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Brakes & Suspension Forum sponsored by The Tire Rack |
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12-20-2021, 01:06 PM | #1 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 79814
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Wisconsin
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KONI insert into KYB Excel-G strut housing
I have an 07 wagon which has KYB Excel-G struts on it. I am thinking about switching to KONI inserts but cannot seem to find any information about whether these Excel-G struts are the same on the inside as the OEM struts. Does anyone have any experience with this situation?
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12-20-2021, 05:15 PM | #2 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 301042
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: UK
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The Koni's used to come with an adaptor ring, if the inner diameter of the tube was too large - this was knocked into position.
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12-20-2021, 05:23 PM | #3 |
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Vehicle:2007 STi limited SWP |
I would be willing to bet that Konis would work.
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12-20-2021, 05:31 PM | #4 | |
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Quote:
https://www.subaruforester.org/threa...-2-way.374529/ |
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12-22-2021, 10:13 AM | #5 |
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Join Date: Jul 2009
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Vehicle:2004 Sti wagon AW |
I was in the same ballpark at you. Kyb struts and wanted koni inserts but haven't found a soul that had done it confirming it so I bailed. Spending 800$ on konis just to find out it won't work wasn't my cup of tea. I was looking at the FEAL fixed perch struts, if you haven't checked those out yet.
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12-22-2021, 10:18 AM | #6 |
Scooby Newbie
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Wisconsin
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I have played with the idea of just buying another Excel strut to cut open and measure. Not too much cost associated with that.
The Tein Endurapro Plus look promising but they are sedan fitment only it seems. As is the case with every other option as well. Wagon is unpopular I guess. |
12-22-2021, 10:53 AM | #7 |
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The image I posted is an excel-g front.
The excel-g rears have all been the same ID, so far, and not needed the adaptor. You can get Wagon specific non-inverted struts in the UK market. KYB Ultra SR: 324034 324035 324036 324037 These are capable with sti rate springs. I've used them with 246lb/in front and 224lb/in rears. I wish the Feal FPS had more droop. I'm not a fan of camber bolts. You could fit GD sti alloy lca's on your wagon and then use KYB sedan front struts. You can fit KYB sedan struts on the rear, if you drill out the top mounting holes in the lower clevis to 5/8" diameter. The above supposes 7.5" width wheels and 225/45 tyres. Last edited by 2pot; 12-22-2021 at 11:33 AM. |
12-22-2021, 11:48 AM | #8 | ||
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Quote:
Quote:
Frankly, these Excel-G struts with the pink springs are not bad. If I lived in a place with normal quality roads, I would probably find them perfectly acceptable. Unfortunately, the roads here are pretty terrible which makes the ride quite jarring most of the time. I seems to me that the compression damping is too high. That is also why I am reluctant to try other KYB models as I would expect a similar behavior. My hope is that the KONIs would be a little more forgiving in that respect. I have also considered going to stock struts but I don't have any experience with them to know if they would be much different. Thanks for your input. |
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12-22-2021, 12:03 PM | #9 |
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Compression damping on KYB excel-g is soft.
Koni's have stiffer compression damping. Excel-g can't adequately control any version of the pink springs. What are your wheel centre to arch measurements? I'm wondering if you're on the oem 60mm front bump stops? Did you cut them down or fit shorter alternatives? What about a set of off-set front top mounts? In their max camber position. Pedders 580096 top mounts, with rubber SEALED bearings - seem, so far, to be more long lasting than the Whiteline kca335 version - which has metal SHIELDED bearings. Last edited by 2pot; 12-22-2021 at 12:35 PM. |
12-22-2021, 12:47 PM | #10 | ||
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Quote:
Quote:
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12-22-2021, 01:02 PM | #11 |
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Join Date: Nov 2011
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As mentioned before, drill out the top mounting holes on a rear sedan strut's lower clevis to 5/8".
That will give you enough play, to push and pry rear sedan struts. Assuming max 7.5" wheel and max 225 tyres. Last edited by 2pot; 12-22-2021 at 02:54 PM. |
12-22-2021, 10:54 PM | #12 | |
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Quote:
Either way, I think I'm now going to have to visually check if the car is actually sitting on them at rest. All the indications seem to point to that being the problem. |
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12-23-2021, 12:40 AM | #13 |
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That's certainly the case for the 10-14 Legacy KYB excel-G struts - I bought and used them as donors for my car - I used Koni 8610-1447 Sport inserts in KYB 339222/339223 bodies. Does KYB make the oem struts for the WRX? they do for the Legacy
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12-24-2021, 06:02 PM | #14 | |
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Quote:
At the front, you've lost 1 5/8" of bump travel. Most dampers have more rebound than compression damping. If you drive over a sequence of bumps, you will be incrementally pulled into the bump stops, by the excess of rebound damping - the rebound damping, after successive bumps, will not allow the damper to extend back to its full extension. This situation is now more problematic, as you have less bump travel to begin with, due to lowering. If you're going to run with minimal bump stop clearance, you really need more compression damping. Or, excessively stiff springs, which reduce grip, on a road car. You can mitigate the situation by utilising a shorter/stiff stop. Or, a stop of a similar length to, but softer than, the after-market KYB. The KYB after-market front stops are 45mm - you can't cut them down, as they hold up the dust boots which attach to the stop. As you say, they are stiff. The excel-g damper are probably toast, as they will have overheated, trying to damp the oscillations of the pink spring rate, that they weren't designed for. Last edited by 2pot; 12-27-2021 at 04:54 PM. |
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12-24-2021, 06:22 PM | #15 | |
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Quote:
The shocks are new so they shouldn't be dead yet. However, if they are as inadequate as you say, then it's probably only a matter of time. It's funny that Subaru would offer such an unmatched spring as a dealer-installed option. In the end, it looks like the best options are to either go to KONI inserts with these springs, or find a set of stock springs to go with these struts. |
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04-20-2022, 01:25 AM | #16 |
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I’ve purchased KYB Exel G struts for two of my wagons, a GD Impreza wrx wagon and an 08 outback. They worked ok on the outback with stock springs. Ride quality was ok, better than old worn out factory struts for sure. On the wrx wagon I ran usdm pink springs, that was not a good match. I’ve been running Koni inserts on my wrx wagon with usdm pinks and they ride awesome. I can run them 1 1/4 turn firm in front and 1 turn firm in the back and get a super comfortable ride. No need to go pass 2 firm turn front and 1 1/2 firm turn in the back for a proper firm street ride. With factory oem springs and similar tune the softer ride is super comfortable and on on the firmer setting they still ride excellent. Koni inserts are magic, I have one set with almost 120,000 miles with oem springs after riding 100,000 miles with pinks that still have a good ride and not leaking yet. I’m still running the front and rear settings at 1 1/4 front and 3/4 rear, amazing.
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