While assembling the spring/shock/bump stops I realized I was turning the shock shaft when I thought I was tightening down the 19mm nut that holds it all together. I ended up using an offset wrench and an 8mm socket/toqrue wrench on the tip to torque it down to 37 ft.lbs.

The shocks came with two sets of instructions on how to adjust, the white sheet shows a graphic of somebody with the shock shaft in a vise turning it for some soft of adjustment. The yellow sheet shows the adjustment by turning the included ****.

I just want to make sure I did not accidentally adjust the shock in some way by turning the shock shaft. I probably turned it 10 times before I realized the nut was not getting any tighter.

 

You should be fine. The white paper looks like its for a different shock.
Gotta make sure you hold and don't strip that little 8mm stub at the top when tightening.

 

I think you're right, I just wanted to be sure before I install.

I used an 8mm socket on a torque wrench at 37 ft.lbs to hold the shaft and then tightened the 19mm using an offset box wrench until the torque wrench clicked.

I used the highest perch for the spring, I've read a few people using the middle one but I have the eibach pro-kit so I think it will be right.

 

Most performance oriented peeps use the top perch up front and either the middle or top in the rear depending on which spring they run.

I used the middle perch on the rear when I ran H&R springs.

 

After measuring the rear ride height I put the springs on the middle perch. That got me to 26", but that is on all new upper and lower suspension rubber and before driving the car. I figure after I drive it around a little the rear will settle maybe 1/2" or so. Front is around 25.5" on the top perch. Thanks for the advice.

 

Am I correct that I was supposed to use the supplied koni bushings in the front shocks? I remember seeing a few posts about taking out bushings but I'm not sure what from.

 

W/o seeing a pic, I don't really know which "bushing" you are talking about.

 

The bushing that connects the bottom of the shock to the aluminum suspension. The one that you have to push the bolt through on the bottom. I remember reading something Howard Coleman posted about using some 3/8" threaded rod and some nuts and washers to press out an old bushing. Maybe it was for something else.

 

Bring old thread back hope someone reads it.

Does anyone know what the white thin plastic piece is that comes w the Koni yellows? Per Koni instruction, it just sits on the bottom of the shock with out doing or touching anything

 

pic?

 

I just installed these on my FD about a month ago. Yes, as per the instructions, they just sit between the bump stop (upper mount) and top of the shock. I think it's just for some added protection for the shock.

As far as perch height (because it always seemed to be asked), it all depends on what springs and what ratio tires/wheels you run. I actually went with Espiler springs I bought from DaleClark b/c they're easier to source then the discontinued Eibachs and provide very similar spring rates (actually stiffer). I started both front and rear on the top perch. It was as advertised even drop all around to about 25.75" floor to fender. Unfortunately it made the wheel gap up front on my 18/255/35 wheels look too big. It also made the rake of the car look like there was a fat dude stuffed in the hatch.

So I dropped the fronts to the middle perch this past weekend using spring compressors to relieve the pressure on the lower mount and move the C clamp down. The difference on the shock between the perches looks to be about 1/8" but that translated to 1/2" additional drop floor to fender.

My front is middle perch, 25.25" and rear is top perch 25.75". And yes, it does rub a little bit on the drivers side inner fender. Hopefully that is fixed when I get over for an alignment.

Hope that helps.

 

@ gracer7-rx7

Thanks for all the old posts you have on the Koni Yellows. They provided me with a lot of useful information.

 

anytime. glad they are found useful. makes me feel that it wasn't a waste of time typing it out.

 

The perch heights you use are ultimately going to come down to the aftermarket springs you use, and your car. I went with top/front, middle/rear, with Eibach pro-kits, but those notoriously lower the front too much and the back not enough. Something like the RB's or H&R that take the take out, and your result may be different.

Anymore, you can grab a ground control kit pretty cheaply and use whatever spring rates you want, so I'd just do that if you're particular and don't want to take them apart a couple times to get it right. The install w/ Koni's is super easy.

P

 

Thanks everyone for the replies. I really appreciated it. Just to make sure we are talking about the same "white thin piece" I attached a pic of mine during install and circled the little piece I am talking about. seems like it does nothing but I agree with what stompz said.

 

Is the white piece where its supposed to be?
Also if u use the Koni lower spring seat, u don't need the stock rubber one right? I forgot what the stock one looked like but I threw the whole assembly bc they were junk.

 

The white piece is the correct spot according to the Koni instructions. I used the rubber piece on the lower mount. Without it you may get some clunking sounds. The lower mount rubber is cheap from Ray Crowe.

I noticed you don't have the dust boot for the upper mount. I assume its because they were trash. I would worry about some junk getting down into the shock without them. But be warned, a new set of upper mount/lower mount/misc rubber for the suspension isn't cheap. You can almost buy new coilovers for the complete rebuild of new rubber, shocks and springs. Suspension feels great with all new parts though (go figure).

As always, buy OEM rubber parts from Ray Crowe.

 

Thanks stompz,
Yes my dust boot was torn off and seperated from the upper mount so I junked them. I have new upper mounts with dust boot intact from ray but haven't had time to install.

I am really confused about the lower rubber mount now bc Koni instruction did not include that lower piece, just the aluminum lower spring seat that the spring sits on. So r we supposed to put the lower mount in between the aluminum seat and the spring?

Does anyone have a pic?

Thanks

 

The lower mount is nothing more than the metal ring that sits on the small adjustable perch clamp. Its conformed to accept the bottom of the spring (not level). The rubber part is nothing more then a thin insulator between the spring and the provided metal ring.

If you're going to disassemble the shocks/springs to replace the upper mount/dust boot, I would suggest replacing the rubber that sits on the provided Koni lower mount. I think they were $5 a piece from Ray. I have a picture but its at home, Ill upload in a few days when Im back.

 

thanks, I 'd love to see a picture on the lower spring mount to see what the lower rubber looks like. My spring is sitting on the bare metal ring from Koni now because I think I threw away the OEM rubber piece when I took them off the stock shock since they are worn to nothing. (but I can't remember what the looked like)

but Koni's instruction didn't say that we should use the oem lower rubber on the koni metal spring seat, but we should proceed anyway?

Thanks again

 

Tango-

Sorry for the delay, here's the pics from my car. As you can see from the oil behind the suspension on the fender liner, I lost my shocks after replacing the springs. You can see the thin black rubber lower mount insulator in several of the pics.

Hope this helps.

 

Super!!! That's what I am looking for and thanks so much for the good pics. I am gonna get the lower rubber from ray now and hopefully my car can sit even.

Did Koni replace ur shocks? Still under warrenty? I don't remember how long Koni warrenty their shocks

 

The ones that blew were original R1's.

Depending on the springs you have, the perch heights may need to different front to back to make your car sit level. Lots of people have posted the perches they use for specific springs.

 

I have HR springs, and I read from other thread with HR I should go top perch front and mid rear for even height, and that's what I am gonna try first unless u think I should go both ends top perch.

 

That was the typical approach for Eibach springs as those lowered the front significantly but not so much in the rear. With the H&R's, I would go with the middle perch F/R first.