So, as cozy as the Tein/stock shock combo is over rough terrain, I think I'm ready to firm this baby up. I've had coilovers in the past, including Tein Basics (350z), H&R's (B5 S4) and KW's (RSX-s). What I found is that I played with the damper but never the ride hieght after setting it. I am happy with my ride height, so I am looking at adding a firm adjustable shock. Can the Koni's for our car get down and dirty? I'm kind of a fan of the softer spring/firm damper/firm sways combo. This combo seems to make for a battle-ready but compliant STREET car. I just don't want to spend the money if they can't set really firm. Thanks!
Koni Yellows?
- Thread starter Jchouin1
- Start date
funksilver07
Member
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- 2007 Sunlight Silver Mazdaspeed 3 GT
I actually just contacted Koni this week re: dampers for my 07' MS3. Coming up on 45k miles on mine so I called Koni directly to ask about FSD or yellows with my stock springs. Talked to Paul, Racing Technical sales rep who happened to drive a speed 6. Said that the yellows would be the better choice for my needs and would work fine with stock MS3 springs. I do some autox and my car is my DD so I want the adjustable's so I can dial in the stiffness. The tire rack has these right now at 25% off till April. Pretty good deal...(eekdance)
FSD's are definitely intended for stock springs at stock height. Yellows (Koni Sports) can handle just about any drop but lose effectiveness at a certain point due to shaft length that's comparable to OEM. Depending on how much you plan to drop the car, you might consider a shorter damper for better suspension travel. BC makes them, though quality/ride control is not exactly as good as Koni, KW or Bilstein.
Silver Ecstasy
Member
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- 11 MS3 Sport
That's awesome, but, don't they only advertise the Yellows and FSD's for MZ3? And also, it's sorta difficult to adjust without uninstalling everything right?
Stamperman
Member
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- Mazdaspeed3 & Mazda5
If you want to spend some more cash you can have a shock rebuilder (Truesports) take the shock apart and shorten the rod. That was a common thing to have done when I auto-xed VW several years back. That way you can be lower and still have the shock work correctly and or not bottom out.
BigDaddyMS3
Member
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- Mazda, Speed3
FSDs
What did he say about the FSDs? I've heard that they work better with the stock springs.
What did he say about the FSDs? I've heard that they work better with the stock springs.
funksilver07
Member
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- 2007 Sunlight Silver Mazdaspeed 3 GT
I was very specific with my questions to Koni as to my needs. I wanted an adjustable shock/strut. The FSD will work too, I just want something that I can dial in to a stiffer setting if I'm autoxing. My question to Koni was directly related to if the yellows would work with the stock MS3 springs, and the answer was YES. As far as the FSD's being better than the yellows, I guess that would be a personal preference. I'm sure they're both a good choice, depends on what you're going for. To the question about how the adjustment works, the front struts are very easy to dial up or down, the rears (this is what I was told, I don't have first hand experience yet) have to be adjusted by removing the bottom bolt and twisting, I think counter clockwise for stiffer setting. So from what I understand you don't have to take the shock completely out. If someone else has actually done the adjustment on these please correct me if I'm wrong...the reason I called Koni directly is that I think that there is some misinformation regarding what really works for us MS3 owners. I take it with a grain of salt what someone "heard" because it isn't necessarily what is the right answer.
EDIT: product description for Koni yellows>Koni Sport dampers are externally adjustable by means of an adjustment knob at the top of the damper. This means you do not have to remove the damper from the vehicle to adjust the rebound forces.
Dampers without the top adjustable feature can still be adjusted, although they will need to be removed from the vehicle to achieve this.
EDIT: product description for Koni yellows>Koni Sport dampers are externally adjustable by means of an adjustment knob at the top of the damper. This means you do not have to remove the damper from the vehicle to adjust the rebound forces.
Dampers without the top adjustable feature can still be adjusted, although they will need to be removed from the vehicle to achieve this.
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My response was directed at the OP as your needs were clearly defined. 
In your case, it sounds like the adjustment is similar to KW, but access is a bit tight. I think the plastic adjustment dial supplied by Koni will fit under the rear frame support where the upper damper is bolted/exposed. Below is a photo from DanielJ's thread. He cut a hex key for use on the rear dampers:
In your case, it sounds like the adjustment is similar to KW, but access is a bit tight. I think the plastic adjustment dial supplied by Koni will fit under the rear frame support where the upper damper is bolted/exposed. Below is a photo from DanielJ's thread. He cut a hex key for use on the rear dampers:
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- 06 LS MS6
07 BM GT (shell has been struck from the roll)
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My response was directed at the OP as your needs were clearly defined.
In your case, it sounds like the adjustment is similar to KW, but access is a bit tight. I think the plastic adjustment dial supplied by Koni will fit under the rear frame support where the upper damper is bolted/exposed. Below is a photo from DanielJ's thread. He cut a hex key for use on the rear dampers:
Thanks a ton for your input! I think I'm going to give the Koni Yellows a try. Now I just need to find the best price!
Is that in Hanover park or Streamwood? I've only been here a year and change, so I'm still learning the area.
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- 06 LS MS6
07 BM GT (shell has been struck from the roll)
southwest Corner of bartlett rd and schamburg rd
funksilver07
Member
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- 2007 Sunlight Silver Mazdaspeed 3 GT
thanks for the pic...
