How do you know if Koni inserts are bad?
 

I've got a pair of Koni strut inserts that I just pulled out of my struts (imagine my surprise at finding M030 Konis in there :eek:), and I can't tell if they're shot or not. They felt all right in the car, and they're not leaking, but they won't rebound on their own. The rebound damping feels good and varies with adjustment, but the compression damping feels pretty soft, especially compared to the Bilstein HD's I'm replacing them with. I know Bilsteins have a gas charge in them and Konis don't, but I don't know what kind of difference I'm supposed to feel.

Any help is greatly appreciated

If they are the struts from the front, I know I could barely MOVE them when new and about to put them in my MR2....

I only weigh 160lbs, but still...

the SHOCKS, on the other hand, you can compress by hand...

Struts, from my knowledge, should be just about impossible to compress by hand.. . I was leaning again the floor and almost impaled my self, still couldn't get an inch on them...

I am sure some one more knowledgable will chime in.

The adjustment for the stock M030 strut inserts on my (now totaled) 924S was at the full compressed position so it shouldn't be too hard to compress. I could compress mine, but they were 15 years old. I bought new externally adjustable inserts.

I just replaced Koni inserts on my 968 (standard not M030) and I was able to push the piston all the way in on the new ones with little force, just a sustained pressure. They don't 'rebound' on their own quickly (they will if left) but you can pull them out again.

Deekay, that's exactly how my Konis feel. So maybe they're not toast after all. The Bilsteins are much harder to compress. Not quite as bad as what Phoenix said, but you gotta lean on them pretty good.

Yup - remember the strut inserts are dampers, not springs........all they do is prevent rapid changes in the spring compression..to absorb dumps etc.