My VYII SS Wagon - Adjusting Rear Koni's (Easy? or a job for the pro's)

[FrangaFry]

Howdy folks, as the title suggest, I have a VYII SS Wagon with Koni adjustables all round, have recently removed all the rear nolathane bushes (as they were noisy as hell), but I have noticed the rear is no longer as 'solid' as it used to be before removing bushes (most noticeably under high speed hard braking.... :1peek: ............). The shocks have been installed for about 30,000+km and were set at softest rebound, i'm happy with the fronts, but would like to tighten the rear abit without having to go back to nolathane.

- The fronts are easy to change, as they are adjustable from the top (?), but I am to understand that you have to drop the rears to adjust? (is that the case?). If so I am assuming it would be job best left for a hoist and someone who knows what the hell they are doing.

- If I do get the rears tightened a bit, should I also do the same for the fronts (will it potentially un balance the car being too stiff in the rear?

- Last thought, I am still running standard FE2 springs all round. Is there a limit I should be aware of when stiffening these shocks (I was thinking 1.5 to 1.75 turns, but would this or anymore adjustment compromise the FE2 springs?)

Any thoughts, tips, advice would be great :goodjob:

Thanks in advance,

[dyno junkie]

Undo the lower shock mount.
Compress the shock fully until you feel it engage and turn clockwise to stiffen the shock.
There are between 2 and 2 1/2 turns from full soft to full hard.

[IJ.]

Only "gotya" is don't lose count of the turns, I usually back them off fully then count in on each to be sure.

[FrangaFry]

Damn, that doesn't sound too hard at all........

So, all I need to be wary of is to keep it totally compressed when turning and don't lose count (best to back it right of first though sounds like a plan). Do you think this is something I could do on my back when the car is on stands, or will a hoist be needed (do I need to be the Hulk to compress them from a laying position?)

Cheers fellas,

[IJ.]

I've done mine on the ground while out and about, it's easier on the hoist but not essential, nope they compress fairly easy so no need to turn Green ;)

[FrangaFry]

OK last silly question, when bolting the shocks back on after the adjustment, do they need to be torqued up to any specific setting or just LEAN on it a bit more than usual.

Thanks for all the quick replies (cheers IJ)

[IJ.]

There is a torque Setting, I just do mine "FT" they're big ass bolts, a drop of loctite 262 can't hurt ;)

Last reply for the night I'm off to bed!

[FrangaFry]

There is a torque Setting, I just do mine "FT" they're big ass bolts, a drop of loctite 262 can't hurt ;)

Last reply for the night I'm off to bed!

Legend! Cheers

[FrangaFry]

Adjusted up my rear shocks today (thanks IJ and Dyno Junkie :wave:), seems to be all good too (but it's raining now so can't really give it any in the wet to check to see if there is any difference) - Compressed the shock, took them back to full soft and then gave it approx 1.75 turns - so about half way to full hard I am thinking (might go full hard over the weekend to see what that's like..... :up2sum: and then go back to 1.75 turns to see the diff ).

As this was my first effort, I did learn a few things along the way (even though it's easy as, but I am a complete noob on the tools .....)
- so first thing, didn't expect the axle to drop :lol: (that caught me by surprise and made me think for a minute...) - but was ready for it on the other side....
- second thing, use the right tools when trying to take off 'super stuck' wheel nuts (ended up stripping/breaking my bloody king chrome ratchet.... :doh: and that put the wind up me for a bit....)
- and last, don't leave your 43kg hungry bull mastiff in the house while you do it, as the bloody thing got up on the bench and ate {2x donuts for my daughter, 2x fresh rolls, 1 entire loaf of bread and 2x pink froggy cup cakes ................}

Next I have a catch can to install................. :1peek:

[ittwgn]

first thing this morning i was halfway thru typing make sure you have a jack under rear control arm to stop it from dropping and to raise it a little when refitting bolt to make it easier when my computer dropped out and didn't get a chance to repost !!!! hahahaha love dogs and the shit they do !!!!

[IJ.]

I didn't warn him as I thought he was doing it on the ground ;)

LMAO @ The Dog, I had a RottixDoberman that ate an entire Pavlova that had been left on the table!

[FrangaFry]

All good fellas, I really SHOULD have known that it would drop ........... but no dramas, I did 'freak' juuuust a little though when I saw it drop (luckily I had the spare sitting under it for insurance, so that caught it .... and it didn't take me long too work out that the jack is a good thing to have to lift it up and hold it when putting the bolt back in..... was ready for the other side though.)

Yeah, the DOG (it was already on probation from the last time it raided the bench - silly me..), it's now siting out in the rain looking at me with those soooooo sad eyes......... wife thinks I'm a pr1ck (hahaha)

Soooo, don't suppose you've installed a catch can with a HTV1900 (I have posted another thread on this......)

Cheers guys, appreciate the help; This forum rocks!!!!!

[FrangaFry]

Hahaha, update on the dog, wife just cracked (sooo sad eye's got to her ...... pffffft), so she let it in ................... it came up to me (sulking), then nipped round the corner where it appeared with one of the 'missing roles' in it's mouth (bloody thing had a secret stash............) - Back out in the rain it has gone.... Hahahaha

[JT]

Hahaha, update on the dog, wife just cracked (sooo sad eye's got to her ...... pffffft), so she let it in ................... it came up to me (sulking), then nipped round the corner where it appeared with one of the 'missing roles' in it's mouth (bloody thing had a secret stash............) - Back out in the rain it has gone.... Hahahaha

very entertaining. I just read it out & gave the whole family a laugh