- Tue Mar 15, 2016 3:37 am
#358676
I just realized I have not updated this thread in a while...
The clunking noise of the F&F type 2's continued to get worse. Finally, Form & Function offered to inspect them all for free and replace any parts that were out of spec. I told them in a few months, I would have a second vehicle to drive (TSX is the daily) and I'd be able to remove the suspension and send it in.
So about a month before the year warranty expired, I went to remove the suspension and found this:
After 1 winter, they were completely rusted! The collars were seized to the threaded bodies. I tried PB, Big hammer and chisel, nothing would break them loose on the rears. The fronts weren't as bad, so I was able to break them loose. The sad part is I sprayed the hell out of the underside of my car & suspension with Fluid Film, which prevents corrosion. I can't imagine how bad they would have been if I didn't coat them before winter.
I ended up getting the rears off by standing on the knuckles to push them down far enough to slide the coil over out in the rusted together length that they were seized in. However, Form & Function said that corrosion was NOT covered under warranty. "Have fun taking these apart to inspect them, guys" I thought to myself while packing them up to send.
They were pretty quick to inspect them after receiving and notified me that all 4 shocks did not meet specifications and were being replaced under warranty. Woohoo
To my surprise, they even replaced the collars
I'll never stand behind another F&F product after this experience and all the time I wasted (and money I was going to lose) on this suspension, but at least their customer service was beyond what I expected.
They also shipped them back to me for free.
So they were basically brand new again, except for the lower mounts. There were some chips in the red paint. But they did clean them up for me. So when I got them back, the first thing I did was take pics to sell them ASAP. No way I was putting these things on my car ever again.
Then I went to Heel Toe and ordered Koni Yellow shocks and Ground Control coil overs. (one of the setups I had considered in the first place, but liked that the F&F came with new top hats.)
Speaking of top hats... I sold my stock suspension for $150, so I had no top hats anymore
So I had to buy new OEM top hats bushings which was almost another $219, bringing the total for my new suspension to $1195.
Nobody was biting on the F&F's I was selling, so I had to keep dropping the price for a few months. I think I ended up getting $630 for a basically new suspension that I paid $900 for
Plus I had another $100+ in shipping the first blown shock for repair, plus all 4 coilovers later on.
Lesson: Don't buy cheap chinese-made suspension. Pay more for name brand- it's worth it in the long run.
I was so excited to get the Konis/GC on, that I didn't get a single pic of them or the install.
Here's how the car was after I was done:
Pros: I've had them on the car almost 10 months and no clunk noise
The collars & threaded sleeves are aluminum, so no rusting together. Both made in USA and have a lifetime warranty.
Cons: Can't slam konis like I could the F&F's, but I don't want to have my daily slammed anyways.
But here is a pic for reference on how low the F&F's went:
The GC spring rate is slightly softer than the standard ones on the F&F's. I raised the car about 1/4 to 3/8" higher because I heard it rubbing over some big bumps with the softer GC springs.
Do Not PM me your technical questions. Post them in the forum!
My 1992 SOHC Turbo HatchMy Youtube Channel: 6th Gear Garage