I just noticed on RacingBeat's website this morning, that they are developing a cable system to adjust the rear Tokico shocks on their project car, without removing them. I wonder if it would work on the koni's after it comes out. Not sure about release date, I am going to ask them about it.

I am going to get the koni setup, for a couple reasons. I want to be able to adjust the shock, even if only for rebound. ride height is not an issue with me, the springs will take care of that. and, they seem to do pretty well for autocross.

 

the adjuster wont work for the konis. in ordered to adjust the rear konis, you have to completely remove them and fully compress them to make adjustments. theres no way to do it while they are on your car. have you taken out the rear shocks yet? ITS A BITCH.

i went konis also but its only because thats the only aftermarket brand that ive used in the past that wasnt a full coilover so i was comfortable with these. after seeing how much work is required to adjust these, i dunno. kinda wish i went with tocikos. also keep in mind that whatever spring you get, you will want swaybars also because even the mazdaspeed springs arent stiff enough to eliminate all bodyroll.

denward

 

you can have the Koni rear shocks converted to have an external rebound adjuster at the top of the shaft just like the front shocks, you'd still have to drop the shock to reach the adjuster or make a flexible attachment to adjust them in place and run it through one of the frame holes above the shock, but at least it doesn't have to have the spring removed

however, there's a reason that Koni's are the winningest shock in SCCA autox, etc., it because a lot of the other shocks are cheap junk glitzed up with marketing BS. Not all adjustable shocks are created equal and it's not as simple as just being stiffer or softer. The Koni internals are quite sophisticated and precise.

The Tociko is easy to adjust, but it changes both rebound and compression together. The reason why is because it has an inferior valving design that can't separate the two functions from each other. It's really nothing more than a needle valve, which is as bad as it gets for an adjustable shock valving design.

 

Do you know who convert the rear shocks to external rebound adjustment? I sent an email to Koni over a couple weeks ago and have not received a response.

Does Koni do this themselves? I know they do it for some BMWs that have the same type of rear shock as the 8.

 

yeah, I'm having the same issue, Koni-NA will perform the work but they can be hard to reach and/or very busy

call Phil at Truechoice, he did mine when Koni was too swamped to turn them around in the time I needed, they have a 15% off-season discount through the end of December, you might also ask how much more it will be to make the double adjustable, might not cost much more

http://www.truechoicekoniracingservices.com/

 

so let me see if i understand you, Truechoice will make the koni's externally adjustable, but the shock/spring assembly will still have to be removed?

and how hard is that, i understand that the process will not be enjoyable, but on a scale of 1-10, how bad is it?

I only ask, b/c i am at the point where i am getting ready to make this purchase, and want to make sure I do the right thing. my car is my daily driver, so it has to be somewhat civil for 99% of it's life.

 

After modification, I think the upper mount of the rear shock needs to be removed and then it can be adjusted (while the lower mount is still connected), but not sure. At least you don't have to remove the entire shock/spring then remove the spring to compress and adjust. I'm sure with a little creativity some kind of remote cable or mini ratchet can be used to turn the adjuster... maybe just drill a 10 to 25 mm hole in the mounting bracket or unibody. I'm considering JB welding a 8 to 10mm nut to the adjusting blade (if it is a blade like the front) then using a ratcheting box wrench.

 

after reading all of this, i think i have decided to drop the cash, and get the Tein Flex. The rest of this sounds like too much trouble.

 

that does sound quite a bit easier

 

It does sound easier... until you drive yourself insane trying to dial in the ride height, preload and corner weights, then realize each time you make a change the toe has to be set, the camber changes. It's like chasing your tail. I'm not buying adjustable coilovers until I can afford a pit crew.

 

I have those concerns too, but the ride height will be set, and then it will not be monkeyed with. Two of the guys in our group, already have them on their cars, and we have a decent baseline for ride height.

As far as the rest of it, I will worry about that when it is time. For autocross, firming it up, while it will mess with the camber,toe, etc, will not be too bad. For track, I will get the car set and then get an alignment, the day before. It will get costly, but no one said motorsports was cheap.

 

No, camber and toe will not change from compression/rebound adjustments but it will from preload and ride height. Plus most tracks are pretty smooth so you can lower the suspension another 15 to 25 mm(or more) over street settings. Now you have to re-set the alignment, more time and money. If you don't use these adjustments, then you spending $800 more over the Koni setup for just easy compression/rebound adjustment. That's ok, just trying to help make an informed decision.

 

I am glad to hear that rebound/compression changes will not affect my alignment settings. But I still think I am going to spend the extra money, for the adjustablility, and the ease of. I don't want to ride around on a stiff setting for the koni's all the time, and I am not going to dismantle the car every two weeks.

TA, I am sure I will spend some time with Charlie setting the car up, since he has had them for a while, and I am sure Phlash will have some advice too.

 

Well, I've waited for months, and I think I'm going with the new Racing Beat solution.

I was never pleased with a lack of adjustment on the rear Koni's.

 

Ok, this didn't help me at all ! Still don't know which way to go! More reading I guess...

 

Are you referring to the Tokico D-Spec. Because those are currently also nonadjustable while on the car. RB is working on a cable adjusting solution, but has not released it yet, and won't return any inquiry about it.

 

I'm not sure if anyone noticed, but the Cable for the Tokico D-Spec's are available at RB's website now.
http://www.racingbeat.com/resultset....rtNumber=14369

 

I am kinda in the same boat as well, I enjoy tracking my car and do around 5-6 track weekends a year. Any suggestions on what would be my best route to do?

 

If you have the money, coilovers, of the adjustable variety, brand of your choosing. Since you actually do track the car a few times a year, you will be happy you did. I will say, that I am very happy with my TEIN's, they are easy to adjust, and really flatten the car out. I am learning how to drive all over again. And since I will be driving on 3 different road courses, and about a dozen different autocross layouts, being able to tune the car for the current condition, is kinda nice.

 

the tien basic ok to get? its stiffer ?

 

stiffer than what, stock. it is a lot stiffer than stock, just look at the spring rates. but the shock makes a huge difference too.

On my flex setup, I do not drive around town at full soft like a lot of other owners with the TEIN flex. It is all a matter of preference. I did not like the bounce at full soft, so I stiffened up the shocks a little, and it is better now.

Decide what you want to get out of the suspension and the car, decide what you are willing to put up with or sacrifice, and then go from there. And if at all possible, drive another 8 with the setup you are looking at, or talk in depth with someone who has done what you want to do.

 

Quick question,,,and before you light me up i looked.,,alot.
i was wondering if anyone had a sideways pic of a 8 with stock wheels and tien basics installed?
I dont have a lot of money to spend but want the car to ride smoothe like factory just want the wheel gap gone,,

If not tien basics is there a shock and spring salution,,i need pics to decide. I cant decide on it because someone else likes or doesnt like the drop..Any help would be awsome.This is my first mod and dont wanna mess it up.
Thank you.

 

holy thread revival!

If you are just looking to get rid of the wheel gap, there are plenty of springs out there to give you the drop to get rid of the gap. Basics might be to aggressive for you if you want a stock ride with a lower look.

Look here... https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-wheels-tires-brakes-suspension-55/spring-rates-other-basic-suspension-info-79096/