Question about Koni Sport inserts on front of 1986 coupe...

[fallingat120mph]

1986 (911/Coupe)here with the Boge front struts and after a lot of back and fourth am looking at the Koni Sport strut inserts and wondering if there is anything I will need extra for installation???


These are what I will be purchasing:



Currently, I have Bilstein front and rear installed now and am worried I may need extra bits for the front strut inserts switching to the Konis.

Gland nut and other things seem to come up in the previous forum posts...but a lot of posts about the Konis and gland nuts are for pre 86 cars, per my searches...?


Thanks for any insight.

Erik

[nickelplated5s]

Wait for PeteKZ to chime in. He's running those albeit on a 73.5.

[fallingat120mph]

Originally Posted by nickelplated5s

Wait for PeteKZ to chime in. He's running those albeit on a 73.5.

Yes, was going to PM. Was originally going with the Bilsteins but want to give these a go.

He recommended a few months ago...hoping to find someone running them from a mid-80's 911.


Thanks!
Erik

[nospiners]

I have them on my 87 and i couldn't be happier. I also went back and forth many times on that decision , with a lot of advice here , then i drove an 86 with new Bilsteins on .. Stiffer ride , feeling everything on the road , didn't like it at all.. Now with the yellow Konis my wife loves driving the car. If your a daily or weekend driver , Konis is the answer imho..

[brianlay]

I had them on my 86 for years...in fact it was one of the first mods I made soon after I got the car.
I also changed torsion bars to 22/28 at the same time so I can't make a direct comparison with stock.

The car became stiffer overall but still fine for the street. I've always had a more track/autocross oriented setup and, along with lowering, I was very happy with it.

One caution is, depending on your ride height, they can bottom out on the front which eventually jams up the adjuster. Took more than once for me to learn that lesson.

They come with the spacers you will need and fit either external or internal thread gland nut. I eventually had both types on the car after replacing one of the struts (damaged).

Currently I run Bilstein RSR type struts with raised spindles and Von shocks (basically digressive custom-valved Bilsteins). Maybe a little stiffer than the Koni setup but still acceptable for the street.

[fallingat120mph]

Originally Posted by nospiners

I have them on my 87 and i couldn't be happier. I also went back and forth many times on that decision , with a lot of advice here , then i drove an 86 with new Bilsteins on .. Stiffer ride , feeling everything on the road , didn't like it at all.. Now with the yellow Konis my wife loves driving the car. If your a daily or weekend driver , Konis is the answer imho..

Originally Posted by brianlay

I had them on my 86 for years...in fact it was one of the first mods I made soon after I got the car.
I also changed torsion bars to 22/28 at the same time so I can't make a direct comparison with stock.

The car became stiffer overall but still fine for the street. I've always had a more track/autocross oriented setup and, along with lowering, I was very happy with it.

One caution is, depending on your ride height, they can bottom out on the front which eventually jams up the adjuster. Took more than once for me to learn that lesson.

They come with the spacers you will need and fit either external or internal thread gland nut. I eventually had both types on the car after replacing one of the struts (damaged).

Currently I run Bilstein RSR type struts with raised spindles and Von shocks (basically digressive custom-valved Bilsteins). Maybe a little stiffer than the Koni setup but still acceptable for the street.

Thanks for the input, both of you.

Since my car is lowered quite a bit I will take your "ride height" advice and see where I am on that.

As stated the gland nut issue seems to come up quite a bit...

I just got back from a long off roading trip and need to get the car up in the air to see what Boge strut assembly I have (so it appears), and what inserts are in there now.

Pretty sure they are Bilsteins, but not verified.


Again, thanks!
Erik

[silverlock]

I run these — the 1039 Sport F in Boge struts + 1139 Sport R — on my ‘78 SC and love them. Half a turn from full soft and find them to be very compliant on back roads + on the always-bumpy NYC parkways & expressways I need to use to get in/out of the city.

21/26 t-bars match well. Following the usual “firmer spring, softer shock” approach.

[fallingat120mph]

Originally Posted by silverlock

I run these — the 1039 Sport F in Boge struts + 1139 Sport R — on my ‘78 SC and love them. Half a turn from full soft and find them to be very compliant on back roads + on the always-bumpy NYC parkways & expressways I need to use to get in/out of the city.

21/26 t-bars match well. Following the usual “firmer spring, softer shock” approach.

I will be upgrading the torsion bars as well...probably next year. In the middle of a 3.2 to 3.4 conversion and know I need new shocks and bushing, etc.

Gonna get the new engine in, new exhaust installed and new shocks/struts (bushings, etc) installed and see where I am in 6 months.

Erik

[PeteKz]

Just catching up to this thread: Yes, I have the 1039 Koni Sports in my Boge front struts. My ride heights are only 1/2" below the stock specifications with 21/26 T-bars. I particularly like that the Sports are externally adjustable--you just put the provided knob on the top of the shock and twist it to desired setting. For a normal weight SC you will probably find that 1 click up from full soft will work well on the street. Since my car is lighter I have them set full soft for the street. When I do AX, then I crank them up one click.

The shocks came with the necessary hardware to install them.

If you do not need to buy them right now, wait for Pelican to run one of their regular 20% off sales.

[nickelplated5s]

[QUOTE=brianlay;12470718
Currently I run Bilstein RSR type struts with raised spindles and Von shocks (basically digressive custom-valved Bilsteins). Maybe a little stiffer than the Koni setup but still acceptable for the street.[/QUOTE]


Brian, What number Von's are you running? Anything other than stock in the rear bushings? FWIW worth I have #2's in the rear, same rear sway bar and it's in the shop now for bushings. ER for the trailing arms and rubber elsewhere. I do like the Von's but one of my Bil's was half blown, found out when I swapped them.

[mike sampsel]

Originally Posted by PeteKz

The shocks came with the necessary hardware to install them.

If you do not need to buy them right now, wait for Pelican to run one of their regular 20% off sales.

Looks like an added 25% prior to a 20 percent off to me on koni shocks , Could be the tariff . Rear list is now 420 a shock! Not too long ago the (one year) discount price was 243! Oh well.

[fallingat120mph]

Originally Posted by PeteKz

Just catching up to this thread: Yes, I have the 1039 Koni Sports in my Boge front struts. My ride heights are only 1/2" below the stock specifications with 21/26 T-bars. I particularly like that the Sports are externally adjustable--you just put the provided knob on the top of the shock and twist it to desired setting. For a normal weight SC you will probably find that 1 click up from full soft will work well on the street. Since my car is lighter I have them set full soft for the street. When I do AX, then I crank them up one click.

The shocks came with the necessary hardware to install them.

If you do not need to buy them right now, wait for Pelican to run one of their regular 20% off sales.

Appreciate the feedback. I was a click away from buying the Bilsteins and went back and researched some more. I am excited about the adjustable Koni Sports I have coming. Pelican (and others) are having some pretty good sales right now for my 86 set up.

Originally Posted by mike sampsel

Looks like an added 25% prior to a 20 percent off to me on koni shocks , Could be the tariff . Rear list is now 420 a shock! Not too long ago the (one year) discount price was 243! Oh well.

There are actually some sales going on right now...just purchased all four corners--inserts(f) and shocks(r) for under $1000.

Erik

[fallingat120mph]

Originally Posted by PeteKz

Just catching up to this thread: Yes, I have the 1039 Koni Sports in my Boge front struts. My ride heights are only 1/2" below the stock specifications with 21/26 T-bars. I particularly like that the Sports are externally adjustable--you just put the provided knob on the top of the shock and twist it to desired setting. For a normal weight SC you will probably find that 1 click up from full soft will work well on the street. Since my car is lighter I have them set full soft for the street. When I do AX, then I crank them up one click.

The shocks came with the necessary hardware to install them.

If you do not need to buy them right now, wait for Pelican to run one of their regular 20% off sales.

Looks like my new Koni set up will be here this week or so.

Since these are the Sports(yellow) sounds like these are good for my lowered 86. Did you have any issues with the travel and did you do any cutting to the rubber???

Researching seems like some do to create more travel?


Erik

[Rodsrsr]

The Koni sports are great. Just installed a set to replace my old Bilsteins and Im much happier with the Konis.

[Tad240]

I trimmed the spacer nub on the bottom of the insert and sectioned the strut an equal amount- approximately 19mm as I recall. The shorter strut just provides a little extra travel. Love the Koni Sports !

[PeteKz]

That's creative. I haven't seen that approach before, but it makes sense. Did you have any clearance problems with the body of the shock sitting down further in the strut and hitting the tapered part?

I think I would have moved the spindle up first, as that lowers the car without decreasing the travel in the shock.

Erik: How far do you want to lower the front? I did not trim down my rubber bumpers, but my front suspension is only 1/2" below the stock spec, and I have the stiffer 21mm front T-bars. If you only drop it 1/2" I would not worry about trimming the bumpers, but I would add either 20 or 21mm T-bars. If you drop between 1/2" and 1", then trim off 1/3 of the rubber and use 20 or 21mm T-bars. If you want to go lower than that, raise the spindles.

[fallingat120mph]

Originally Posted by PeteKz

That's creative. I haven't seen that approach before, but it makes sense. Did you have any clearance problems with the body of the shock sitting down further in the strut and hitting the tapered part?

I think I would have moved the spindle up first, as that lowers the car without decreasing the travel in the shock.

Erik: How far do you want to lower the front? I did not trim down my rubber bumpers, but my front suspension is only 1/2" below the stock spec, and I have the stiffer 21mm front T-bars. If you only drop it 1/2" I would not worry about trimming the bumpers, but I would add either 20 or 21mm T-bars. If you drop between 1/2" and 1", then trim off 1/3 of the rubber and use 20 or 21mm T-bars. If you want to go lower than that, raise the spindles.

Thanks for the response.

I am sitting pretty low and that worked well in the Hill Country in TX where we lived the past 5-6 years. Now in the Midwest and having to deal with different climates, which affect the road quality, I am thinking about bringing it back up a bit.

The car did settle a bit on me and feel it could be raised. Was my first time installing new adjustable spring plates and adjusting the suspension so no complaints or excuses...

I will most likely install and see where I am at then go from there.



Again, thanks!
Erik

[fallingat120mph]

Originally Posted by PeteKz

That's creative. I haven't seen that approach before, but it makes sense. Did you have any clearance problems with the body of the shock sitting down further in the strut and hitting the tapered part?

I think I would have moved the spindle up first, as that lowers the car without decreasing the travel in the shock.

Erik: How far do you want to lower the front? I did not trim down my rubber bumpers, but my front suspension is only 1/2" below the stock spec, and I have the stiffer 21mm front T-bars. If you only drop it 1/2" I would not worry about trimming the bumpers, but I would add either 20 or 21mm T-bars. If you drop between 1/2" and 1", then trim off 1/3 of the rubber and use 20 or 21mm T-bars. If you want to go lower than that, raise the spindles.

Originally Posted by silverlock

I run these — the 1039 Sport F in Boge struts + 1139 Sport R — on my ‘78 SC and love them. Half a turn from full soft and find them to be very compliant on back roads + on the always-bumpy NYC parkways & expressways I need to use to get in/out of the city.

21/26 t-bars match well. Following the usual “firmer spring, softer shock” approach.

Just curious how you guys tightened down everything into the strut housing? I have the internal thread set up with the two holes for tightening...

I am thinking an adjustable face or pin "spanner" wrench or similar-not sure of the correct name? I don't have one in the tool box...seen them, never had a need to purchase...


Received all four shocks/struts and am waiting on other suspension parts but the temptation to install is there

Erik

[Brickwhite]

Bilstein Strut gland nut tool. Or a large pipe wrench.

[86 ssinit]

Erik what sales did you find? And where? If got them in my cart. Price is $1200 before tax and shipping.