Koni Strut Blown - Page 2 - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

vubaru · 06-11-2013, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OrbitalEllipses

When you get the strut top off, look at the washer at the base of the adjustment blade. One of my struts was leaking from the adjuster out of the box because the o-ring seal beneath wasn't seated. Koni warrantied the strut, but took their sweet fucking time.

I'll have a look and report back tomorrow.

How long did the warranty process take for you? This is my daily driver so I need things done sooner rather than later.

And this is right in time for the Vegas meet...do I feel like driving 8 hrs each way with busted struts? Not really.

OrbitalEllipses · 06-11-2013, 01:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vubaru

How long did the warranty process take for you? This is my daily driver so I need things done sooner rather than later.

PM'd.

feldy · 06-11-2013, 11:49 AM

So I have a set of these same setup. No issues yet. About 600 miles or so. 25 or so autocross runs.

However daily driving on these almost full stiff is to much. I run full soft for daily driving. and 1 full turn off full stiff for autocross.

Another local who installed these konis on his WRX. Blew one of the fronts from hitting a pot hole.

vubaru · 06-11-2013, 12:11 PM

I'm as careful as I can be in California avoiding potholes and speedbumps. Will take photos of the strut tops after work.

I'm going to contact the dealer and hopefully Koni today to see what they say. Looks like I'll be buying the replacement under warranty and seeking reimbursement...

WolfsFang · 06-11-2013, 12:28 PM

Failed strut, had these on my gsx for around 2k mike's with track days and always ran them at full stiff.

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 4 Beta

driftartist · 06-11-2013, 01:15 PM

o...e.....m f....t.....w

King Tut · 06-11-2013, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by driftartist

o...e.....m f....t.....w

o...e.....m f....a.....i.....l.....s t.....o.....o

feldy · 06-11-2013, 02:34 PM

Why do you think you need a new oem tophat?

zoomzoomers · 06-11-2013, 03:05 PM

Tough break. Even the best fail. I've used Koni's from the early 90's and they're great, but aren't free from failing once in a blue moon. Hopefully, you can get all this sorted out before the meet. Good luck.

FRSFirestorm · 06-11-2013, 03:09 PM

Wondering if they would be damaged if the shaft wasn't held while tightening the top nut down. I'd imagine so?

zoomzoomers · 06-11-2013, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FRSFirestorm

Wondering if they would be damaged if the shaft wasn't held while tightening the top nut down. I'd imagine so?

That or using an impact wrench for install is one of the primary reasons for failed struts. Doing either usually tears the seals resulting in blown struts.

vubaru · 06-12-2013, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by King Tut

o...e.....m f....a.....i.....l.....s t.....o.....o

As Roy knows, I've had stock struts fail on the RCE's, too. All 4. So, no, OEM does not win.

@JoeBoxer sold me the Koni's and I haven't heard a response from him yet on making a warranty claim to Koni (as he would be the "dealer"). So at this point it looks like a strut replacement is at least 2 wks out given my shop's availability and the fact we may have to order and pay for replacement struts out of pocket if @JoeBoxer is MIA.

Photos of strut tops pending. The OEM strut tops appear fine but there is a tear in the rubber adjacent to the leaking front right strut. Driver's side and rear struts are bone dry. It appears that it may just be seepage...but I'll let you more experienced folks weigh in.

Racecomp Engineering · 06-12-2013, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vubaru

As Roy knows, I've had stock struts fail on the RCE's, too. All 4. So, no, OEM does not win.

@JoeBoxer sold me the Koni's and I haven't heard a response from him yet on making a warranty claim to Koni (as he would be the "dealer"). So at this point it looks like a strut replacement is at least 2 wks out given my shop's availability and the fact we may have to order and pay for replacement struts out of pocket if @JoeBoxer is MIA.

Photos of strut tops pending. The OEM strut tops appear fine but there is a tear in the rubber adjacent to the leaking front right strut. Driver's side and rear struts are bone dry. It appears that it may just be seepage...but I'll let you more experienced folks weigh in.

You might want to mention as you did in PMs to us that the OEMs failed in your case due to your install shop doing a few things that were mind-boggingly horrible. Like really, really dumb stuff.

The OEMs are good but not perfect.

I run Konis on my Mini and they've been great on a car that sees Baltimore city streets daily with very little travel. But we've seen a few blow very quickly (or in some cases arrive already leaking) for their Subaru applications.

- Andy

Racecomp Engineering · 06-12-2013, 02:13 PM

The stock shocks failed with RCE springs in vubaru's case due to an epic fail install move by an unnamed shop.

Sorry, not being defensive (maybe a little) but I think it's disingenuous to say the stock shocks "failed" in your case without including that very important detail. More accurately, the stock shocks were destroyed by the installer while the RCE springs were installed.

For the Konis...IMO its' something we've seen in a few rare cases on Subarus and hopefully they'll take care of that for you since they are good peoples.

- Andy

06-11-2013, 11:49 AM	#17
feldy Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Drives: 2013 FRS Asphalt Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 1,155 Thanks: 309 Thanked 335 Times in 212 Posts Mentioned: 21 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	So I have a set of these same setup. No issues yet. About 600 miles or so. 25 or so autocross runs. However daily driving on these almost full stiff is to much. I run full soft for daily driving. and 1 full turn off full stiff for autocross. Another local who installed these konis on his WRX. Blew one of the fronts from hitting a pot hole. __________________ 2013 Scion FR-S AT Picked up 5/30/2012

06-11-2013, 12:28 PM	#19
WolfsFang Scrape Master Join Date: Jun 2012 Drives: Goal: Oldest FRS State Side Location: North NJ Posts: 1,161 Thanks: 238 Thanked 412 Times in 238 Posts Mentioned: 10 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Failed strut, had these on my gsx for around 2k mike's with track days and always ran them at full stiff. Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 4 Beta __________________ You do realize comparing the BRZ to the FR-S is like comparing which hand you love masterbating too right?

06-11-2013, 02:34 PM	#22
feldy Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Drives: 2013 FRS Asphalt Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 1,155 Thanks: 309 Thanked 335 Times in 212 Posts Mentioned: 21 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Why do you think you need a new oem tophat? __________________ 2013 Scion FR-S AT Picked up 5/30/2012

06-11-2013, 03:05 PM	#23
zoomzoomers Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Drives: 2013 Subaru SWP BRZ Limited 6AT Location: Darkside Posts: 1,862 Thanks: 526 Thanked 305 Times in 207 Posts Mentioned: 9 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Tough break. Even the best fail. I've used Koni's from the early 90's and they're great, but aren't free from failing once in a blue moon. Hopefully, you can get all this sorted out before the meet. Good luck. __________________ Man Law#17:A man in the company of a hot, seductively dressed, woman MUST remain sober enough to fight! MODS: AVO tubes + filter, Cusco (F) strut brace w/ MC brace, Perrin CBE, Subaru OEM trunk tray, Grimmspeed front license re-locator & hood struts and Beatsonic rear cam.

06-12-2013, 02:13 PM	#28
Racecomp Engineering Join Date: Nov 2011 Drives: 2016 BRZ, 2012 Paris Di2 & 2018 STI Location: Severn, MD Posts: 5,408 Thanks: 3,420 Thanked 7,242 Times in 2,963 Posts Mentioned: 303 Post(s) Tagged: 9 Thread(s)	The stock shocks failed with RCE springs in vubaru's case due to an epic fail install move by an unnamed shop. Sorry, not being defensive (maybe a little) but I think it's disingenuous to say the stock shocks "failed" in your case without including that very important detail. More accurately, the stock shocks were destroyed by the installer while the RCE springs were installed. For the Konis...IMO its' something we've seen in a few rare cases on Subarus and hopefully they'll take care of that for you since they are good peoples. - Andy Last edited by Racecomp Engineering; 06-12-2013 at 02:49 PM. Reason: removed the PM

06-11-2013, 12:11 PM	#18
vubaru Now with Boost! Join Date: Aug 2012 Drives: 2013 SWP BRZ Ltd. Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 415 Thanks: 281 Thanked 424 Times in 257 Posts Mentioned: 24 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I'm as careful as I can be in California avoiding potholes and speedbumps. Will take photos of the strut tops after work. I'm going to contact the dealer and hopefully Koni today to see what they say. Looks like I'll be buying the replacement under warranty and seeking reimbursement...

06-11-2013, 01:15 PM	#20
driftartist Kurenai Samurai Join Date: May 2012 Drives: Red and manual Location: east bay,ca Posts: 794 Thanks: 186 Thanked 327 Times in 203 Posts Mentioned: 5 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	o...e.....m f....t.....w

06-11-2013, 03:09 PM	#24
FRSFirestorm Red is Fastest Join Date: Dec 2012 Drives: 13 FRS 6MT Firestorm Location: Central Kentucky Posts: 439 Thanks: 85 Thanked 242 Times in 120 Posts Mentioned: 11 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Wondering if they would be damaged if the shaft wasn't held while tightening the top nut down. I'd imagine so?

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