Koni Fsd Impressions

[InlineTurbo]

Got the Koni FSDs and Eiback springs installed last weekend. I've been very impressed with them so far. They soak up bumps very well and handle great.

Other setups I've had on the S70:

1) Bilstein HDs with stock springs. Very harsh ride and fender gap was huge. Plus side was

that the car handled very well.

2) Koni Sports with EST Springs. Less harsh ride than the Bilsteins when on soft. Just as rough

of a ride with the firmness turned up. The biggest problem here was matching the shocks to the

springs. The EST springs were about a 1.6" drop and with the shocks on full soft made the ride

bouncy. Plus side is the car handled very well with the drop in center of gravity and sport springs.

Overall I liked this combo, but for all of the broken up pavement in this town and this being

on a daily driver I decided for something a bit less aggressive.

The Koni FSD with Eibach springs is a great combo for a daily driver. Very nice ride compared

to either of the Koni Sports or the Bilsteins. These are way smoother than the Koni Sports on

full soft. The Eibach springs lowered the car, but not nearly as aggresively as before. I now

have some fender gap, but also don't have quite as choppy of a ride. Some of the things I didn't

like about the last combo could probably be attributed to having the car lowered to far for my

tastes. Some people will have no problem with it at all, but for all the driving I do on winter

ravaged streets I wanted a car that wasn't lowered as much.

The FSD shocks are just amazing in what they offer you. I've taken them over the same bumpy

roads that I drive to work every day and almost don't notice the bumps. They are still there, but

the bumpiness is very muted and isn't nearly as noticable. A small pavement bump that used to make

a pretty big impact is now almost negligible when going over it. Turning isn't nearly as fun as

with sport shocks, but it is amazing how the car stays planted without lots of drama. It doesn't

react the way a sport setup does, that is it isn't as predictable in its feel. It really doesn't have

a whole lot of feel at all. It just keeps the car mostly level and going where you pointed it. It is

hard to explain because i've never driven anything quite like it.

The drawbacks are that they don't have as sporty of a feel as my other setups. They do inspire

confidence in the cars ability to handle because you can throw it around very well, but the feel

just isn't there. I haven't taken these on a road coarse or anything, but they should do well

there. It may take a bit of getting used to the lack of response though. They just don't give

feedback like a Koni Sport and that feedback is very useful in an aggresive driving setup.

All in all I'm very happy with them. Good comfort and good handling without much drama.

I've found my new keeper suspension setup. These should be on the car a long time.

All of these are in my humble opinion only so YMMV on suspension setups. Just though I'd share my views

since I've had a few different setups.

[WhiteT5]

Awesome. Great to hear a review from someone who's had experience with several different set-ups.

I don't think the actual harshness is what bothers me so much. It's the feeling that the dash is about to fall in my lap everytime I hit a bump. If I could secure the dash and silence the rattles, I'd roll w/ the Bilstein's in the rear and Koni yellow's in the front.

[speedn_j]

inlineturbo..do you still have stock sways? or upgraged sways?sorry nevermind ..i just read your sig. ..

[ACES70]

Has anyone had any experience with having the stock struts with the eibach springs?

[Aequitas_Veritas]

im wondering how these will perform when pushed. The feel might not be there, but they are supposed to change when going around sweeping corners, so the disconnected feel you are talking about might be just the soft dampening of the FSDs not being pushed hard enough. Once you go around a few tight corners, let us know whats up, cause I have the same suspension combo sitting next to me in my room and I want to know what its gonna be like when I get them on.

[NW T5R]

Thanks for the writeup. I have been waiting for FSD reviews before I decide on a setup. I will decide between Koni FSDs/Eiback springs package or Coilovers.

Still waiting for reviews of anyone that has taken the Koni FSDs/Eiback on the track or very aggresive street.

[jem-c70]

I've notice very little difference driving hard into turns with the Koni FSDs, compared to the Bilsteins HDs( which i had for 4 years )

To me the big improvement with the Konis over the Bilsteins is at high speed on a uneven and or bumpy surface, the Bilsteins couldn't recover causing my C70 to bounce, the rear end felt like the tires were no longer making contact with the road surface.

No matter what the road surface, the Konis stay planted....b/c the damping is always adjusting.

Truly an amazing system.

[vandalan]

i had koni fsd with stock springs.... horrible , i put on a set of H&R sport springs, the ride is smoother then stock, and is a dream to drive now. all the little things in the road are gone

the lowering height is really nice looking, but i do tend to bottom out once in awhile, im going to need a skid plate

as for the sways i wish i got the upgrade, but it still handles reeeaaallllly tight. since i put on HD endlinks they make alittle difference too.

ipd said that the ebachs aren't the same as they used to be, i don't know but sweet setup good luck, ive heard that fsd aren't to be used with lowering springs.. idk

i recomend h&r springs w/ koni fsds i love it, but my only basis of comparison is fsd's w/ stock springs and stock.

[c70pete]

i had koni fsd with stock springs.... horrible , i put on a set of H&R sport springs, the ride is smoother then stock, and is a dream to drive now. all the little things in the road are gone

the lowering height is really nice looking, but i do tend to bottom out once in awhile, im going to need a skid plate

as for the sways i wish i got the upgrade, but it still handles reeeaaallllly tight. since i put on HD endlinks they make alittle difference too.

ipd said that the ebachs aren't the same as they used to be, i don't know but sweet setup good luck, ive heard that fsd aren't to be used with lowering springs.. idk

i recomend h&r springs w/ koni fsds i love it, but my only basis of comparison is fsd's w/ stock springs and stock.

what was so terrible about using the KONI FSD with the stock spring? can you ellaborate on this please? a lot of us are thinking about keeping the stock springs... what didn't you like about the ride...

I know the H&R are tougher and lower than the Eibach... wondering what would be a better combo...

thx

P.

[Greenchunks]

I've had the FSD's and Eibach's on for about 6 weeks now, and I'm very happy with them. I've taken them on very very demanding drives (The brickfest drive last weekend for example) and the FSD's performed very well. I do agree partially with inline turbo that they do have somewhat of a number feel when driving at 1-6 on a scale of 1-10. When cornering lightly, there is some roll and under normal driving the car feels like stock. However when you really start to push the car hard on hard turns and up and down hills, the car just no longer rolls and stays perfectly planted. I feel very confident in the car now and where as before it felt like the car would want to come loose cometimes, it almost always feels nice. I do not have ipd sways or any sort of aftermarket endlinks (QBM are in my room). If you are between these or coilovers, I'd say look at what your goal for the car is. The coilovers will give that taught feeling in the car at all times, think bmw/EVO/etc. but will be very firm all the time as well, and they will be more adjustable. The Fsd's are simpler, softer and not as good at raw handling, but they are cheaper and the car will be more comfortable for everyday driving if that is what you are looking for.

[c70pete]

I've had the FSD's and Eibach's on for about 6 weeks now, and I'm very happy with them. I've taken them on very very demanding drives (The brickfest drive last weekend for example) and the FSD's performed very well. I do agree partially with inline turbo that they do have somewhat of a number feel when driving at 1-6 on a scale of 1-10. When cornering lightly, there is some roll and under normal driving the car feels like stock. However when you really start to push the car hard on hard turns and up and down hills, the car just no longer rolls and stays perfectly planted. I feel very confident in the car now and where as before it felt like the car would want to come loose cometimes, it almost always feels nice. I do not have ipd sways or any sort of aftermarket endlinks (QBM are in my room). If you are between these or coilovers, I'd say look at what your goal for the car is. The coilovers will give that taught feeling in the car at all times, think bmw/EVO/etc. but will be very firm all the time as well, and they will be more adjustable. The Fsd's are simpler, softer and not as good at raw handling, but they are cheaper and the car will be more comfortable for everyday driving if that is what you are looking for.

sounds like it's a step up from the stock suspension... I like the fact that "under normal driving the car feels like stock" as you say above...... but I'm concerned with the lowering of the car with the eibach springs.... how does your car handle potholes and other irregularities that would make the stock suspension setup "crash" as is so common with these cars... what about high speed stability and braknig? does the nose dive ... do you experience nose "lift" on full throttle acceleration...?

[InlineTurbo]

sounds like it's a step up from the stock suspension... I like the fact that "under normal driving the car feels like stock" as you say above...... but I'm concerned with the lowering of the car with the eibach springs.... how does your car handle potholes and other irregularities that would make the stock suspension setup "crash" as is so common with these cars... what about high speed stability and braknig? does the nose dive ... do you experience nose "lift" on full throttle acceleration...?

They work great with Eibach springs. I don't know what the car rode like "stock" since I had about 90K on the suspension when I got it, but with Eibach + FSD is very comfortable for a daily driver. It isn't as soft as a luxury ride, but IIRC what my original setup felt like it does feel better than the 90K suspension setup I had originally.

As far as tracking it goes I haven't done that yet. However I did take an onramp corner really fast under hard throttle and my wife said "wow, this handles almost like the Porsche now." Pushing it into a corner may feel a bit more numb than Koni Sports, but it does do well. It inspires a lot of confidence. I have noticed very little nose dive even under hard braking. And defintely no lift on full throttle. Think of it this way. Your car stays pretty much flat almost all the time and when you corner hard it does have a little bit of dive, but then it adjusts quickly and then becomes flat again. I've never driven anything quite like it.

Actually going full throttle is a lot of fun now because the car behaves so well. I haven't hit a pot hole because I actively avoid them with my lightweight rims, but going over broken pavement is a lot more tolerable than it used to be. You almost don't think about it any more. Remember the Eibachs only lower the car about 1" which isn't a a very big drop for these cars. When you go 1.6 or so that gets big. You wouldn't think the difference between 1" and 1.6" is that much physically, but it does make a big difference in ride quality.

[c70pete]

what size of tires are you running?

[Greenchunks]

I'm running 225/40/18 and the ride is still pretty good.

[InlineTurbo]

I'm running on 215/45/17 for summer and 205/50/16 for winter. Winter tires ride a bit softer, but the 17s are still pretty decent for ride quality. As good as can be expected on 45 series tires.