vatechguy3

iTrader: (4)

i'm installing a set of 4th gen koni's REAR shocks and sam's springs.

i've got the stock shocks and springs out now.

my question is about how to install the shocks so they are still adjustable.

do you drill a hole in the carpet?? can the tool be used to adjust them without removing the side panels??

thanks
tony

trackbird

iTrader: (4)

IN a 4th gen, you'll find that the carpet has perforations in that area. You just gently tear it open. In a 3rd gen, you slide the carpet up behind the seat and flip it back.

GMmexican

iTrader: (7)

call sam strano he will guide you through the install

vatechguy3

iTrader: (4)

i did call sam, but he's off today (i guess everyone needs some time off sometimes!), was hoping to find someone here who knew so i don't have to wait till next weekend to finish.

i guess i'll give sam a call on wednesday.

tony

vatechguy3

iTrader: (4)

just went back out to the garage, couldn't find any perforations near the shock mount hole.

tony

trackbird

iTrader: (4)

If it's a 4th gen, they are there. You may have to dig and pull on it a bit. It's not designed to just "fall open".

vatechguy3

iTrader: (4)

its a 2001 z28.

i will be heading out to the garage again in the morning and will check then, got to go to a party with the wife for now.

tony

Sam Strano

iTrader: (41)

Tony, the carpet has very, VERY faint lines in it you use to knife on and cut open. My '01 had 'em. Even if they are not there, cut the carpet anyway, just leave a flap so you can close it. When you do that it's barely noticeable with the seat down when you tuck them closed, and not at all with the rear seat up.

SGMZ28

To add to Sam's post, you'll know you have the right spot because you'll pull out a piece of foam above each shock after you cut the perferations.

Don't mind the car, it's filthy. But you can get a good idea where you need to look.

vatechguy3

iTrader: (4)

thanks for the info guys.
i will give it another shot in the morning.
too much liquid refreshments in me now to head out into the garage with sharp objects!!

happy new year!!
tony

vatechguy3

iTrader: (4)

ok guys, i found the perforation and got the koni's in.

BUT, i put the new springs in, and per the service manual aligned the bottom of the spring facing forward. i then jacked up the rear end (from the pumpkin) to take the load of the jack stands and load the springs.

the problem is there is a gap between the new springs and the lower perch. see the pics below.

i know many, many people are running these springs, so the question is, did i do something wrong?? or is this the way the springs are suupose to sit on the lower perch??

thanks
tony

Viper

iTrader: (6)

Interesting. I've always had the tail pointing towards the back. Turn them 180 and I bet they seat fine.

Ironhead

Look at the space under the bumpstop. No way is that axle all the way up. In fact it looks to be almost at full droop.

Raise the axle. I bet they sit fine.

vatechguy3

iTrader: (4)

raised the axle up all the way until it picked the rear of the car off the jack stands with no luck, still has the gap.

tried rotating the springs to they face the rear, and no joy, see pics below.

any ideas guys??

tony

Ironhead

Make sure the spring is on the isolator correctly. Then make sure the isolator is nestled in the chassis pocket properly.

The pics don't look terrible. Probably just have the top of the spring off center somehow. Especially since it looks like you still have too much gap under the bumpstop.

SpdFrk1990

iTrader: (6)

Yeh they dont look seated right or let it on the ground jacking it up by the rear is not good enough sometimes specially if you have the front up also.

OhTwo

iTrader: (13)

I did this mod a couple of years ago and didn't know about the perfs before this post. I've always pulled up the carpet to get to the Konis whenever I've done any work that required them to be removed (like when I swapped out the 10 bolt for a 9 inch). Once again, this is the place to learn something new - and it's only January 1st!!!

69TA

iTrader: (263)

Maybe the rubber isolator that sits on the top of the spring is not seated correctly on the spring making things a little crooked.

It has a mold where the spring eye catches and rests into.

Sam Strano

iTrader: (41)

At risk of sounding simplistic... don't worry about it. Make sure the springs are seated in the isolators correctly, and that's that. I turn them so the pigtail is at the rear, but you can do what you like. The axle moves in an arc, and when you compress it the spring pads level out. There is no issue, and if you look at stock ones, they do the same thing.

Jon2kZ

iTrader: (5)

For my rear Koni adjustment I had a friend make a simple tool out of some scrap. I didn’t want to rip the carpet, so what I did was first take the foam piece out and punch the hole all the way thru, then cut a slit in the carpet above the hole in the foam for the tool to slip thru. I think it’s the cleanest way to go.