Koni Strut Blown

[vubaru]

Originally Posted by Racecomp Engineering

From the PM...that would be why the stock shocks failed. That is an epic fail install move.

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

The thread about my stock struts blowing after an install of RCE's due to the improper install by said shop is in the Nor Cal forum and I have been clear about that install issue from day 1. Even posted pics of the torn-up metal on the struts.

I didn't want to re-raise that issue here for fear of muddying the waters and causing a thread-jack or derailing the thread. No need to be defensive.

No question, the marring of the stock struts still pisses me off and that was the cause of the failure of the OEM's. But it is true that the car was on RCE Yellow's when that happened. And typically Andy, when I send a PM, I would expect the information to be kept private otherwise I would have just posted it up in the thread. Just my 2c, not a big deal and now I know how you deal with PM's, but as the RCE's are not here at issue let's keep the thread clean.

Attached are the photos. Top 2 are leaking front left strut, bottom 2 are the one that appears dry. Could this be a minor seep? I don't see fluid on that side of the car under the strut...

[Racecomp Engineering]

Originally Posted by vubaru

The thread about my stock struts blowing after an install of RCE's due to the improper install by said shop is in the Nor Cal forum and I have been clear about that install issue from day 1.

I didn't want to re-raise that issue here for fear of muddying the waters and causing a thread-jack or derailing the thread.

No question, the marring of the stock struts still pisses me off and that was the cause of the failure of the OEM's. But it is true that the car was on RCE Yellow's when that happened. And typically Andy, when I send a PM, I would expect the information to be kept private otherwise I would have just posted it up in the thread. Just my 2c, not a big deal and now I know how you deal with PM's (although I will not post yours!), but as the RCE's are not here at issue let's keep the thread clean.

Attached are the photos.

My apologies for posting the PM, it just seemed like you were blaming the RCEs for blowing your stock struts in this thread. I could be too defensive (it happens) and I read it wrong and I should relax. I was just hoping that you would say "my OEMs were destroyed due to install error" rather than "my OEMs failed on RCE springs" in this thread because I thought most would interpret it the wrong way. I will remove the PM.

Thanks,
Andy

[OrbitalEllipses]

That looks pretty wet...mine was leaking less than that and they replaced it.

[vubaru]

Originally Posted by Racecomp Engineering

My apologies for posting the PM, it just seemed like you were blaming the RCEs for blowing your stock struts in this thread, which isn't true. I was hoping that you would say "my OEMs failed due to install error" rather than "my OEMs failed on RCE springs" in this thread. I will remove the PM.

- Andy

It's OK, I don't have any problem clarifying again that your springs don't appear to be the cause of any issues I've experienced with my struts as the first was an install error and the one Koni that appears to have failed did apparently on its own. We're cool.

Now I want to see if I can get an answer out of @JoeBoxer or Koni. I'm a little lost on this warranty process, heh.

[vubaru]

Originally Posted by OrbitalEllipses

That looks pretty wet...mine was leaking less than that and they replaced it.

So this is not just "minor seepage?" I had the impression that a leak out of the top of the strut may be a little less severe than one occurring at the bottom but it's hard to say.

How does the "dry" strut look, OK to your eyes?

[SkullWorks]

Originally Posted by vubaru

The thread about my stock struts blowing after an install of RCE's due to the improper install by said shop is in the Nor Cal forum and I have been clear about that install issue from day 1. Even posted pics of the torn-up metal on the struts.

I didn't want to re-raise that issue here for fear of muddying the waters and causing a thread-jack or derailing the thread. No need to be defensive.

No question, the marring of the stock struts still pisses me off and that was the cause of the failure of the OEM's. But it is true that the car was on RCE Yellow's when that happened. And typically Andy, when I send a PM, I would expect the information to be kept private otherwise I would have just posted it up in the thread. Just my 2c, not a big deal and now I know how you deal with PM's, but as the RCE's are not here at issue let's keep the thread clean.

Attached are the photos. Top 2 are leaking front left strut, bottom 2 are the one that appears dry. Could this be a minor seep? I don't see fluid on that side of the car under the strut...

As a third party completely, your posting in this thread without full disclosure painted an unfair image of both the OEM equipment and RCE's product.

I would have been defensive of my product being claimed as incompatible with the OEM components also, especially if there was info clearly showing that the failure had nothing to do with springs or strut quality but install error.



If you didn't want it brought up here.....you shouldn't have brought it up here, you were the one claiming.

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

if you want to paint the world with your convenient colors when you knew why it failed, you are essentially lying. RCE replied with tact even leaving the shops name out, but YOU and you alone brought that subject into this thread.

/off topic, please end you irrelevant install error non disclosure out of the thread so we can collect and discuss OPENLY the issue the OP is facing,

[OrbitalEllipses]

Pictures are big and out of focus...camera phone?

As far as the "dry" strut goes, I'd poke around in there with a white cloth/paper towel to see if it absorbs any moisture. It would also be worth playing with the adjuster (back and forth one turn quickly) to see if any fluid seeps out. I noticed that when I disassembled mine, it leaked SIGNIFICANTLY more...the nut/strut top itself was actually keeping that part of the strut together/hiding the fluid in the strut top.

Mine was leaking greenish/blueish fluid whenever adjusted...I didn't even put them on the car because a new strut shouldn't leak period. It shouldn't leak on compression/rebound either. I still say this a warranty issue for Koni, unless your installer used an impact/didn't hold the adjuster in place.

[vubaru]

Originally Posted by SkullWorks

As a third party completely, your posting in this thread without full disclosure painted an unfair image of both the OEM equipment and RCE's product.

I would have been defensive of my product being claimed as incompatible with the OEM components also, especially if there was info clearly showing that the failure had nothing to do with springs or strut quality but install error.

If you didn't want it brought up here.....you shouldn't have brought it up here, you were the one claiming.

if you want to paint the world with your convenient colors when you knew why it failed, you are essentially lying. RCE replied with tact even leaving the shops name out, but YOU and you alone brought that subject into this thread.

/off topic, please end you irrelevant install error non disclosure out of the thread so we can collect and discuss OPENLY the issue the OP is facing,

I've clarified the issue and Andy and I have already dealt with this, please stop flaming me, stop derailing the thread (I am OP), and delete your posts. Thanks.

[Racecomp Engineering]

It's cool, we're cool, everything is cool. Beers are on me tonight.

vubaru you may want to get in touch with Koni directly...you might be able to warranty directly through them and they will at least be able to tell you if that is excessive seepage or not. IMO it is and I would want them replaced.

Your tophats are probably fine but clean them up.

- Andy

[SkullWorks]

Originally Posted by vubaru

I've clarified the issue and Andy and I have already dealt with this, please stop flaming me, stop derailing the thread (I am OP), and delete your posts. Thanks.

Ah So I see you are the OP, still not gonna delete my posts, makes even less sense why you would post misleading info, but I am done here, simply offering a unbiased outside view point.

[JoeBoxer]

There was an invoice included with the Koni struts that i sent to Works for you, i can send you a copy of the invoice if you need it but the warranty would be through Koni. Just like the Eibach coilovers that are all going back, between Borla, Eibach, and now Koni i guess the "reputable" manufacturers just.... arent.

[vubaru]

Originally Posted by SkullWorks

Ah So I see you are the OP, still not gonna delete my posts, makes even less sense why you would post misleading info, but I am done here, simply offering a unbiased outside view point.

No misleading information was posted and anything vague was clarified, thanks for your contribution.

[vubaru]

Originally Posted by JoeBoxer

There was an invoice included with the Koni struts that i sent to Works for you, i can send you a copy of the invoice if you need it but the warranty would be through Koni. Just like the Eibach coilovers that are all going back, between Borla, Eibach, and now Koni i guess the "reputable" manufacturers just.... arent.

Joey thanks for posting in the thread man I'll PM you right away for a copy.

Didn't really see any reason to reference my personal life, kind of out of line. You made a totally uncool ninja edit trashing my fiance after I complimented you too.

[xwd]

Koni sells a lot of struts, some fail. I know there have been a couple WRX autocross guys who have had more than one fail. The nice thing is Koni will just replace it for free, although sending them back and putting the stock stuff back on is a pain if you don't do the work yourself.