Installation thread for KONI FSD suspension - UPDATE #1
#76
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Granted, you're not supposed to use a cordless impact wrench on these bolts... but I would. Perhaps tighten a strap around the shock shaft to help prevent rotation, then hit that nut with the impact wrench. Otherwise you're scrapping the shock. I guess you could take your broken Allen wrench and weld it to the shaft top. Personally, I'd say hell with that, just use the impact wrench. People with moton/JRZ/mcs do so every time.
#77
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For those that are following along w/ CRW - let me add emphasis to checking the front control arm bushings. Even though my car has only 22k miles on it - I took the sage advise of RL members - and pulled the control arms and checked the bushings. They were visibly sagging; my mechanic agreed they were shot.
#78
Sorry you ran into trouble; hopefully you get it sorted without too much pain and expense. I plan on installing the same set up one day so thanks much for taking the time post this!
Undercarriage looks great too.
Good Luck with the rest of the install!
D.
Undercarriage looks great too.
Good Luck with the rest of the install!
D.
Last edited by Dplus; 02-05-2013 at 07:23 PM. Reason: spelling
#80
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For those that are following along w/ CRW - let me add emphasis to checking the front control arm bushings. Even though my car has only 22k miles on it - I took the sage advise of RL members - and pulled the control arms and checked the bushings. They were visibly sagging; my mechanic agreed they were shot.
Keep on believing your suspension doesn't need refreshing.
#82
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Yes; they were clearly deteriorated. My car is a '97, so its 16 years old w/ 22k miles (and I put 2.6k of that on it bringing home from LV to VA this fall). I didn't "want" to believe the bushing could be bad since the car is cosmetically/mechanically perfect in so many ways. But the bushings were shot.
Thanks to the "nagging" from RL'ers about checking the bushings, I checked them. So my recommendation to others doing a suspension "upgrade" is to take the extra hour to pull both control arms and check the bushings.
Thanks to the "nagging" from RL'ers about checking the bushings, I checked them. So my recommendation to others doing a suspension "upgrade" is to take the extra hour to pull both control arms and check the bushings.
#83
I am going to get help from a friend on Monday.
I am open to ideas.
What we were thinking is:
1. Tack weld to the allen wrench bit and pull it out.
2. Cut off the 19mm nut with a diamond wheel
3. Clean up the 19mm theads with a die
4. New 19mm nut
If the Allen wrench bit won't come out, I can hold the shock shaft with a vice grip and tighten the 19mm nut down to 43 pounds similar to the OEM set up (which does not have a hollow hex anyway).
I think I can salavge this.
Worse case scenario I am going to have to purchase a new single shock for $250.
Learn from my mistake.
#84
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Thread Starter
My front struts are installed.
While I was in the neighborhood I resprayed the calipers with VHT clear after sanding and they turned out great (there are many threads on this).
- pick of the flaking clear
- light sand the edges
- clean
- 2 light sprays
Very easy!
New rubber dust covers, bumpers, and perch gasket rubber is highley reccomended (the old one had cracks and were not pliable anymore).
Important items are to folow the proper torque settings and have the wheels straight which will make it easier to install.
On this one I still have to tighten the lock ring and do the brake clip.
I have started to install the rear shocks (the one good one I have).
When tightening the shock nuts in the engine compartment be very careful.
A well know Porsche shop told me about a customer who dropped one of the nuts for the rear shcoks into the back of the engine bay. it was never found and made it's way into a part of the engine that locked up the cam and caused significant damage to the valves .
As a caution I put some paper as a saftey back there just in case the nut got loose. It's a very tight space with little eye view or room to work. Also, I taped the nut to the extension before threading it on. It's very hard to thread 2/4 nuts on with your hand - no room. This is a nut you do not want to drop into the engine abyss back there.
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As I mentioned in my previous post - I screwed up 1 shock by cross threading the wrong side nut.
To make a long story short, I can't salvage the shock (the piston got damaged trying to cut the nut off).
Worse, you cannot but a single shock retail, they only come in a kit.
I called Koni, NA and they are going to provide me with a replacement shock at a nominal charge. I have to wait for it to some from Belgium - it should be here in 2 weeks.
Also, Koni has certain warranty rules regarding the where you purchase you kit from.
They have been a big help.
While I was in the neighborhood I resprayed the calipers with VHT clear after sanding and they turned out great (there are many threads on this).
- pick of the flaking clear
- light sand the edges
- clean
- 2 light sprays
Very easy!
New rubber dust covers, bumpers, and perch gasket rubber is highley reccomended (the old one had cracks and were not pliable anymore).
Important items are to folow the proper torque settings and have the wheels straight which will make it easier to install.
On this one I still have to tighten the lock ring and do the brake clip.
I have started to install the rear shocks (the one good one I have).
When tightening the shock nuts in the engine compartment be very careful.
A well know Porsche shop told me about a customer who dropped one of the nuts for the rear shcoks into the back of the engine bay. it was never found and made it's way into a part of the engine that locked up the cam and caused significant damage to the valves .
As a caution I put some paper as a saftey back there just in case the nut got loose. It's a very tight space with little eye view or room to work. Also, I taped the nut to the extension before threading it on. It's very hard to thread 2/4 nuts on with your hand - no room. This is a nut you do not want to drop into the engine abyss back there.
----------
As I mentioned in my previous post - I screwed up 1 shock by cross threading the wrong side nut.
To make a long story short, I can't salvage the shock (the piston got damaged trying to cut the nut off).
Worse, you cannot but a single shock retail, they only come in a kit.
I called Koni, NA and they are going to provide me with a replacement shock at a nominal charge. I have to wait for it to some from Belgium - it should be here in 2 weeks.
Also, Koni has certain warranty rules regarding the where you purchase you kit from.
They have been a big help.
#85
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crw - Great tip on taping the nut to the extension. Your thread on the install has been a big help to me since I'm doing the same and am about a week behind where you are. This weekend I'm reinstalling the re-bushed front control arms & front struts.
Question. What size did cut the notch for the front brake lines?
Question. What size did cut the notch for the front brake lines?
#86
RL Community Team
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I was told by my mechanic that Bilstein will not warranty anything bought outside of the US. Is this the same with Koni? I was thinking I might buy these from Carnewal but don't want to buy them if they don't have a warranty.
#89
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Not sure what whacked them. The car was a SoCal (w/ 6 months in LV) car all of it's life. The bushings were dry & cracked (think old rubber band). My wrench says, in part, its simply age & the weight of the car that causes the bushings to deteriorate & deform over time.
But my real point is, if you're replacing the struts/shocks - spend the modest extra time to pull the control arms & check.
OT - Alex, like your motorcycles & alps touring site. My last bike was a '76 Moto Guzzi 850 Le Mans. I owned it from 78 - 84; a lot riding time in Colorado, Utah, NM & (after re-assignment) mid-coast Cal. Sold it in '84 IOT buy a '64 356 SC coupe.
But my real point is, if you're replacing the struts/shocks - spend the modest extra time to pull the control arms & check.
OT - Alex, like your motorcycles & alps touring site. My last bike was a '76 Moto Guzzi 850 Le Mans. I owned it from 78 - 84; a lot riding time in Colorado, Utah, NM & (after re-assignment) mid-coast Cal. Sold it in '84 IOT buy a '64 356 SC coupe.
Last edited by kg4nih; 02-07-2013 at 10:58 PM.
#90
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Yes; they were clearly deteriorated. My car is a '97, so its 16 years old w/ 22k miles (and I put 2.6k of that on it bringing home from LV to VA this fall). I didn't "want" to believe the bushing could be bad since the car is cosmetically/mechanically perfect in so many ways. But the bushings were shot.
Thanks to the "nagging" from RL'ers about checking the bushings, I checked them. So my recommendation to others doing a suspension "upgrade" is to take the extra hour to pull both control arms and check the bushings.
Thanks to the "nagging" from RL'ers about checking the bushings, I checked them. So my recommendation to others doing a suspension "upgrade" is to take the extra hour to pull both control arms and check the bushings.