When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
My new-to-me 1986 944 has a 456 build option (nice surprise, actually). I went to get a look at the struts to see if they were "Konis" but the struts are black so I am guessing not. However, based on the overall character of the car and the owner history I would be a little surprised if the struts had been changed out...but it's a 35 year old vehicle...so...it's not entirely unlikely.
I attached a photo of one of the struts and the stamped codes on the side of it. Can anyone help me identify it? Thank you!
The 456 Suspension option did come with Koni adjustable struts. The picture you posted does look like, unfortunately, the strut assemblies were cut and welded.
I’d like to see the top part of those struts, I’m guessing that someone welded early strut barrels with the screw on cap to your original spindle mounts. It was once a thing so that the strut inserts could be easily changed on all the 87+ cars and also the 86 Turbo which all originally had sealed struts with crimped caps.
I’d like to see the top part of those struts, I’m guessing that someone welded early strut barrels with the screw on cap to your original spindle mounts. It was once a thing so that the strut inserts could be easily changed on all the 87+ cars and also the 86 Turbo which all originally had sealed struts with crimped caps.
Yep, that’s what it is, you have early strut barrels welded to 86 Turbo spindle mounts.
Interesting. Why would a Koni shock have an AUDI brand on it? I am not trying to be pedantic...I called Koni and they said they would have a Koni label but your part listing seems rather conclusive.
I am curious why someone would do that. Presumably there's some perceived advantage.
You must have missed it, I did mention the advantage: "It was once a thing so that the strut inserts could be easily changed on all the 87+ cars and also the 86 Turbo which all originally had sealed struts with crimped caps".
So on the early cars you can change the strut inserts simply by unscrewing the gland nut I circled in your picture ^^. On the 1986 turbo and all 1987+ cars they were sealed from the factory so the inserts could not be easily changed. As the early strut spindle mounts were different, a while ago someone thought it was a good idea to fit the early strut insert barrels to the later cars by grinding the old ones off and welding on the replacements. It was a short lived and unpopular mod but you happen to have found one. Not a bad thing but not original.
On the Koni label, when manufacturers like Koni make parts exclusively for a manufacturer like Porsche to sell, they mark it with the manufacturers and not their, part number. Sometimes they put their brand on it, sometimes they put the manufacturers brand on it, but its not guaranteed they do either. However they usually make the same identical part without the manufacturers part number and instead their own Koni number and mark it with their brand to sell on the aftermarket. BTW the Audi logo is common on 924/944 parts as they were somewhat "related" in those projects.
02-04-2021, 03:48 PM
Need Help with Mystery Struts on M456 Option 944
