Koni/Redshift Coilovers

[Highrev1]

Performa and Last longer yes...Will the spring sit much lower than a PRO-kit Probably NOT....

[RedShiftChris]

I've been working on the spring setups recently and we are looking into options with Eibach, Vogtland, H&R, and a couple other US manufacturers of springs like Betts (who are only into manfuacturing). It will be easier for us to go with a company like Eibach so we can get the wealth of spring choices, like ERS race springs for coilovers and Pro-Kits and SportLines. The sport lines they have available for the new Civic is a 1.4" drop and usually about 25% increase in rate from the Prokit; so it's a very nice sporty street setup, but it will always get beat by our coilover setup that got more rear rate to help the car rotate. The fixed springs are best for daily drivers that want more performance but don't want the added complexity of the coilover setup and don't care about specific spring rates.

We'll have to see what we can do with those companies to provide options if possible.

Chris

[RedShiftChris]

Oh, and the Koni shocks that we got a couple weeks ago didn't work. Koni is supposed to be dyno'ing and shipping shocks to us by the end of this week that are going to work. We will have them next week, but I'm on vacation next week (much needed) and back Tuesday March 25th. I hope we can do some spring testing with the new shocks immediately after that so we can get our setup finished.

Chris

[Phalanx]

Originally Posted by RedShiftChris

Oh, and the Koni shocks that we got a couple weeks ago didn't work. Koni is supposed to be dyno'ing and shipping shocks to us by the end of this week that are going to work. We will have them next week, but I'm on vacation next week (much needed) and back Tuesday March 25th. I hope we can do some spring testing with the new shocks immediately after that so we can get our setup finished.

Chris

Thanks for the heads up. I was just checking this thread to see if anything had been said for release dates since the OP said early March. Just keep doin what youre doin and release them when youre 100% ready. Thanks

[Profoxcg]

take your vacation afterward
Where the Konis you got the same that were going to be relased to the public as an OTS shock?

Post some pics already please, I want to see more of less what I am saving for very excited

[RedShiftChris]

Without giving too much away, we are using something that is very similar. We are running one level softer on bump in the rear that will offset nicely with the higher rates springs we plan to run. The rear rebound starts a little softer and then adjusts to the same stiff level as the shock that will eventually come out for the new Civic; so that's perfect.

In all, they will be functionally extremely similar. In fact, bottom line is we are using the front street insert from a VW Corrado VR6 with a modified strut housing and a rear shock from the back of a 95-99 Eclipse with a modified lower eye mount. Both function the same way as intended on their source vehicles as they will on the new Civic. Front is strut with 1:1 motion ratio more or less... and the rear is aroudn 60% motion ration.... and the Eclipse rear shock expects a spring on the shock, but we won't use the spring on the shock. The spring will be in the stock location because the stock shock tower isn't anywhere near strong enough.

This has taken some serious time to work through with Koni. The end result after many emails, phone calls, and almost-but-not-good-enough setups is going to be a really amazing coilover setup at a reasonable price.... same as before. It's been tricky trying to keep the price from wandering up. :)

Should be wicked cool actually. Can't wait. Big thanks to Gordon at Koni for all the time and effort with details and getting this right!!! You should all see my folder on this... it's about 2 inches thick with all sorts of different specs and drawings. Funny.....

Chris

[RedShiftChris]

Not pics of much available yet. Here is the DA Koni we're using. Hope that holds you over for a few weeks. :)
Chris

[marc-o-lishuz]

Very promising update, Chris. Can't wait for the results.

[CivicSi907]

Here is an email i got from koni:

I do not have a time frame yet for parts for the new Civic. I had phone meetings today and yesterday with KONI Product Management and engineering and specifically discussed this car. There are some technical issues regarding the fronts on whether or not we can do full struts (our distinct preference) or inserts. The Civic’s sold in Europe, Asia and North America all have different dimensions and requirements and KONi has just released parts for the other two markets but the North American one is more difficult.

I am sorry that I do not have a timeframe but I can assure you that it is a very high priority application for us and we are working to get something available as soon as we can.

Best regards,
Lee Grimes
KONI North America

[RedShiftChris]

Yeah, I know Koni NA has been trying to get this resolved, and it is because of this delay that we've decided to put in the time to customize current Koni Sport shocks to work on the Civic. Anyone can use our proper hybrid version until they come out with something specific to the car that bolts up a little more easily.

Chris

[Profoxcg]

wait do basically, redshift if doing a retrofit from the shocks designed for another kind of civic ?

[FastTimesAtFGHigh]

^ from what i read above it's parts from the eclipse and corrado.

[RedShiftChris]

And the corrado and 2g eclipse shocks function the same with the same basic motion ratios as they will on the new Civic. So with some custom bits, we'll have Koni sports that work as intended on the Civic. Yes, and that's how we're going to do it relatively inexpensively but with the performance we and Koni require to put our names on it. We haven't tested it, but from the specs and dynos, they should would perfectly.

Chris

[Sirbelch]

How bout dem der dynos?

[marc-o-lishuz]

It feels weird that a part of VW will be in my car.

Chris, for the love of gawd, please hurry up! If my bonus check is spent on something else, I won't be held responsible.

[Sirbelch]

Just send them a check or give them the credit card number. I did.

[I<3MyHonda]

I really want these...

[marc-o-lishuz]

My PayPal account is already loaded up hahaha! Funny and sad at the same time.

[jokka]

in regard to the first post..

are you saying that the koni springs are going to 800 bucks ?

what about the koni shocks everyone seems to rave about ?

[Sirbelch]

Originally Posted by jokka

in regard to the first post..

are you saying that the koni springs are going to 800 bucks ?

what about the koni shocks everyone seems to rave about ?

Hehe. That the damper with a fixed spring.

Koni shocks are liked by a lot of people because the are low in compression damping for ride quailty and high in reboud damping for good handling. They give your cake with a fork.

The ones everyone is waiting for is an off the shelf (OTS) set up that will bolt right up. Redshift just took some measuremetns and is building there own valving rates in to these dampers. So you will have a Redshift Koni and a Koni Koni to choose from. The Redshifts should be out first though.