aklucsarits

Many people with Koni Sport dampers on 4th and 5th gen Preludes have been having major problems with stripping the rear lower mounting bolt and/or the nut welded to the Koni's lower mount. I just worked on installing my suspension last weekend, and I now believe I know what the problem is...

Looks almost OK in this view, but something is not quite right...


The lower prongs are not perpendicular!! In fact, they are *very* off... this is more evident when I thread the mounting bolt in the other side of the nut...


Here's another view. The longer shaft of this screwdriver helps illustrate just how off the angle is between the two prongs... Very *not* straight! The flat screwdriver handle is pressed flush against the surface of the nut. Not good...


Hmmm... This looks like a job for - Brute Force!!! I ended up sticking one prong in a vice. I tightend the vice, then bent the shock forward in very small increments. Then I'd pull it out of the vice, try to thread the bolt by hand, then bend some more... Once I got it very close, I stuck both prongs in the vice and clamped it to pinch them together a little more until the prongs were perpendicular and I could thread the mounting bolt manually.

From all accounts that I've heard so far, this issue with the Koni Sports seems to only have become a problem with Koni parts purchased from mid 2000 and on. I purchased mine from Carparts.com in late December 2000. People who got their Konis before spring/summer 2000 don't seem to have encountered this issue...

If you are having a shop or someone else install your Koni's, make sure they are aware of this potential problem!!

Andrew

 

rf7475

This is very true, I had this same problem this past weekend. One of them was like this, and I didn't realize it until I put it on my car and stripped the bolt and nut. I had to cut off the nut and buy a new bolt and nut in order to put it on my car. I made sure the other one lined up before I put it on the car.

I wish you would have posted this before last weekend. Good post with the pics though. This should be very helpful for other people.

Lude2k

thanks, I think I've made up my mind and not go with the koni setup. Muuuuuuuuuuuugen Showa is my choice now, now I have to find the $$$ somewhere, anyone want to give me a hand???

SuperFleaJQ

my koni install went just fine a while ago...phew!

o0OO0o

i'll have this thread archived after we get some more response.

aklucsarits

I just can't see spending $1300+ for the non-adjustable Mugen Showa suspension... The only real advantage I can see with the Mugen kit, is that the coilover assembly comes complete with the top shock mount, washers, and dustboot - making the install very easy.

I went with the Koni Sports with infinite rebound dampening adjustment and multiple spring mounts to adjust ride height. For springs, I have Tanabe SuperHs which are about 30% stiffer than stock and lower 1". For less than $600 shipped, I got what I feel will make a better setup than the $1300 Mugen kit.

If I wanted to get the additional OEM upper mount hardware, like the Mugen kit, I could get it for about $250. So call it $850 total for the koni/tanabe adjustable setup with Honda upper mounts VS $1300+ship for the non-adjustable Mugen kit... I couldn't justify it.

I still can't comment on the ride and performance yet, as my car is still being put together...

Andrew

g5luder

andrew

got any pics of the car now that its lowered also did you get evrything installled in time for pocono

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for sale:18" giovviona kuji rims w/toyo t1-s 215-35-18

aklucsarits

Yeah, sorry! We worked on mine on just this past Saturday afternoon and I just unloaded my camera today... BTW, Thanks again for the help on my bumpstop/washer issue!

Andrew

aklucsarits

No pics yet... The car is still in the air in my friend's garage. For Pocono, I will have at least my suspension on along with my header and cat-back... If I have time this weekend, I'll put on my AEM CAI and/or V-AFC... I'm cutting it very close

Andrew

Lude2k

yeah my main reason for the mugen is that it is a straight drop in, no hastle and no pain. I have to swap the suspension in and out for winter so I don't want to make and mods to the stock unit to make the konis fit and have to change back again. I'll pay extra for less headaches.

I get your point too, it is costly so I'll have to tape up my piggy bank and save

rf7475

Just kidding. I did mine on this past Saturday too, morning though. No problem with the bump stops.

Are you enjoying them as much as I am?

prelude2005

I plan to get those, so how would i correct the problem?

Also Does Mugen make shox for 4th Gens? if so, wheres the site i can order them at?

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Luder

Owner of a 94' VTEC Lude

baked

This is NOT a good reason not to buy the Koni's. I'll never understand how people can be "flipped" so easily by one post.

Great post though...

marcucci

That's interesting- out of about 10 times of installing Konis on 3 or 4 different cars, I've never seen or had this problem. Not once.

Might be a good idea to notify Koni on this one, they should fix the problem.

iranman

Andrew, I see you are plagued with the same problem that affects ALL white preludes...(hint: look at the rear bumper):

God, I hate it when it rains

prelude2005

so whats the mugen site to get suspension for ludes?