Rep Power: 0

First off, I already bent the little metal bracket out of the way, this isn't about that.

I've had Koni yellows and Eibach Sportlines on my car for a couple of years now, but just recently cut the metal piece away so I could adjust the rear shocks. However, they won't turn at all. I tried the plastic 'key' that they came with, and even tried some Vice-Grips.

With the plastic piece, they don't budge at all. With the Vice-Grips, I can turn them the 1/8-turn until the pliers hit something, but then it springs back to where it was when I stop applying pressure.

I searched for a while about this and the closest I could find was that they were 'stuck' and just needed a good budge, but I don't think I can give them any more budge than I am. I get to the extent of where the pliers can rotate, and the shock adjuster just springs right back to where it was. Any ideas?

 
Rep Power: 0

Also, the shocks should have come set at full soft from the factory, but they respond the same to turning either way, or trying to turn.

 
Rep Power: 247

yeah i just leave mine alone and just play with the front ones. go coilovers bro.

 
Rep Power: 0

I'll be selling the car in 7 months, so I'm not gonna put any more money into it. But I'm experiencing horrid understeer, and from my research I need to firm up the rear rebound and that will help neutral out the handling. Anybody?

 
Rep Power: 320

did you over tighten the two nuts after the washer? If you overtightend it then you won't be able to adjust the damping. You need to reinstall the two nuts and just tighten it to the point where its secure.

also you can make the front's softer so it will understeer less. If the fronts are too stiff it will cause understeer.

 
Rep Power: 0

Is it possible to do this without removing the shocks? I know the nuts you are talking about, and I think I torqued them down pretty hard, which would explain this. Could I just loosen them both a little to give it some wiggle room, or is there pressure on them while the suspension is installed. Would jacking the car up to relieve pressure on the suspension help? Thanks.

Also, the fronts are at full-soft, still with horrid understeer. I also have a RSX-S rear sway bar, Neuspeed front strut tie-bar, and 205-series (I think) tires on stock rims.

 
Rep Power: 380

That is very strange.

my suggestion, Contact Koni and see what they say.

 
Rep Power: 320

yeah just do pretty much what you were saying. Jack the car all the way up and just remove the screws that hold the top mounts to the chassis. With the car jacked all the way up you should have enough room to pull down on the shock and loosen the two nuts. Just re-tighten the nuts. Like i said before don't over tighten them. If you do it enough so its secure, the damper adjusters should be able to move. I did the same thing when i first installed my koni's.

 
Rep Power: 0

Well I jacked up the car and loosened the 2 nuts, but all that does is make it so the entire strut assembly rotates when you try to adjust the rebound rate. As soon as I get the nuts anywhere near tightened on the strut and stop the entire thing from rotating, the adjuster won't budge again. I think I'm gonna call Koni tomorrow to see what's up.

 
Rep Power: 320

dont know then. it worked for me when i first installed them. you might have damaged the dampers when you tried to forcefully adjust it with the pliers. good luck.

you might want to check your dust boots. If you have metal dust boots that are getting caught on the shock, then it would prevent the shock from fully reclining and rebounding. This would mess up the handling of the car and create a really bumpy rear.

Even at full softness, the shocks shouldnt cause horrid understeer if the fronts are set to soft too.