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My current commuter car has driver adjustable struts so I play with the buttons all the time. It feels like it's fastest and most responsive with the dampers set to full-SOFT, because the tires don't stutter over bumps. The chassis stays stable instead of bobbing, and there's no sense in having smooth driver inputs if the suspension isn't smooth to the tires in the first place.
we played with shocks one weekend at the track, and what you want to do, is make a run, lap whatever on full soft, then again on full hard, and then in the middle. this will calibrate your butt dyno.
we found that the car was much easier to drive, and much more consistent with the shocks full soft.
we played with shocks one weekend at the track, and what you want to do, is make a run, lap whatever on full soft, then again on full hard, and then in the middle. this will calibrate your butt dyno.
we found that the car was much easier to drive, and much more consistent with the shocks full soft.
It's much easier when you can adjust the shocks in the middle of a corner
It works kind of like the AAS in FCs, except it WORKS. And replacement shocks are relatively cheap.
I haven't pursued this any further. In fact I may just buy the regular kybs front and rear as mine are done after so many years and squeaking like crazy now. I just don't want to deal with maybe not getting the right KYBs as some others have experienced or doing the mods I need to do with the strut mounts to make it work on my SA with FB strut mounts. Learned a lot on this thread tho.
if i looked it up right the KYB 363046 is the gas adjust for the 85-86 MR2 Rear, which should fit like the Rx7 insert (363010), but since its the rear of the MR2 its stiffer, which should work great with not stock springs.
the AGX is for a newer MR2, and i'm not sure that fits?
I pulled the trigger and have the Koni 1072 sports and the KYB AGX coming from TireRack. Will make updates once I they show and I start installing them.
TireRack just called to let me know they have to get them from KYB and it will be 3 - 4 weeks to get them to me. This is what customer service is all about. Thank you TireRack for not leaving me guessing.
Last edited by t_g_farrell; Aug 3, 2021 at 10:20 AM.
Just got the shocks in. Measured the Konis to make sure. The shock insert body ~14.25 inches long and the diameter is ~39mm, so looks good. The gland nut in the package is ~42mm. Can't wait to get em mounted up. I have some series 2 mounts and some spacers to fit the koni shaft in the FB shock mount bearing. So should be good to go. Will probably repaint the strut tubes, last time they were done with around 1990. LOL.
I think the AGXs might surprise you in a good way. I ran 'em on my old Miata for years with no issues ever. In fact, they were part of Flyin' Miata's Stg 2 suspension kit.
Was the consensus that the rear mr2 insert (GR-2 / Excel-G Strut KYB (363046) was junk and not lasting much more than 6 months? At least compared to the KONI Yellow (8641 1071Sport) ?
I see the Koni's for $170 each shipped on amazon. is this a decent price? I'm looking for a factory like ride quality as the streets here are horrible. I'd like to leave the oem spring.
Was the consensus that the rear mr2 insert (GR-2 / Excel-G Strut KYB (363046) was junk and not lasting much more than 6 months? At least compared to the KONI Yellow (8641 1071Sport) ?
I see the Koni's for $170 each shipped on amazon. is this a decent price? I'm looking for a factory like ride quality as the streets here are horrible. I'd like to leave the oem spring.
I think you are mixing up the GR-2/Excel-G KYB struts inserts with the mr2 rear adjustable konis or AGX shocks. The KYB GR-2 inserts for the front and shocks for the rear are ok for stock springs. Not sure RB springs would shorten their life expectancy but they are an OEM replacement stock solution. I wore mine out before I did this. The Konis up front and the AGX at the rear with the RB springs are great. I'm sure with stock springs they would be fine as well or even better. I would expect them to last as well.
I am looking at the rear strut cartridges for an 85 MR2 on rock auto. Was under the impression these are an upgrade over the factory GEN1 rx7 FWD strut cartridges.
On Rock auto the only choice I have for the MR2 rears are GR-2/Excel-G KYB’s pictured below. I was debating on these VS the KONI yellows. The price difference is considerable.
The car is setup more to be a hot rod (straight line drag). So I’m not super worried about cornering and I’d like it as comfortable as possible to drive on poor quality streets. Don’t want anything too stiff is all. So I was debating which to choose.
Last edited by vxturboxv; Jun 5, 2024 at 04:20 PM.
Could be a slightly heavier duty shock because the rear of an MR2 is where a lot of the weight is. I would bet they are about the same as the ones for the rx-7 front inserts.
I did note they were different PN’s. But it looks like rock auto has the RX7 inserts as well. I wasn’t sure what the advantage was to going with the MR2 over the rx-7 if they weren’t “stiffer” Were the rx-7 inserts not obtainable at one point?
Does anyone have the nose weights of a typical FB? I have an alum block/head V8 in mine. Its stripped down to bare minimum. So I’m not sure where I’m at. I could be very close or even lighter than an OEM RX7 with all the accessories. I'll have the nose weights this weekend. You can tell the shocks in it now are blown, so I don't have much to compare it to. Just afraid if I go with the Yellows up front and AGX adjustable in the rear it will be too stiff, even on the lowest settings.
I ran adjustable AGX all around on my FC. And even on the lightest setting they were too stiff for city driving IMO. At least city driving on crappy streets. Was fine on the highway.
