kyb shock question

timspider · Post by **timspider** » Mon Jul 28, 2014 8:29 am

I'm hesitant to even ask this as this is one of the systems that is currently working well on my vehicle, but after reading an article in Ricambi about suspension set up, i need to know.
It basically says that kyb gas shocks will destroy your front end.
Something to do with the differing rebound and compression characteristics.
Just when I thought i was experiencing a smooth and connected ride, am I actually destroying my front end with my kyb's?

4uall · Post by **4uall** » Mon Jul 28, 2014 10:19 am

Can you post the article

I would be surprised if this is actually the case as many of us have these installed with no issues (myself included)

If anything I would expect the new technology to yield better results than the former

Original front shock and lower bolt fused with inner shaft of bushings by itzebtze, on Flickr

New Monroe Sensatrac front shock and bolt by itzebtze, on Flickr

bradartigue · Post by **bradartigue** » Mon Jul 28, 2014 11:32 am

timspider wrote:I'm hesitant to even ask this as this is one of the systems that is currently working well on my vehicle, but after reading an article in Ricambi about suspension set up, i need to know.
It basically says that kyb gas shocks will destroy your front end.
Something to do with the differing rebound and compression characteristics.
Just when I thought i was experiencing a smooth and connected ride, am I actually destroying my front end with my kyb's?

KYBs aren't going to destroy your front end; that's absurd. Whoever wrote the article probably has a bunch of KONIs yellows they can't sell. I won't say that KYB makes a good shock - the quality control has a bit to be desired - but a few thousand Spiders and Coupes and other 124 based cars have been using them for at least three decades without front end destruction. KYBs and Monroes are about the same in terms of quality (but I find the right height to be correct with the Monroes and high with the KYBs is all).

Since KONI doesn't make the red shock for the Spider any more, what does the author of this fine article recommend? The truth is gravity, how you drive, and a loose crossmember are going to destroy your car much faster than KYBs.

ga.spyder · Post by **ga.spyder** » Mon Jul 28, 2014 11:48 am

The article recommended the Koni's,or other oil-filled shocks.It was mainly a knock on using any brand of gas shock.
I have had the KYB's on my Spider for 6 years and miraculously it hasn't been torn asunder by them

It was one mans opinion,and the article was about stages of suspension upgrades.No doubt,the Koni yellows would be an upgrade,but many of us don't have that kind of money to drop on shocks.

Kevin1 · Post by **Kevin1** » Mon Jul 28, 2014 2:53 pm

There will be differences in ride and handling between the various choices of shocks. After 6 years and 32,000 miles with KYB's all I can say is they seem to be working. No problems or damage from them, and Maine is not known for it's smooth roads. While there may be better shocks available this is not something I would lose sleep over.

azruss · Post by **azruss** » Mon Jul 28, 2014 3:44 pm

You should probably make a distinction about KYB gas adjust or low pressure. I have ran adjustable Konis for 150k miles followed by KYB gas adjusts for the next 150k miles and my suspension survived just fine. I am now running KYB low pressure as I have moved to a stiffer 55 series tires.

bradartigue · Post by **bradartigue** » Mon Jul 28, 2014 9:42 pm

ga.spyder wrote:No doubt,the Koni yellows would be an upgrade,but many of us don't have that kind of money to drop on shocks.

Koni reds, when they made them, were about equal to OEM (which were great oil filled shocks made by Wayassauto - yes, Way Ass Auto in Engrish). Koni yellows will beat you to death. If you think KYBs are harsh or hard or rough, think 2x that for yellows. You just as soon have solid steel pipe.

PininF · Post by **PininF** » Tue Jul 29, 2014 5:18 am

Agreed, my Koni yellow's are very harsh ( front and rear currently set to hard ) but am going to readjust to the softest setting in the rear and centre to the front , hopefully this will improve ride pleasure as my car is more for cruising rather than racing.

Will update once done.

spider2081 · Post by **spider2081** » Tue Jul 29, 2014 8:42 am

There have been a # of Spiders where the top attachment point for the shocks has broken off the shock towers. Mostly this occurs with the front towers but there was a post here with a rear failure also. This type of failure is the only shock related failure I have seen mentioned quit a few times.
I wonder could the original shocks have been a single action shock absorber and most current production shocks a double action? If so could this stress that top attach point in a way it was not designed for?/

azruss · Post by **azruss** » Tue Jul 29, 2014 4:01 pm

I suspect the destruction to the top shock mount was caused by a frozen or nearly frozen shock rather than a working stiff shock. With so many of our cars spending many years sitting, I suspect we all can be faced with a frozen shock in a barn find.

bradartigue · Post by **bradartigue** » Wed Jul 30, 2014 5:59 pm

spider2081 wrote:There have been a # of Spiders where the top attachment point for the shocks has broken off the shock towers. Mostly this occurs with the front towers but there was a post here with a rear failure also. This type of failure is the only shock related failure I have seen mentioned quit a few times.
I wonder could the original shocks have been a single action shock absorber and most current production shocks a double action? If so could this stress that top attach point in a way it was not designed for?/

Age probably more than the shock. The original shocks weren't very forgiving to begin with and the design of the entire car puts a lot of load on a few small points. Makes it handle like a dream, but stresses those points.

I have watched this really unattractive girl make the same cup of coffee for at least 5 minutes. I don't understand why a cup of coffee takes more than 6 seconds to make.

narfire · Post by **narfire** » Wed Jul 30, 2014 6:42 pm

bradartigue wrote:I have watched this really unattractive girl make the same cup of coffee for at least 5 minutes

Any shops with Y-Fi nearby with eye-candy?

Anyway regarding the shocks. I drove my car with the KYB's for several years. Car was just fine. Ride OK at the time.
Swapped to Koni Yellows and love-em. I actually feel the ride is smoother and not as harsh as the gas shocks. With the 1" front sway bar handling has improved. With the IAP red springs I feel the height is good and the front lower A-arms are pretty much parallel to the road.

4uall · Post by **4uall** » Wed Jul 30, 2014 8:57 pm

racydave · Post by **racydave** » Mon Aug 04, 2014 10:28 am

I replaced my KYB shocks last summer. I also welded some cracks in the towers. I got lowering springs and new yellow Koni's set full soft. Damn good ride now, and no, it does not beat me to death, just the opposite! Little pricey, but I am very happy with the change.

81SPIDERMATT · Post by **81SPIDERMATT** » Tue Aug 05, 2014 3:54 am

all things the same did the konis lower the car over the kybs

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