And I must say the difference is outstanding despite them not even being broke in yet. The ride is much less harsh while sticking hard on corners giving me excellent handling. Going over potholes and manhole covers does not produce the teeth shattering THUD it did before.

For anyone on the edge about these, just stop it. Stop it and buy them. Now. My springs only have a 0.75in drop and the FSDs seem to handle them without issue. I'm happy.

I can't wait to see what they feel like after they fully broke in. Does anyone know what the break in period is for these? Does having extra weight in the car while driving help speed up this process?

 

I've heard many good things about the FSD shocks. I've also heard that they do not live long when combined with lowering springs. Fill us in on how they are as you get miles on them.

 

I have heard the same. I have also heard that springs with a 1in drop or less should be fine. Time will tell and I am happy to be the guinea pig.

 

Good luck, hope they last a good long time.

 

You do NOT run Koni FSD's on lowering springs….

 

Oh? I hadn't heard. Let me go ahead and take these off lest you actually read the OP

 

You mean how long before they break from using them with lowering springs?


















Kidding (sort of)

 

Are your fSd still awesome like your OP? I am looking into them now! How long did they take to break in?

 

I've always heard not to run the FSD's with lowering springs also....

That being said....if your setup works, run it

I put a set of FSD's on my Mini last year and WOW....what a huge difference in ride quality over the OEM shocks.

 

Yeah I am looking into ordering mine soon as my stock struts have 125k on them and it's getting harsh! Did you use the stock or springs and it was fine? Also did you replace or recommend I replace anything else? Lastly are you running a rear seat? I was thinking of that too..

 

Good luck!

 

Rear sway bar, not seat haha!

 

Good luck with what?

 

Good luck with FSD's lasting on a lowered MINI. I'm not trying to be a smart a$$, I genuinely hope they work out for you. In nearly 10 years of MINI obsession it's always been FSD's for standard heights and Yelllows for lowered due to valving. If yours last then you've dispelled a myth.

 

Everything I've always seen "in writing" has said to not run FSD's with lowering springs. BUT...I've never heard of anyone actually using them with lowering springs and having any issues. I doubt they are going to "blow up", or do anything strange. At worst...the ride might be a little harder or softer ...but I'm guessing that's about it.

 

Oh I have no idea about that part of it at all. As I plan on running stock springs with my FSDs..But I would love to hear from him to see how it worked out for him. I feel like so many people on here take everything they hear for "the law". Its just like the MSD Coil pack argument. IF it works for you, then run it!!

 

Not sure how this is still debatable, frankly. Call Koni and ask them yourselves; the FSD should not be combined with lowering springs. I don't care if tuning houses or others sell FSD & Spring packages, because the designer and manufacturer of the product states that it's detrimental to the damper's life and performance.

Also, running them for a week and posting "Everything's working fine!" is meaningless. You likely replaced tired shocks, and even an improperly set-up Koni product is going to feel better than old, worn-out OEM suspension. Also keep in mind, you're throwing away your lifetime warranty by doing this. You could've bought Koni Yellows, or the Orange Street series, which are made to be lowered on.

 

The FSD's have a lifetime warranty? Nice to know. How can I find out some info on this?

 

http://www.koni.com/car-racing/technology/faq/

3rd FAQ down: ".....The warranty does not cover damage to the parts caused by misuse, misapplication, installation, motorsports, etc. and does also not include mounting bushings...."

 

In other words, no warranty if you installed them with lowering springs (misapplication)
as they will almost surely decide that the lowering springs were a factor in a failure.


(on the other hand, how will they know if you don't tell them, or if you lie when they
ask [fraud], ... unless they read forums and figure out who's who)

 

They can tell by the way the shock is damaged whether or not you put lowering springs on them. Something about the way a lowering spring damages it by making it sit too low in its travel and constantly bottom out.

 

True.

It would look like the shock bottomed out a lot.

It would also have a wear pattern in the middle of the inside of the
shock tube showing approximately where the ride height had usually been.

Of course one could argue that with bad roads and bad bumpstops
the same could happen with stock height springs, and that if you
always drove around with four adults in the car or other equipment
in the car, it would sit like a lowered car, but one would probably
lose those arguments.

 

Yup. I know and understand that some tuning shops sell FSD and spring combos, but they shouldn't; it's bad Ju-Ju.

 

It was never my intention to run lowering springs on the FSDs, my question was simple. Can you run a rear sway bar with this setup? And is it ok to use my springs (oem stock) that have 125K on them or should I buy new springs as well?

 

An upgraded rear sway bar should have no detrimental effect on a set of FSD shocks on stock springs.
OEM springs with 125K on them should be perfectly good unless something bad happened to them,
not really a wear item unless damaged somehow (which would be unlikely).
You may well want to replace the upper shock mounts, especially if they have 125K on them, maybe
the bumpstops, too.