Info wanted on how to rebuild Koni's (is it possible??).

fastfreddygassit · Postby **fastfreddygassit** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 5:01 pm

I have the ubiquitous Koni adjustable (rebound dampening not compression) dampeners (the ones with the 3 different spring perch heights) on my darling NA8 which once used to be on PCMX5's car. I have no major problems with them but i know from my bikes that rebuilding dampeners (changing the oil) makes a significant difference to the dampeners performance.
Can these units be rebuilt by the home mechanic, more to the point, does anyone have information on how to rebuild them?
I am after dissassembly/reassembly instructions, type and weight of oil used, and is it possible to change the dampening (ie. enlarge or weld/decrease orifice hole size)?
I will post the units model designation as I am unsure if they are single or twin chamber design. I assume they are single chamber.
Has anyone done this before? i know an authorised Koni service centre will do this but dollar$$ is what I am trying to save.
I can do m/cycle forks (USD and conventional) in my sleep but I have never tried a car unit before.
cheers :mrgreen:

Matty · Postby **Matty** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 8:53 am

I think they'd be hard to DIY rebuild, but they are certainly rebuildable. They're (AFAIK) a twin-tube design, and are pressurised, the latter making DIY difficult...

Talk to the local supplier... (Toperformance)

pcmx5 · Postby **pcmx5** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 3:42 pm

Hell ,Michael they shouldn't be stuffed already!!

The fronts had only done about 10-12k and the rears about 20K(all very gently dríven too!)

Peter.

Steve Tinker · Postby **Steve Tinker** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 4:19 pm

Hey Fastfred - I purchased a set of used Ohlins shocks that fit my Roadster last year. I took them to a local guy who specialises in bike forks / shocks (who sold me my Gold Valve emulators for my Triumph 955i) as I was concerned that the shocks would be too harsh for Australian roads. Anyway, he has done a few car shocks but says that the tunability can be quite complex - the shocks still have removable petals but he needed special seals to overhaul the units and the Ohlins importers would not give him the shock specs as they are an \"import\". Would cost me approx $100-00 each to rebuild them and need some special removal gizmo.
But he said that good quality car shocks (Koni / Bilstein etc) usually last 150,000 - 200,000 km before requiring a rebuild. I would think that yours should still be fine...

fastfreddygassit · Postby **fastfreddygassit** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 2:22 pm

pcmx5 wrote:Hell ,Michael they shouldn't be stuffed already!!

The fronts had only done about 10-12k and the rears about 20K(all very gently dríven too!)

Peter.

Peter, the shocks are ace!!

They are DEFINATELY not stuffed.
I am just wanting to "play around" with dampening. You know, fine tune things et al.
I really just wanted to increase the compression dampening (as the Eibach springs are quite soft) via some heavier weight oil. With m/bike forks, an oil change is super-easy. Playing with valving and seals gets a touch harder.
So....I just wanted to find out if it was possible to change the oil....easily.
It appears not :frown:

So, I am just going to turf the Eibachs and put in my original lowered Kings in.

BTW Peter, when is your next early morning breakfast run to Apollo Bay happening??
:mrgreen:

fastfreddygassit · Postby **fastfreddygassit** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 2:31 pm

pcmx5 wrote:
The fronts had only done about 10-12k and the rears about 20K(all very gently dríven too!)

Peter.

Ummm, just as an aside....where did you pull

pcmx5 wrote:(all very gently dríven too!)

from? I have seen how you drive!!

pcmx5 · Postby **pcmx5** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 2:44 pm

Hi Michael,

I am thinking about going to AB again on Sat. morning unless it is pissing down.

I will have a couple of mates going and we will probably leave around 6.30-45 so we avoid all the terrorists, breakfast at the bakery and be home around 9(probably inland).

If you are interested give me a call later in the week.

We have our 3 dayx2 auditors quality system audit this Thursday-Friday so I will be looking to break out this weekend.

My pace is a factor of my advanced years,justslowing down gradually!!!!

Peter.

Casey · Postby **Casey** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 9:40 pm

fastfreddygassit wrote:So, I am just going to turf the Eibachs and put in my original lowered Kings in.

I'm sure that there are any number of owners who would beat a path to your door to swap their Kings for your unwanted Eibachs.

Blurr · Postby **Blurr** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 4:27 pm

Speaking of rebuilds.
I won't believe it but I got a dud shock on mine - discovered on Sunday !
It was leaking green stuff from the tower (front - left).
Rare - yes.
They are only about 3 months and 2000k's old.

Thankfully it has been replaced under warranty.
(Thanks MX-5 factory)

BTW I used to refresh oil in my front forks every 5000ks !