Koni Adjustable Spring Removal

[NFS 32]

Hi, i have a set of the yellow adjustable dampers and springs from koni however i need to remove the springs and becuase of the adjuster at the top there is no allen key slot or spanner slot to hold the piston from spinning,

 

so the question is how do i undo the bolt? i have searched the web and found NOTHING! lol thanks

[Anthony 1,002]

Windy gun

 

Obviously goes without saying that you'll need to remove the tension on the spring with some spring clamps first...

[NFS 32]

Thanks, if i remove the tension of the spring wont that make the piston spin easier and a impact gun be useless?

[pug_ham 244 3 Cars]

On mine I got them to loosen the top nut with a windy gun at a local tyre fitters & then clamped the springs when I got home but this was with the strut off the car.

 

g

[NFS 32]

Okay, i will give it a go, the struts are off the car anyway, just seems a crap design especially as it says in the instructions that you shouldn’t use an impact gun.

[pug_ham 244 3 Cars]

Ideally, you clamp the piston with a set of suitable soft jawed mole grips but in practice this doesn't often work but with them on the car on its wheels I found I could undo them fine with just a spanner on the top nut.

 

g

[Anthony 1,002]

The other option is to wrap some rag around the shaft and clamp it with mole grips, but I'm not a fan of that really given the risk of scoring the shaft.

 

If you do try that, I would suggest doing it right at the top where the shaft is unlikely to ever go down far enough to enter the shock body and damage the seals if you do mark it

[NFS 32]

Okay, well i dont want to put them on the car and they have never been on my car so i couldnt try to crack the nut while the wheels where on the floor.

 

i have tried the mole grips method with a ratchet but it just spun and i didnt want to mark the shaft by putting to my pressure on the shaft and marking it.

[welshpug 1,655]

Windy gun not failed me yet if there is any corrosion on the exposed threads oil it up and wire brush the threads.

[NFS 32]

Cheers i will give it ago.

[Carbs4me 45]

i had to use an alan key in the top of the thread, and a spanner with mine, they just span with the whole thread.

 

Deffintly need the clamps though otherwise you will never get the spring back on.. do one at a time aswell so you dont forget how to put it back together and there are quite afew pieces.

[Anthony 1,002]

Most Koni shocks have the adjuster on the top where the 7mm hex fitting would normally be, which is why they're a bit of a pain if you don't have access to a windy gun.

[pug_ham 244 3 Cars]

Also, on my Koni's with the supplied springs, you could get them together without using any spring clamps when the strut was at full extension but no chance on standard springs.

 

If you forget the order of the parts above the spring, there is a picture of the exploded strut that has been posted on here several times or in cybernck's Mi32 build topic.

 

g

[Graz 1]

I wouldn't recomend using a windy gun as that can undo the piston from the piston rod and cause funny handling and damping characteristics or none at all. Best bet is to try grip the rod underneath the bump stop as Anthony said as that part should never enter the body or damage the seal.

[Baz 421]

If you forget the order of the parts above the spring, there is a picture of the exploded strut that has been posted on here several times or in cybernck's Mi32 build topic.

 

 

[EdCherry 34 1 Cars]

Either make a split bush to grip the shaft on or windy gun. Unless you hold the s*itty old style button adjuster in whilst going at it with an impact gun the nut to hold the piston should not come undone, if it does its a sign of there s*ite build quality and you might as well put them in the bin.

[NFS 32]

Cheers for the info guys. They will be going to be refurbed anyway but want to get the springs off to use on my blistens why I save enough money to get them refurbed

[Paul_13 212 1 Cars]

That exploded diagram is missing the thick washer at first glance, it sits on the end of the shaft and the first cup shape thing goes on this

[welshpug 1,655]

yup, because its on this picture