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New Konis Installed.

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Old Feb 24, 2006 | 09:27 AM
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Default New Konis Installed.

I just finished up my Koni installation yesterday and I've driven my car only from home to work.

As far as install notes.

Be sure to have a buddy help you ( that third arm really comes in handy in odd places) oh power tools really speed things up especially when it came to compressing the front springs ( even though its not recommended compressing the springs by hand must be a PITA). I was just very careful on not over compressing and did it gradually.

I had read on threads how the Koni SA fronts are adjustable while on the car I adjusted mine before they went in, I wonder how everyone adjusts them on while mounted. It just seems so hard. The adjusting slot is facing in towards the car, that means you cant see it, much less fit your hand behind the upper A arms to turn it. Wow. If I had to adjust them while mounted I would prollly curse allday. LOL Its just crammed back there !!!!!!!

The rears are no Biggie. Install or adjusting.

I did notice the rear tires now have a lil more clearance from wheel to fender. Maybe 3/4 or 1". It looks like I have more room to fit those 315s lata.!

Overall it took me about 5hrs or so for both rear and front. Would of gone faster if my helper would of been around the whole time.

I havent driven the car that much much less had a chance to really push the car hard. However I have noticed the car is much more solid around turns, it just plants itself more (less body roll) and it responds better to brakes.

Overall I'm pleased. Playin with the settings on the front seems to be task.
If I'm missing something when it comes to that please let me know!!!

Thanx to everyone for always provinding info and advice for free. LOL
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Old Feb 24, 2006 | 11:23 AM
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Originally Posted by 2000Z28M6
I had read on threads how the Koni SA fronts are adjustable while on the car I adjusted mine before they went in, I wonder how everyone adjusts them on while mounted. It just seems so hard. The adjusting slot is facing in towards the car, that means you cant see it, much less fit your hand behind the upper A arms to turn it. Wow. If I had to adjust them while mounted I would prollly curse allday. LOL Its just crammed back there !!!!!!!
Those windows should face out. I had to mess with mine a little to get them lined up right, but they face out. If I jack the car up, I can reach the adjustment window without removing the wheels. Just make sure you use a jackstand when you do this. If the jack fails, bye-bye arm.


-Mike
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Old Feb 24, 2006 | 11:29 AM
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So you have to turn the shaft till it sits where you want it? Well I figured if I did that it would mess up the alignment of the top bolts. So i didnt mess with it. Like i said i adjusted mine before they went in. Worst comes to worst I have to loosen upper A arms to adjust them. Now I know for next time...........
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Old Feb 24, 2006 | 11:36 AM
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You needed to swivel the shocks the right way before you tightened the spring mount back on and torqued it. I just did the same install this weekend on my own and it was not a big deal but getting the window the right way took some fiddling. I have started a write-up page here, no text yet but I will be putting some more information there. At the bottom of the page you can see the assembled strut with the window pointing out.
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Old Feb 24, 2006 | 02:05 PM
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Good deal That would help out other people.
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Old Feb 24, 2006 | 02:20 PM
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great info, im going to order a set real soon. any pics 2000Z28M6?
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Old Feb 24, 2006 | 02:22 PM
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Originally Posted by 2000Z28M6
Good deal That would help out other people.
I will post back when the text is written.
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Old Feb 24, 2006 | 02:40 PM
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BJM great pics your write up is gunna turn out tight. I have no pics of before or after, my damn digital camera just recently went belly up. ******* crap. I need a new one now. All i can say is that before the Konis I loved the stance my car had before, but it always felt a lil too close to the fender wells. Now it just looks better. I really like it and it feels great knowing I wont bottom out. !!!!!!!

Side note:
Is there an average mileage for Konis? I mean how long should they last?

Last edited by 2000Z28M6; Feb 24, 2006 at 03:27 PM.
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Old Feb 24, 2006 | 04:27 PM
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Originally Posted by 2000Z28M6
Side note:
Is there an average mileage for Konis? I mean how long should they last?
Many years ago Koni's were adjustable to accomodate wear. You current ones can be adjusted for wear as well. They should therefore last a long time.
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Old Apr 5, 2006 | 09:52 AM
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Originally Posted by BJM
You needed to swivel the shocks the right way before you tightened the spring mount back on and torqued it. I just did the same install this weekend on my own and it was not a big deal but getting the window the right way took some fiddling. I have started a write-up page here, no text yet but I will be putting some more information there. At the bottom of the page you can see the assembled strut with the window pointing out.
Great Writeup man. I dont think people really appreciate how much work it takes to do a writeup like that. Hats off to all the people who contribute to our "community" like that.
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Old Apr 5, 2006 | 07:29 PM
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Thanks for the comments.
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Old Apr 5, 2006 | 09:38 PM
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Originally Posted by BJM
You needed to swivel the shocks the right way before you tightened the spring mount back on and torqued it. I just did the same install this weekend on my own and it was not a big deal but getting the window the right way took some fiddling. I have started a write-up page here, no text yet but I will be putting some more information there. At the bottom of the page you can see the assembled strut with the window pointing out.

DOH! didnt think to do that lol. Oh well, I dont really mind taking the setup apart, it's not THAT bad...I've already done it a few times so it doesn't take too long.

Good to know though!

I was however, amazed at the instructions that came with the koni's...TERRIBLE. They give you 3 long slivers of directions (like the size of 3 squares of toilet paper off of the roll) that have pictures without any words on them . Tough to figure out how to set the spring perch and such.
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Old Apr 5, 2006 | 10:03 PM
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Originally Posted by Powered By V8
I was however, amazed at the instructions that came with the koni's...TERRIBLE. They give you 3 long slivers of directions (like the size of 3 squares of toilet paper off of the roll) that have pictures without any words on them . Tough to figure out how to set the spring perch and such.
Aren't they pathetic? I took forever to figure out what to do with the large washer the fronts came with. I even put one on the car wrong and then found one of the little slips of paper under my work bench sort of showed what to do with it.
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Old Apr 12, 2006 | 05:54 PM
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What is that big washer for and how is it correctly installed?
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Old Apr 12, 2006 | 07:14 PM
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Originally Posted by kenp
What is that big washer for and how is it correctly installed?
http://www3.sympatico.ca/brian.mackay/Koni_shocks.htm

Fourth picture up from the bottom (the one of the spring fully mounted to the shock, but not installed in the car yet). It's kind of hard to see, but the washer gets sandwiched between the top of the shock and the rubber shock mount.


-Mike
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Old Apr 12, 2006 | 08:31 PM
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Are these the ones with the **** on top to adjust them?
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Old Apr 13, 2006 | 09:37 AM
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Originally Posted by jorgez28
Are these the ones with the **** on top to adjust them?
The rears have a ****. The fronts have a little slot that lets you get an allen wrench in and turn the adjuster.


-Mike
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Old Apr 13, 2006 | 10:09 AM
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Originally Posted by BJM
You needed to swivel the shocks the right way before you tightened the spring mount back on and torqued it. I just did the same install this weekend on my own and it was not a big deal but getting the window the right way took some fiddling. I have started a write-up page here, no text yet but I will be putting some more information there. At the bottom of the page you can see the assembled strut with the window pointing out.
BJM great write up and not to llook a gift horse in the mouth,,but...open wide,... ....you never really mentioned WHY you didnt use DA VS SA's....
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Old Apr 13, 2006 | 10:15 AM
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Question...I've had the Koni SA's on my car for a while now and love them. But I cannot for the life of me remember which way is which to adjust the front shocks to make them stiffer/looser. Can somebody help me out with this?
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Old Apr 13, 2006 | 10:18 AM
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There is a - and a + on either side of the window on the front shocks. + is firmer, - is softer. I'm pretty sure it's - on the left and + on the right.


-Mike
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