I'm hoping to readjust the rears tomorrow, so if I do, I'll have a look at the fronts and will take some pics of the Koni SRT.Ts on my 07 plate car.
Technical Koni damper experiment thread
- Thread starter rturner
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Technical Koni damper experiment thread
To reply to the points raised by Babbo : I contacted Shop4Parts to see if the pre 2009 links were still available. They were helpful as usual and even checked their aftermarket catalogues. Apparently Birth (the manufacturer) has ceased making the original design. The only hope of finding original parts will be to call every Fiat dealer in the UK to see if they are holding old stock (which seems extremely unlikely given three years have elapsed and these are frequently replaced).
My mechanic seems to think that the Koni design (with the straight bracket) also transfers more load to the link during cornering than the offset Fiat strut which meant that mine have started to wear faster with my more enthusiastic driving style
since upgrading the suspension. It is therefore obvious that the car will consume droplinks faster with the stiffer suspension and currently they can't be replaced
I am therefore even more interested in seeing the STR.T. damper to see if they have taken account of these changes.
My mechanic seems to think that the Koni design (with the straight bracket) also transfers more load to the link during cornering than the offset Fiat strut which meant that mine have started to wear faster with my more enthusiastic driving style
since upgrading the suspension. It is therefore obvious that the car will consume droplinks faster with the stiffer suspension and currently they can't be replacedI am therefore even more interested in seeing the STR.T. damper to see if they have taken account of these changes.
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Dan - many thanks for posting the pics of the STR.T damper - as your car is the same vintage as mine you still have the old design droplinks. What we need is someone with a 2009 plus model. However it does look like the opposed droplink might still fit as the mounting bracket does appear to be slightly less straight than the sport and the narrower diameter of the strut itself will also help.
babbo_umbro
Established member
I must admit, I've never seen the 100HP with the front wheels off - did too much DIY on cars for forty-odd years to get my hands dirty any more - rather startled to see how crude it is. Does that mean that the Z-link - as opposed to [-link - would place even more strain on the drop link as it would be working at quite an angle - as the Koni strut also makes it do - rather than being more less in straight compression or tension? I'm still wondering if Fiat changed the struts with the change in drop link, and what the implications are for drop link replacement on pre-59 plate cars. Presumably the anti-roll bar's unchanged.
Rear Koni's now turned down from 1 to 0.5 turn. A noticeable difference (which you'd expect). More comfortable for the road, but rear end doesn't feel so tied down - possibly not such a bad thing in our weather! So nothing surprising, but has reassured me that they do make a difference and the best set up is somewhere near 0.5 turns.
pictures of what drop you get with this damper.. because i have shorter FK sport dampers on and 40mm novitec springs.. and the drop at the rear is not what i was hoping for..
(oh dont buy FK sport! only if you never drive and push your car!)
(oh dont buy FK sport! only if you never drive and push your car!)
Well I fitted the fronts or started too and I have hit a slight snag, the gaiter on the front damper on the OEM I guess you reuse for the Koni. Well my STR.T dampers have a slightly smaller diameter piston rod so the gaiter does not have the normal interference fit it just flops about. I fitted the one damper and took it for a small run around the block and you can hear it rattling so to speak.
Does anyone who fitted theirs know what you did with the gaiter? I would rather put up with the OEM harshness than this rattle but not sure if not using a gaiter is advisable.
Any ideas?
Also although the damper is the same overall length the lower part where the spring mounts is lower than the OEM damper so the spring is alot more uncompressed when fitting. So much so that you dont even need spring compressors to put the spring back on.
Does anyone who fitted theirs know what you did with the gaiter? I would rather put up with the OEM harshness than this rattle but not sure if not using a gaiter is advisable.
Any ideas?
Also although the damper is the same overall length the lower part where the spring mounts is lower than the OEM damper so the spring is alot more uncompressed when fitting. So much so that you dont even need spring compressors to put the spring back on.
When I get the chance, I'm going to tighten up the gaiter with a zip tie. That should stop it rattling about.
Was this the reason for going back to OEM at the front??
Yes mate.
Having had the front STR.Ts on for a few weeks, I'm now less convinced about them and thinking that I should have gone for the Sports. There are certain moments where you get front end "bounce" and that's a bit unnerving.. Definitely an improvement over stock though and might try to readjust the rears a little to see if I get that confidence back.
babbo_umbro
Established member
If you've swapped the rear dampers, would the gaiters off the OEM rears fit the Konis on the front?
Hi, i fitted the STR.T dampers in combination with the eibach spings 1 month ago on my wife's 100hp and i can tell you the car is really great now. Only thing That can be better are the bumpstops at the rear (i made them a litle shorter but still sometimes the back of the car jumps too hard up after speed bumps.) Are there shorter bumpstops on the market or do i have to build some myself. Oh yes and why on earth are the oem bumpstops so long?
Oh yes... About THE gaiter. When you buy the eibach springs the right gaiters are included. (so i think the dia of the dampers in front is THE same as the 1.2 panda and not the 100hp.) Anyway i can recomend the combination of eibach and koni dampers. Now i only need to find a litle more power in the higher revs and then i sell my car to buy a 100hp also
From memory they would not have fitted, totally different, I may be wrong but they are already at the tip...(its actually the front bump stops that are too wide for the diameter of the piston rod, smaller ones are needed to ensure they stay in place rather than rattle around)
Do you get the bump stop as well?
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I am talking about the front suspension.... i mean the dia of the front damper STR-T is smaller then the OEM 100hp one. but this problem can you solve with the bumpstop's delivered in the eibach kit. The plastic tube over the bumpstop fit's easily on it.
My only problem now is that i need a shorter bumpstop for the rear suspension.
I think the only way to solve this problem is building new bumpstop's myself.
How does the bumpstops (rear) of the standard panda (not the 100hp) looks like?
My only problem now is that i need a shorter bumpstop for the rear suspension.
I think the only way to solve this problem is building new bumpstop's myself.
How does the bumpstops (rear) of the standard panda (not the 100hp) looks like?
I was talking about the front as well, thank you for confirming that, I may need to take the plunge with that spring kit.
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follow the guide to fitting koni's/eibach springs on here which details cutting down rear bumpstops e.t.c and all will be well.
