Dinan Suspension - suggested settings vs softest

[RickyN F355]

i just replaced Kw3 with Dinan and the car rides much better given the terrible roads around ny metro area. My tech left the car on the Dinan suggested settings and i'm wondering how much softer it wld be if we changed the settings to the softest? noticeable? the roads here are 3rd world.

[RBNetEngr]

Why not just set them to the softest settings and see how you like it?

BTW, what didn’t you like about the KWv3? I am expecting the delivery of a new set of ST XTA Plus 3 next week. They use the same spring rates as the KWv3.


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[bluptgm3]

If the Dinan settings are at all similar to the TCKline Koni Externally-adjustable settings, then you are already pretty soft. Running Koni’s on the softest settings (full soft) will cause damage to the internal adjuster.


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[RickyN F355]

If the Dinan settings are at all similar to the TCKline Koni Externally-adjustable settings, then you are already pretty soft. Running Koni’s on the softest settings (full soft) will cause damage to the internal adjuster.


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Felt like my insides were gonna fall out. Made my f40’feel like an s class

[Braymond141]

The fronts you can adjust easily yourself, the rears have to be removed to make adjustments. This is why he is asking… if it’s worth that work.

I have mine set to a half turn off soft. Unfortunately I haven’t played with them enough to know how the other settings change the feel. Might be a good time to convert to RSM that unbolt inside the wheel well.

[RickyN F355]

thanks...will running them on softest damage the internal adjuster mentioned in post 3?
i think im just gonna send the sedan to you when you can take it.

[Braymond141]

thanks...will running them on softest damage the internal adjuster mentioned in post 3?
i think im just gonna send the sedan to you when you can take it.

Everyone says that adjustable shocks function their worst at their limits (whether soft or hard), but I don't see how full soft is going to damage them. One online post states that the adjuster can get stock if ran at full soft but I'm not sure.

[bluptgm3]

The fronts you can adjust easily yourself, the rears have to be removed to make adjustments. This is why he is asking… if it’s worth that work.

I have mine set to a half turn off soft. Unfortunately I haven’t played with them enough to know how the other settings change the feel. Might be a good time to convert to RSM that unbolt inside the wheel well.

I was under the impression that the Dinan/Koni package ‘featured’ externally adjustable front struts and 12mm shock shaft externally adjustable rear shocks. No? Otherwise, I believe to adjust internally adjustable rears, they have to be fully compressed to engage the adjuster. Which means the bump stops have to be removed…as I recall.


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[jbshin]

Can't say much about the softest setting but I have had mine set at the recommended setting for the past ~7 years. I used it for commute in the DC metro and HPDE and find it comfortable enough while not too soft for track driving. NYC may be worse than DC are roads so might be worth setting it softer but not sure I'd go full soft. My rears are also not externally adjustable, they need to be removed and compressed as stated above.

[bluptgm3]

It is important to know that only the rebound dampening is being changed with the adjusters. The compression dampening is-what-it-is. There is no change to the compression dampening when changing the rebound dampening setting with the adjusters.


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[nick325xit 5spd]

Dinan's recommended settings are pretty stiff, IIRC. Try full. Or if you're nervous about the adjuster, try a quarter turn off of full soft.

[RickyN F355]

im only nervous about if someone tells me i shld be! im not technical enough to have a view.

[RBNetEngr]

For something as simple as adjusting dampers, you should get comfortable doing it yourself, so you’ll also learn what the changes do for the ride and handling of the car. I wouldn’t blindly trust some installer to set it for me, because the installer doesn’t need to drive the car daily.


-rb

[RickyN F355]

For something as simple as adjusting dampers, you should get comfortable doing it yourself, so you’ll also learn what the changes do for the ride and handling of the car. I wouldn’t blindly trust some installer to set it for me, because the installer doesn’t need to drive the car daily.


-rb

You need a lift and a bunch if stuff needs to be loosened and moved to adjust the rears. No thanks.

[bluptgm3]

No lift required, however the task is not trivial to adjust E36 Koni rear shocks with internal adjusters.
And again, only the rebound damping is changing.

This from TCKline for Externally Adjustable E36 Sport Struts/Shocks, several years ago -

Turning adjusters ‘clockwise’ will soften.
Leave approx 1/16 turn from end of adjustment range to avoid “sticking” of adjuster.

For track or performance try -

Full firm -1.75 in the front.

Full firm -1.25 in the rear.

Set them where they feel best to you for your commute.

Pete Stackhouse

It is also said that TCKline, Ground Control, Dinan (and possibly others) use ‘custom’ valved Koni Sports. And again, compression calving is set, the adjusters simply change rebound dampening.


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[RBNetEngr]

You need a lift and a bunch if stuff needs to be loosened and moved to adjust the rears. No thanks.

So, you got easily adjustable KW coilovers, but never adjusted them yourself. Then, after being unhappy with how the installer set them, you had them removed and replaced with Dinan/Koni, which are harder to adjust? But you want someone to tell you what to tell your installer to change the Koni settings to suit you.

That sounds very complex…and not likely to be successful for you unless luck is on your side.

You never replied to a previous question about whether the problem with the KWs was too much rebound damping, causing the dampers to jack down over a series of bumps.

And as someone else posted, the Konis only have adjustable rebound damping. So, if what you’re experiencing is rough bump response, which is a compression response, there is nothing you can do with the Konis to change that.

Good luck


-rb

[Braymond141]

No lift required



He knows that. In this case Ricky's garage is setup to showcase his cars, not work on them (nothing wrong with this). He is asking about what to expect so he isn't going to back and forth with the shop to make adjustments to a rear shock design that is dumb as fuck.

[Veleno]

Felt like my insides were gonna fall out. Made my f40’feel like an s class

I'd love to see that F40 and your garage! lol

[RickyN F355]

I'd love to see that F40 and your garage! lol

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210824/7d31101a822be4e0da2b3502dca890fc.jpg


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[RickyN F355]

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[RickyN F355]

So, you got easily adjustable KW coilovers, but never adjusted them yourself. Then, after being unhappy with how the installer set them, you had them removed and replaced with Dinan/Koni, which are harder to adjust? But you want someone to tell you what to tell your installer to change the Koni settings to suit you.

That sounds very complex…and not likely to be successful for you unless luck is on your side.

You never replied to a previous question about whether the problem with the KWs was too much rebound damping, causing the dampers to jack down over a series of bumps.

And as someone else posted, the Konis only have adjustable rebound damping. So, if what you’re experiencing is rough bump response, which is a compression response, there is nothing you can do with the Konis to change that.

Good luck


-rb

I didnt understand what the question was. My kw3 on the softest setting were terrible for daily driving around my burbs. You didnt like that statement so you told me i was wrong. I may have no interest in doing any work on my cars but i sure as hell know how to drive and read a car. My coupe has had dinan suspension for 15 years and its perfect on the road therefore i wanted tk replicate that experience: So im a lazy idiot, fine. It has served me well. Feel free to ignore my posts and this thread specifically.

[RickyN F355]

And for what it’s worth the current dinan setup is much better than the Ke3 on their softest… I’m just trying to replicate My coupe


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[propcar]

I didnt understand what the question was. My kw3 on the softest setting were terrible for daily driving around my burbs. You didnt like that statement so you told me i was wrong. I may have no interest in doing any work on my cars but i sure as hell know how to drive and read a car. My coupe has had dinan suspension for 15 years and its perfect on the road therefore i wanted tk replicate that experience: So im a lazy idiot, fine. It has served me well. Feel free to ignore my posts and this thread specifically.

It's possible that with some more adjustment and fine tuning of your KW's they would have ridden better. Sometimes the 'softest' setting doesn't really feel that soft. In fact, it could be so soft that it doesn't control the spring at all and the movement of the suspension is all over the place feeling crashy and jittery.

[RickyN F355]

It's possible that with some more adjustment and fine tuning of your KW's they would have ridden better. Sometimes the 'softest' setting doesn't really feel that soft. In fact, it could be so soft that it doesn't control the spring at all and the movement of the suspension is all over the place feeling crashy and jittery.

The kw3 were installed and tuned by a very experienced master tech who has built hundreds of e36 m3s. Rather than beating a dead horse i chose to move on to a setup that has made me happy for 15 years.

[RBNetEngr]

Sorry, didn’t mean to come off saying you were stupid. And I understand that not everyone works on their cars. You have a great collection of cars, so you must also have a trusted shop and mechanics to take care of them for you.

The reason I initially responded in your thread was because I was considering KW or ST coilovers for my ‘95 M3, and your report concerned me, since I was ready to pull the trigger on purchasing ST coilovers. In fact, I did end up buying ST XTA Plus 3 coilovers in May, and they were just delivered yesterday.

Bottom line, in my opinion, you had KWv3 coilovers, which are known to be a good suspension system, made specifically for your car. And now you have Dinan springs/Koni dampers, which are also a known good suspension. In fact, you have another car with Dinan on it, and are totally happy with it. So, what it really points to is improper installation, or setup, or both.

Suspension is relatively simple. If the springs are suitable for the chassis they need to support, the bumpstops cushion any extreme compression, and the dampers can properly control the springs, everything will be fine, and the suspension will just do its job.


-rb

[RickyN F355]

Sorry, didn’t mean to come off saying you were stupid. And I understand that not everyone works on their cars. You have a great collection of cars, so you must also have a trusted shop and mechanics to take care of them for you.

The reason I initially responded in your thread was because I was considering KW or ST coilovers for my ‘95 M3, and your report concerned me, since I was ready to pull the trigger on purchasing ST coilovers. In fact, I did end up buying ST XTA Plus 3 coilovers in May, and they were just delivered yesterday.

Bottom line, in my opinion, you had KWv3 coilovers, which are known to be a good suspension system, made specifically for your car. And now you have Dinan springs/Koni dampers, which are also a known good suspension. In fact, you have another car with Dinan on it, and are totally happy with it. So, what it really points to is improper installation, or setup, or both.

Suspension is relatively simple. If the springs are suitable for the chassis they need to support, the bumpstops cushion any extreme compression, and the dampers can properly control the springs, everything will be fine, and the suspension will just do its job.


-rb

Happy to send you my kw3 if you would like to test them. Just pay for the shipping to and from. They have a few hundred miles on them.

[RBNetEngr]

The kw3 were installed and tuned by a very experienced master tech who has built hundreds of e36 m3s. Rather than beating a dead horse i chose to move on to a setup that has made me happy for 15 years.

What was the experienced master tech’s diagnosis of the issues with KW, and with your current Dinan issues? I mean, if you’re paying an experienced master tech to do the suspension work on your car, and he obviously has the car in his presence, turning to Bimmerforums for answers is saying that you’re second-guessing the experienced master tech.

One alternative I can suggest is to contact Shaikh at FatCat Motorsports.

https://www.fatcatmotorsports.com/

Set up a 30 minute consultation with him, and see what he can suggest/recommend. He can even build you a custom valved NON-ADJUSTABLE suspension that will give you what you want out of the suspension.

If you choose to go this way, I’d also suggest finding another experienced master tech to install the FatCat designed suspension.


-rb

[RickyN F355]

What was the experienced master tech’s diagnosis of the issues with KW, and with your current Dinan issues? I mean, if you’re paying an experienced master tech to do the suspension work on your car, and he obviously has the car in his presence, turning to Bimmerforums for answers is saying that you’re second-guessing the experienced master tech.

One alternative I can suggest is to contact Shaikh at FatCat Motorsports.

https://www.fatcatmotorsports.com/

Set up a 30 minute consultation with him, and see what he can suggest/recommend. He can even build you a custom valved NON-ADJUSTABLE suspension that will give you what you want out of the suspension.

If you choose to go this way, I’d also suggest finding another experienced master tech to install the FatCat designed suspension.


-rb

Not sure where the second guessing is. The master tech and brett here gave me the same advice: unlikely the kw3 wld give me what i was looking for and better to switch to dinan which is noticeably more forgiving. Brett also doesnt love kw as a brand and i treat his word as gospel. And to be completely fair brett suggested TC but i didnt want to spend the money given the price of the dinan setup.

[nick325xit 5spd]

Not sure where the second guessing is. The master tech and brett here gave me the same advice: unlikely the kw3 wld give me what i was looking for and better to switch to dinan which is noticeably more forgiving. Brett also doesnt love kw as a brand and i treat his word as gospel. And to be completely fair brett suggested TC but i didnt want to spend the money given the price of the dinan setup.

Dinan is just using off the shelf Konis. Try the Dinan suspension at or near full soft. I think you'll be very happy with it. I enjoyed that on my E46 M3.

[RickyN F355]

Dinan is just using off the shelf Konis. Try the Dinan suspension at or near full soft. I think you'll be very happy with it. I enjoyed that on my E46 M3.

Thanks that is the plan… The ride on my coupe is divine and thats with 19in bbs rc. Not sure of that car is set to dinan suggested or softer. On the sedan im running 17 inch bbs which whld be even more comfortable.

[Veleno]

Thanks for posting the garage pictures, the collection looks great!

[RBNetEngr]

He knows that. In this case Ricky's garage is setup to showcase his cars, not work on them (nothing wrong with this). He is asking about what to expect so he isn't going to back and forth with the shop to make adjustments to a rear shock design that is dumb as fuck.

Just to confirm what Braymond141 says about adjusting the rebound damping of the rear Koni shocks, check out this short video from FatCat Motorsports:

https://youtu.be/mMbspnSZGlQ

But also note how much the rebound damping changes from Full Firm to Full Soft. So, while the compression damping of the Konis is fixed, the rebound damping can be changed. If it’s made too Firm, if you hit a series of bumps, the damper will never allow the spring to fully rebound between bumps, causing the damper to ‘jack down’ and limit the amount of compression range available. So, it could potentially jack down to the point where the only available damper travel is a partially compressed bump stop. So, that would translate into a rough ride over bumps.


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[bluptgm3]

Thank @od they are generally “Set-and-Forget” shocks.
Always adjusted from “full soft” for consistency.


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