is there a removeable koni insert to the early strut/stubaxel in the front suspension, or does the entire unit need replacing ?
help / advise please ?
regards Rich
is there a removeable koni insert to the early strut/stubaxel in the front suspension, or does the entire unit need replacing ?
help / advise please ?
regards Rich
Rich
68 911S
mbr. 2393
I believe you can get inserts to fit in them, but the "correct" thing to do would rebuild them.
1971 911S, 2.7RS spec MFI engine, suspension mods, lightened
Early 911S Registry Member #425
Merv
Member # 2633
Cars:
Porsche '68 - 911N (Sold)
Porsche 356B (T-6) S Coupe
Porsche 2008 C2 997 Cabriolet (Sold)
Porsche 2010 Gen.2 Boxster S
Rich,
The original factory shocks are depicted below. They were oil filled and the body of the strut had a piston that ran inside for damping.
These are virtually unheard of these days-- the modern solution is to use a Koni insert or a Bilstein. These come with a replaceable gland nut that will hold the shock tube against the bottom of the strut. One needs to use a pin wrench to exert the proper torque on the gland nut, otherwise the insert can come loose which would be extraordinarily bad.
I use the Koni adjustables on full soft for street use. Bilstein gas are great although the gas will actually increase the ride height!
I wouldn't have the foggiest idea how to go about sourcing parts to rebuild the originals.
Hope this helps. image below copyright Porsche KG educational fair use
1966 911 #304065 Irischgruen
It looks like the conversation on the front 911 strut has a lot of variation of parts sometime called by different names and can be simplified by looking at the parts:
The strut is the axel mounted to a hollow tube; this was made by two manufactures - BOGE and Koni.
Into the strut is a damping device (some call it a shock):
The original KONI was a open pump inserted into the tube with oil (the oil was also a cooling medium) Here are three photos of the original open shock (this is an example of a NLA item. The photos are a New Old Stock - one only item - if someone wants it for a very ORIGINAL car....talk to me).
It is held into the tube by a Gland NUT. That is the disk being held in the following photo.
These were replaced by the KONI cartridge, contained the pump - that was also held in place by a Gland NUT. Both the outside strut and Koni cartridge are a red/orange.
The BOGE is an alternative strut (They look almost the same) but usually painted black and have the Boge name on them. Replacement BOGE inserts typically only fit it's own strut:
The confusing part is that Koni made two inserts one fit it's own strut and the other would update and fit the BOGE. The difference is the Gland NUT. The Koni take a fine thread 1mm while the BOGE takes a course thread 1.5mm Gland NUT.
_________________
Then you have the rear shock - note it has the round bolt mounting bottom, and a thin shaft sticking out the top. Photo in the next post.
Bob
Early S Reg #370
Side by side:
- front strut cartridge insert, held in place by a circular Gland NUT at the top
- rear shock, bottom mounts with a bolt.
Bob
Early S Reg #370