Yes they were, but they're also compatible with lowering springs up to -30mm. My replacement FSDs deffo don't 'float' at all by the way...

Thats good to hear, I take it JKM sorted you out OK? Mines down there for a check up on Monday (although over the last week the car has been getting very very floaty).

Nice to hear (even if it is rumour, that Koni have tweaked them). I'm thinking this is actually probably a bit of a design issue rather than a spurious fault.

Thats good to hear, I take it JKM sorted you out OK? Mines down there for a check up on Monday (although over the last week the car has been getting very very floaty).

Nice to hear (even if it is rumour, that Koni have tweaked them). I'm thinking this is actually probably a bit of a design issue rather than a spurious fault.

JKM were great. Worth checking that they've got the FSDs in stock for your car though - to save two trips. KONI have been closed for their holidays, so supply might be limited just now...

JKM were great. Worth checking that they've got the FSDs in stock for your car though - to save two trips. KONI have been closed for their holidays, so supply might be limited just now...

They won't have; I'm waiting for a pair having had my FSDs checked out 10 days ago.

Koni were closed for summer hols until Tuesday last week and JKM ordered a pair for me then (on Tuesday);I'm expecting delivery sometime next week and will then get them fitted.

Guys can I ask why you'd use FSD's with standard springs? Why not take advantage of the enhanced control to fit some Eibachs or something at the same time?

Just curious

Koni have designed FSDs to fit with OE springs but they can also be used with up to 25-30mm lowering; hence they get used with regular eibachs. They cannot be used with street crawler lowerings of 40-60mm!

As for why use them with OE springs; its perhaps more appropriate to ask "why haven't you used eibach springs?"

For me (I have OE springs) I opted not to fit eibachs as I had used them on two previous cars and whilst they improved the handling in the dry, I felt they stiffened the car too much for the wet and cool conditions we predominately have here in UK plus they firmed up the ride too much for my personal preference. Overall I like a car that is sharp handling but nevertheless is supple to give a good ride and better wet/cool grip/handling; it's also why, even though I bought my car with 18" wheels, I have reverted to 17".

Went down to JKM today on the way to a meeting. They checked them out and noted that they were indeed very soft. Kate was on the case to call Koni. Hopefully Koni will honour a replacement (cos' they should, its like driving on blancmange at the moment!!!)

Picking up on Bahnstormer comments, a few months ago I fitted FSD's along with 30mm lowered Eibach Pro-Kit springs and whilst the handling is brilliant on smooth roads no question, the compromise is an unforgiving firm ride on A and B roads around my area.

I drive around 500 miles a week and really need to do something to improve the ride. I am either considering moving to 16" wheels and/or change the springs possibly to a VRS OE set up. I have been meaning to get under the car to check the serial number on the spings just to make sure I was sent the correct ones, maybe they could be for a heavier car? On the upside the car does look 100% better lowered than before.

Picking up on Bahnstormer comments, a few months ago I fitted FSD's along with 30mm lowered Eibach Pro-Kit springs and whilst the handling is brilliant on smooth roads no question, the compromise is an unforgiving firm ride on A and B roads around my area.

I drive around 500 miles a week and really need to do something to improve the ride. I am either considering moving to 16" wheels and/or change the springs possibly to a VRS OE set up. I have been meaning to get under the car to check the serial number on the spings just to make sure I was sent the correct ones, maybe they could be for a heavier car? On the upside the car does look 100% better lowered than before.

Did whoever fitted your kit reduce the length of the bump stops? Can help reduce the jarring. Also worth experimenting with tyre pressures. 2 or 3 lbs lower can instill a little more softness...

Picking up on Bahnstormer comments, a few months ago I fitted FSD's along with 30mm lowered Eibach Pro-Kit springs and whilst the handling is brilliant on smooth roads no question, the compromise is an unforgiving firm ride on A and B roads around my area.

I drive around 500 miles a week and really need to do something to improve the ride. I am either considering moving to 16" wheels and/or change the springs possibly to a VRS OE set up. I have been meaning to get under the car to check the serial number on the spings just to make sure I was sent the correct ones, maybe they could be for a heavier car? On the upside the car does look 100% better lowered than before.

Don't confuse ride quality with overall suspension stiffness, perhaps my earlier comments were slightly misleading on this. Having fitted FSDs you should have excellent ride quality; it will be the eibachs that have given you a degree of suspension stiffness that you are not used to and/or are willing to put up with.

I presume you have 225/45 17s for wheel/tyres; don't revert back to 16" wheel/tyres as you will lose more on the handling/grip front than you have gained by fitting FSDs and eibachs due to increase tyre sidewall flex.

If you can't live with the eibach there are IMHO two options open to you (that you ahve thought of already) 1) revert to OE springs or 2) switch to vRS springs that are 10mm lowered on your OE springs and a degree stiffer (but not as much as eibachs).

Did whoever fitted your kit reduce the length of the bump stops? Can help reduce the jarring. Also worth experimenting with tyre pressures. 2 or 3 lbs lower can instill a little more softness...

.... but with FSDs ride quality should be ironed out? Personally I have found that FSDs have allowed me to run higher pressures without any ill effect (2.35bar/34psi on 225/45 17s); the FSDs do their job to smooth out sharp jolts.

Food for thought.

OK, Koni have agreed to provide replacements (Yay) but JKM are still battling for Koni to pay for the labour (Possibly Yay).

Fingers crossed.

OK, Koni have agreed to provide replacements (Yay) but JKM are still battling for Koni to pay for the labour (Possibly Yay).

Fingers crossed.

Good luck. Surprising, as mine went through without a murmur. Have you had yours a long time? Were you unable to produce proof of purchase or something?

Have to say that I was always a little dubious on the FSD front due to the cost and I had heard these issues. After this, which backs up the comments I had heard, the FSD are totally off the shopping list as opposed as an outside contender.

Hmmm im wondering now if mine are going

I have noticed they seem a bit "supple" lately but thought i was just used to the ride

May have to get them Checked out

Carl

Good luck. Surprising, as mine went through without a murmur. Have you had yours a long time? Were you unable to produce proof of purchase or something?

'Had them more than six months' is the issue. So much for lifetime warantee eh?

JKM fitted them, so no issues with proof of purchase.

'Had them more than six months' is the issue. So much for lifetime warantee eh?

JKM fitted them, so no issues with proof of purchase.

That's disgusting customer service (I'm assuming that is from Koni) and might actually not even be legal.

Something I will point out and I know any supplier isn't going to like this, but they have a responsibility for the goods being fit for purpose for a fair period of time.

Even with the 6 months thing out of it, it is reasonable for the suspension to last a year and as such the items supplied are not fit for purpose. As such they should be replaced or removed and your old struts put on at no cost to you.

Obviously you get the betterment argument and if a manufacturer was of the mind to allow people fitting their product to end up in this situation then I don't think many garages would be fitting it for long.

FWIW IANAL and this is just based on my understanding.

OK, Koni have agreed to provide replacements (Yay) but JKM are still battling for Koni to pay for the labour (Possibly Yay).

Fingers crossed.

Just heard from JKM that my replacement FSDs will be in next week. However, been told the same as Dor that Koni will not pay for labour to change.

On balance, whilst it would be good if Koni paid, my FSDs were fitted 2 1/2 years ago and have done over 40,000 miles (although the fronts have on reflection perhaps been 'shot' for 3 months/4000 miles or more). So I have had reasonable value from them and whilst it is only my fronts that are 'shot' Koni are sending over a full set; so I will take the benefit of this and get the rears changed as well.

Try doing a 'bounce' test.

Open the bonnet and, pushing on the slam panel by the headlights, try pushing the car down and up. If shocks are good, you will push down and it will come up to initial position and that's it. If shocks are 'shot' you will be able to bounce the car down, up, down, up until you stop!

If they appear to be shot; contact the dealer/supplier you bought them from.

Appreciate that this is in the Octy II section.

But i've got 3 month old FSD's, and can bounce up/down/up/down as much as i want.

Does this mean they're not right ? :(

Appreciate that this is in the Octy II section.

But i've got 3 month old FSD's, and can bounce up/down/up/down as much as i want.

Does this mean they're not right ? :(

Sounds like it could be they are 'shot'.

The easy comparison you can do is to check how they compare with the rear shocks; open the boot/hatch and sit on the bumper; bounce up & down - what happens then?

Exactly the same with the rear, seem quite soft.

Exactly the same with the rear, seem quite soft.

Intriguing; mine were(are) soft as hell at the front i.e. 'shot'; but really firm at the rear.

Edited 27 August, 200916 yr by bahnstormer vrs
'shot' added

Unless they're just meant to be like that ???

It's not a case of old springs either, as they were replaced at the same time (H&R)

I've noticed it is a bit soft to drive though. But then, they were put on the car just before i bought it, so have no comparison.

Just heard from JKM that my replacement FSDs will be in next week. However, been told the same as Dor that Koni will not pay for labour to change.

On balance, whilst it would be good if Koni paid, my FSDs were fitted 2 1/2 years ago and have done over 40,000 miles (although the fronts have on reflection perhaps been 'shot' for 3 months/4000 miles or more). So I have had reasonable value from them and whilst it is only my fronts that are 'shot' Koni are sending over a full set; so I will take the benefit of this and get the rears changed as well.

Interesting. I was told I was only getting the fronts....And I haven't been told for certain Koni will not pay...look like they are not then...Won't be buying anymore of their kit if so. Any sale of goods act type llegal people on here?

Interesting. I was told I was only getting the fronts....And I haven't been told for certain Koni will not pay...look like they are not then...Won't be buying anymore of their kit if so. Any sale of goods act type llegal people on here?

I was initially told 'fronts only' but Koni are shipping a full set of 4 shocks to JKM for me. If only the fronts were fitted then JKM would ship back the 'shot' fronts with new/unused rears.

I'm taking the view that, having had over 2 years/40,000 miles out of the shocks and having been told by other suppliers about shocks in general that they are not warranted for long (due to the nature of their use, rather like a clutch); if Koni are shipping a full set of FSDs for my car under 'warranty' then I may as well use them!

I'm working on the basis of taking the value of the rear shocks (that I don't arguably truly need) as an offset against the cost of installation. I learnt some time ago that you should always have a set of matched shocks on a car (same as for tyres) and I will feel a whole lot more comfortable with a full new set; as opposed to new fronts and worn rears.

Fair logic.

What are JKM quoting for labour?

Fair logic.

What are JKM quoting for labour?

copied from their e-mail to me;

"Therefore to change the Front FSD shocks over there will be a charge of £100 plus VAT. This is made up of 1.5 hours labour and a front wheel tracking check.

If you wish for the whole kit to be changed over then the labour is £150 plus VAT."

Very fair price IMHO

copied from their e-mail to me;

"Therefore to change the Front FSD shocks over there will be a charge of £100 plus VAT. This is made up of 1.5 hours labour and a front wheel tracking check.

If you wish for the whole kit to be changed over then the labour is £150 plus VAT."

Very fair price IMHO

Yes if any other situation, but not given they have prematurely failed. Koni should be stumping up for that.

I take you point on getting the rears done though.