $1489.42
Note: W/O discounts and ebay prices, this # would come to: ~$1800.

Ride heights (measured from hub center to fender):
Initial install: 14.50"/14.00"
After 1 day: 14.40"/13.80"
After 4 days: 14.25"/13.45"
After 5 months: F/R: 14.375"/13.370"
Alignment specs using all stock hardware:
Front camber: -0.8 degrees.
Caster: 3 degrees

Rear camber: -1.3 degrees.

Additional Info:
Front spring outer diameter:
Top: 6 1/16" (154mm)
Bottom: 6 9/16" (167mm)

Front spring height (at highest point): 10 3/16" (259mm)

Rear spring outer diameter:
Top: 6 2/16" (156mm)
Bottom: 6 3/16" (157mm)

Rear spring height (at highest point): 11 7/16" (290mm)

Front damper shaft length: 6.5"
Rear damper shaft length: 8"

Front bumpstop length: 2.25"
Rear bumpstop length: 3.5"

Front bump available at max droop: 4.25"
Front bump available at static height before encountering bumpstop: .37"

Click here for more info on bump travel.

Click here for useful info from Koni on damper adjustment.



I hope this is useful information for you, please feel free to PM me with questions.

-- Dave
 
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#5 ·
Rob T said:
Where did you find those springs?
I didn't.

I just called up Racecomp Engineering and said "I want Gymkhana springs, I hear you can get them, here is my visa #" ...and it was done.

I waited a few weeks from them to come in from Japan, but they are here now.


I have a set of RS struts from Carisma...
I have the koni rear's sitting on my floor...
I will be ordering the koni fronts tomorrow...
I have no idea wtf camber plates I am going get...
I still need conical washers and spring perches too...

-- Dave
 
#6 ·
AcquaCow said:
I didn't.

I just called up Racecomp Engineering and said "I want Gymkhana springs, I hear you can get them, here is my visa #" ...and it was done.

I waited a few weeks from them to come in from Japan, but they are here now.


I have a set of RS struts from Carisma...
I have the koni rear's sitting on my floor...
I will be ordering the koni fronts tomorrow...
I have no idea wtf camber plates I am going get...
I still need conical washers and spring perches too...

-- Dave
RCE is awesome.

I was going to get him to do my coilovers (only those).
 
#8 ·
Pakin said:
Good thread, I will be very interested. I am currently running my Gymkhanas with the AGX'es. They work fine, but after this season's autox and running in various wet/dry configurations, I realized the importance of have a good adjustable damper.

-phill
What kind of setting did you find work best with that combo? There was talk about 6F/4R I believe(I think that is about 3/4 stiff for each)
 
#9 ·
Pakin said:
Good thread, I will be very interested. I am currently running my Gymkhanas with the AGX'es. They work fine, but after this season's autox and running in various wet/dry configurations, I realized the importance of have a good adjustable damper.

-phill
Sorry to highjack, but is the AGX durable enough to handle those spring rates? I might make the swap in the future...
 
#10 ·
I pulled the springs out of the boxes last night. The fronts are amazingly solid, while the rear's are fairly progressive. Soft the first two inches, then they firm up FAST!

Fronts had two pink dots on them, the rears had a green dot each.

Will take pics with measurements / part numbers tonight and add to first post.

-- Dave
 
#12 · (Edited)
#14 ·
#16 ·
These going on the RSTI or the daily, and why the need for a strut spring combo, when it sounds it duty will be at the track then on the street?


I also have to say I love my NOLTEC camber plates up front.
 
#17 ·
01rs25 said:
These going on the RSTI or the daily, and why the need for a strut spring combo, when it sounds it duty will be at the track then on the street?


I also have to say I love my NOLTEC camber plates up front.
These are going on the RSTi first so that I can get my coilovers shipped out and rebuilt.

They will then end up on the RS to replace the aging, and too low eibach pro/agx combo.


I'm putting it on the RS because I'd like each car to handle similarly... Going between the RSTi and the RS every few days is difficult, as the RS just doesn't handle anymore, especially compared to the RSTi.

I also consider 450/333lb springrates to be "comfortable" for daily driving in VA... most others would disagree. The Gymkhana springs are a bit softer at 286/274, so they'll be fine for daily driving.

-- Dave
 
#18 ·
Rob T said:
What kind of setting did you find work best with that combo? There was talk about 6F/4R I believe(I think that is about 3/4 stiff for each)
4F/8R (only 4 click front and 8 clicks rear max for GC AGX'es), full hard most of the time. When in rain, I dial out the front to 2 and rears to 4-5.


bigstrusk said:
Sorry to highjack, but is the AGX durable enough to handle those spring rates? I might make the swap in the future...
Only time will tell. Many have claimed they won't, but it has always been in a form of 5th to 6th hand experiences, with no one actually coming forth and explaining. I have about 5k on mine right now without issues.
 
#21 ·
Sorry for the delay so far... I'm moving on the 15th, and had to pack stuff up, so the springs went back into their boxes for easy transport.

I also don't have inet at home anymore (canceled comcast service because it was worthless).

Updates should start in about a week or two.

Thanks for being patient,

-- Dave
 
#25 ·
jnorth85 said:
oh i know what i am asking for i want 123242435 pics like normal!
Better get to upgrading your net connection while I'm in my downtime then =)

-- Dave
 
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