can koni shocks be rebuilt?
 

I believe both my rear shocks (koni reds) and one front insert are shot. They compress very easily when I push down on the fender. So I am wondering whether they (all four) can be economically rebuilt... or do I have to buy new ones.

I've looked around and I can't find anyone that would do it but check your local p-car shop they might have luck with the factory rebuilding them.

Which type of inserts do you have? The sealed type or the "open" type? The open type have exposed internals and a strut housing filled with oil. You can rebuild the open ones yourself. changing the shock oil might just do it for your shocks. Have you tried adjusting them? I have found that the Koni Hydraulics (reds) are easy to compress with the control being in the rebound state. Adjustment would be for increased rebound damping.

I hear the new adjustables are quite nice. Might be worth an upgrade. The problem is they are $$$.

I asked Koni how much to rebuild my enclosed Red shocks. $140 ea! Ouch! I opted for new ones. I emailed Koni USA to find out.

hmm.. $140 each is alot better than the $400 each for new ones.. I wonder which type I have.

I have a set of front inserts of the adjstable kind, only used for one track day, then I "updated" to Bilstiens the stock shock of my class.

Will sell for 50% off new plus shipping

Jim

There is no way new Konis should be US $400 each!

I paid NZ$ 500 for 2 NEW front inserts, which should be half that in USD, or about $125 PER SHOCK!.
I was quoted less that $US70 to rebuild them.

Rear shocks should be cheaper again. There is nothing special about P car shocks, just quote your local Koni supplier the part number, which is easily found by searching on their website www.koni.com I think.

The site has suppliers in your area. I found it easier just to decide what I wanted first rather than ask the 'professional' Koni guy here. He knew absolutely nothing, which is excellent news for those of us who like to bypass P car tax.

Yes, Konis are adjustable in the rebound, and this is the first thing you should do to your old ones before considering rebuilding or replacing, as you can get more life out of them by stiffening, provided they arn't totally worn and leaking fluid- like mine were.
This procedure is for Konis that do not have external adjustment. External adj. are also available for some model 911's and as Jamie states, a nice feature to have in any shock.

Compress the shock fully (once removed) until the adjuster engages (imagine getting a flat blade screwdriver into a screw head..blind though). Then twist -from memory- clockwise to stiffen shock. The sensitivity increases the further you get to maximum stiffness, but it's really easy to set them however you wish.

Note- there may be a collar installed on the shaft of the shock that prevents you fully compressing-and adjusting- them. See if it's there first by fully EXTENDING the shock to expose the shiny shaft. The collar should be a slip-off fit if it's there, about 1/2" thick. Remove, compress, adjust, extend and replace collar if you wish. I think it's there to idiot proof the installation procedure.

I seem to be ending up replaceing the shocks on every car I buy recently. One exposed to adjustability there is no return.

Sorry I checked my sources.. Pelican has them for $350 for the front pair and $290 for the rear

I would also like to rebuild my red Konis. If anyone has done that please chime in. Mine are apparently leaking; they're not dry on the outside plastic. My mechanic tells me you can't get the grease filled Konis any longer. He said they last much longer than the gas ones. Anyone have an opinion on gas vs. the grease?

I paid about NZ$750 (US$400ish) to refurb konis at both ends of my car (including custom damping for the non adjustable part). The fronts were more expensive than usual (one of the shaft wasn't straight).

The rears are actually new - he decided he couldn't be arsed refurbing them so he offered me new ones for about US$10 more than the rebuilt cost.

This is the same place Matt Smith talked to. We (obviously) benefit from a lower labour rate.

Whether you rebuild or buy new depends on the prices quoted.

Truechoice Motorsports sells, rebuilds and modifies Koni shocks. They can also modify the strut for double-adjustability with external adjustment (expensive). Their website is www.truechoice.com.

Also check prices from RD Enterprises. They advertise in most of the mags; They probably have a website as well.

Sherwood Lee
http://members.rennlist.org/911pcars

truechoice link is no good

Sorry Chuck. I copied that URL from their catalog.

Did a Google search and came up with:
http://www.truechoice.com/menu.asp

Sherwood

derek, check your PMs

There are inserts available for the Koni reds. Call Jason at Paragon products with the part number from your strut and see what your options are. These guys are Koni gurus. Koni North America offerred no help other than telling me to call them when I started looking into rebuilding my front struts.

Im pretty sure Pelican has inserts for your struts as well, so try them also. Pelican was the first vendor I called when I started looking for new inserts. The part number off of my strut didnt match their database though so I was clueless as to what to order.

As far as the rears go: Koni NA and Paragon told me flat out that it would be cheaper to buy new rear shocks than to try to have someone rebuild them.

Im rebuilding my front reds as adjustable sport yellows. The new inserts were $350 delivered 2nd day with new glan nuts and associated hardware. Paragon has an excellent insert replacement walkthrough posted on their website also. I think the price on the red inserts was close, if not the same, as the adjustable sport yellows.

I should have recommended Jason at Paragon as well for Koni stuff.

Sherwood