Okay so my strut has some play in it, but I'm not sure what's going on with it.
Today I took it apart to see if the mount was bad or if the strut was bad. Took the spring off and the mount off, and had just the strut itself in my hand, and what's happening is the Koni strut insert is moving around inside the cut OEM perch. Wtf? What does that mean? I don't have much expierence with these so... But the bolt on the bottom where you secure the insert to the OEM perch has movement. I can turn it about 1/4 turn each direction, then I can't get any more out of it, probably due to the rust on it. But, I didn't want to force it too hard and have it snap, leaving me with no strut.
Anyway, anybody else ever experience this problem?
One more question. Can I buy just 1 front yellow strut or do I have to buy both fronts? I'm asking because only the pair is listed on Koni's web site.
Replace them in pairs. If you don't it could cause a potentially unsafe condition.
For the record, Koni
will sell you just one, though/
Hmm ok.
What about the problem I described? Any thoughts on that?
Or better yet, I remember reading about some guys running different brands of shocks front and rear. I don't know why, but, anyway.
I can't afford both front yellows at the moment, but I can get a pair of tokico hp's. I have koni sport springs. How dangerous would this be? Or would it be fine. I mean the hp's are meant for a drop, and the koni springs only drop 1.5" front I believe. I just wouldn't have any adjustment in the front, but I could adjust the rear softer a bit if needed for the hp's.
Would I be better off just holding off until I can afford both new ones, even though its loose?
it sounds to me like the bolt in the bottom is either stripped or not doing it's job. you need to take everything apart, even if it means breaking the bolt off. what have you got to lose, right? be sure to spray it with pb blaster or some kind of liquid wrench style lubricant to try and get it to come out easier....
once you have everything apart you can see what is needed to fix and or replace it. if worst comes to worst and say the bolt does indeed brake off you can still try to get it out of the threads with an easy-out or you may even have to drill it out and use a bigger bolt. either way you should be able to save that strut.
or if you dont even want to screw with you could try and fab up some kind of stop for the top of the OEM housing to keep the strut in place. although... im not sure that would be safe.
i have some replacement bolts if you are interested and can get it out ok.... pm me.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edited Sunday, March 27, 2011 8:07 AM
If it takes forever.... I will die trying. Underdog Racing
Impact wrench will be your friend when taking that bolt out.
^^ I know but I don't want to break it. I'm gonna have to spray it up and down with pb for a week or two or something, and see if I can get it out.
Z yaaaa I'm just grab one of those bolts off you incase I can get it out. That way I'll have one ready and waiting. Pming you now.
Is there some kind of bushing inside the cut perch insuring that the insert stays tight? Or is the bolt on the bottom what keeps it tight?
the strut on the top has outward indentations in it. when you pull it all down with the bolt it snugs these indentations into the housing thus keeping it secured.
my guess is if the bolt is loose the koni would pop up out of the top of the housing just enough to relieve those indentations. this could be the result of someone cutting just a bit too much off the OEM housing.
If it takes forever.... I will die trying. Underdog Racing
Okay so tonight I fixed the strut. We took everything apart again and put the strut in a vice and tightened up the bolt. No more movement.
Thanks for all the help guys.
