951and944S

I upgraded my aging Sachs struts with the Koni inserts this past weekend, i haven't tried them out yet, still needing to reinstall my R&P, after rebuild, but here's a couple shots.
The two stickers supplied in the kit make the modified Sachs housing look brand new...

Here's one, with them installed, minus the R&P.
I chose the 200lb springs, since this is my "family ride", my factory 3-dot springs are rated at 185lb, at least I'm almost sure they are.
My shop Mitchell parts guide show 1 yellow dot=165lbs, 2=175lbs, 3=185lbs
The one's I removed were original with 112,000 miles, and they were shot.. (struts)
My other two cars an '87S and '87turbo, both have option 474 and this is the "feel" I was shooting for..

Cheers go out to Skip for answering every question I threw at him , and I did let Jason know, that my purchase was directly a result of your input Skip.
BTW, an air powered hack saw, used in body work, makes short work of the perch....

Riff

Nice work!!! so the Koni insert will fit a non Koni strut body???? I was under the impression you needed a Koni strut for the "cut the strut" set up..

Cheers

David Floyd

Nice work, I just did this myself a month or so ago.

I agree it is not that hard of a job and handling is much better.

Plus Jason and Skip are great guy's and will help with any questions you might have <img src="graemlins/bigok.gif" border="0" alt="[thumbsup]" />

<img src="graemlins/burnout.gif" border="0" alt="[burnout]" /> <img src="graemlins/burnout.gif" border="0" alt="[burnout]" />

Manning

What about boots. I am debating whether or not I want to do this and the only thing really holding me back is what to do about boots. I hate to drive on Ohio roads without something protecting the shafts/seals in some way.

David Floyd

I did buy boots for mine from Paragon

951and944S

The factory boots won't fit these small diameter springs, so, you'll have to do something else, or use your factory type boots, if only installing the struts, without the ride height kit.

I also polished to mirror finish, the strut bearing retainer plate, they look real cool now, and tidy up the rest of my under hood work.
I'd like to get an extra ****, (comes with one), and affix them to the adjustment blade at the strut top, under the hood, but I have yet to check for hood clearance.
The factory black plastic covers won't fit, unless you drill a hole in them..

Jason @ Paragon Products

Nice pic's 951and944s! Small item, but if you ever pull this apart the bump rubbers should really face the other way on the shock shaft...with the angled side facing down. Riff, these Koni 8641-1414 Sport inserts will fit either Sachs/Boge OR Koni struts. And unless you're running the Baja 1000, the lack of dust covers will not cause any undue harm.

*Rothmans*

Skip or Jason:
What if I had Koni M030 struts for my car and I wanted to do this mod?
Can I "CUT THE STRUT" (perch, yeah they are 86 fixed perch ones)

<img src="graemlins/c.gif" border="0" alt="[ouch]" /> <img src="graemlins/crying.gif" border="0" alt="[crying]" />

Jason @ Paragon Products

Rothmans...ok, this makes sense. I had just received your email and was trying to figure out how you had an M030 strut that had a welded on perch. Looks like your car is a bit unusual...but if it's an 86 NA it SHOULD have a rebuildable strut. The Koni insert for this applicaton will be 8641-1038 Sport. There's no problem adding the Adj. Ride Height Kit to your setup.

tt9714

951and944S ,
Thanks for the great photos on your recent project. I agree that the struts look "new" with the repaint and Koni stickers.

I wanted to ask about your upper spring perches and strut tower/plates. It looks like you retained the stock set-up, but how can you use the new 2.25" springs without some modifications to the upper spring perch (because stock springs are 3.75" ID)?

Thanks for the clarification.

951and944S

Jason, thanks for the compliments, and I appreciate again, the understanding of my situation, and the trust you showed in the recent dealings between us, I hope to do further buisness in the near future.
On the bump damper orientation, I checked the service manual, and the P&T reference, and they all showed bevel to the top, so what gives..?
The inner bevel Does look to aid in slidding them on though.
I will switch them though, since it will bug the s#!t out of me if I don't...

I do find, that the inclosed instructions, with the Koni's resembles a Japanese only model car kit. No text at all, just some symbols, and vague drawings.
The ride height kit has NO instructions, so I browsed a picture of Skip's recent procedure to determine how and where to trim the perch.

Do you guys plan to put the procedure in the tech session..?
If so, and you need someone to write up the procedure, I'll volunteer my recent experience, and feel free to use the pics, I presented freely..!

951and944S

tt9714,

You get a new spring perch included with the kit..!
Made of aluminium, with a shoulder to fit the ID of the new springs..
Here a list of the contents:
Two threaded collars, annodized in maroon/purple
Two spring perches (lower) threaded anodized, gold
Two spring perches (upper)
Two Hypercoil springs in (your choice) lb ratings
Two competition bump rubbers (Koni)
Two decals Koni
Two decals Hypercoil
Here's a pic from the site showing the upper perch



I'll happily answer any other questions you have, but ultimately, you'll need to email Skip or Jason at Paragon. The kit is high quality stuff.
When your done your suspension will be equal to anything ever put on a road car IMO, basicly your cloning the MO30, but you have spring choices, and the ability to later replace just the insert for $150 per side..
What more could you ask for..? I completed this job, for less than a set of "used" MO30's...!

<a href="http://www.paragon-products.com" target="_blank">PARAGON</a>

Paul C 944

HOW MUCH WAS THE WHOLE SET UP?

Manning

Hey Jason,

Thanks for the comment about the lack of need for boots. I would still feel more comfortable using some sort of accordian type rubber boot as I may not run the Baja, but I do run the Cleveland/Akron Salt and Chunked Asphalt 30 and the salt part really bugs me. I see on the section of your site for suspension pieces that you have a picture of the type of boot to which I refer; do you have a part number for such?

Jason @ Paragon Products

On the bump damper orientation, I checked the service manual, and the P&T reference, and they all showed bevel to the top, so what gives..?

Hmm, I'm not sure about these manuals but at least with the competition bump rubbers, the bevel should go down. I believe that lends itself to the progressive nature of the bump rubber. Quite frankly I'm not sure it will make all that much difference.

I do find, that the inclosed instructions, with the Koni's resembles a Japanese only model car kit. No text at all, just some symbols, and vague drawings.

Yeah, another attempt to make universal instruction since Koni sells product all around the world...sometimes that leaves a bit to be desired.

The ride height kit has NO instructions, so I browsed a picture of Skip's recent procedure to determine how and where to trim the perch.

Well, that's our fault...we do have instructions and I apologize they weren't in the box.

Do you guys plan to put the procedure in the tech session..?
If so, and you need someone to write up the procedure, I'll volunteer my recent experience, and feel free to use the pics, I presented freely..!

Skip is working on an article right now... right Skip? <img src="graemlins/yltype.gif" border="0" alt="[typing]" /> I'm sure he'd be glad to have any input your can provide.