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98-02 Koni Install

Discussion in 'Stop, Drop & Roll' started by Milky, Mar 17, 2013.

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    Milky Enlarged Member

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    So, yesterday the weather was nice so i got to install all of my Koni's. I was doing most of the work and a friend was taking pictures, only when i reminded him so sorry for some of the missing pics. I got him to take pics of the more important stuff.

    I also assume most of you know how to remove the strut and spring combo from the car, since a lot of people on here have suspension. so i wont be covering that, just the modifications to the strut housings needed to install the koni inserts:

    remove the strut assembly:
    [IMG]
    [IMG]
    remove the springs (i have ground controls so..) :
    [IMG]
    Now the fun part, drill a 1/4in hole in the dead center (or as close as you can get) of the bottom of the strut:
    [IMG]

    be prepared, struts are gas pressurized and will release the gas with a small bit of shock oil once through the bottom of the housing. wear some eye protection for this.
    after that, flip the strut over and drain the fluid into a container for proper disposal. its just oil, so it can go in a used oil jug to be disposed of at a local parts store.

    Now, once that is done, cut the top 20mm of the strut off. i used a reciprocating saw and turned the strut as i went. the cut doesnt need to be 100% level, but the more level it is, the cleaner the install will look and yank out the guts of the struts:
    [IMG]
    [IMG]



    Next thing i did, is cut the spring perches off and grind the left over lip down to the welds, This is only needed if you are running Ground Control coilover sleeves or any other kind of coilover sleeve:
    [IMG]

    Once that is done, apply a bit of paint to keep the strut housing from rusting.

    Now flip the housing over and enlarge the hole you drilled earlier, i drilled mine out to 1/2 in to give my self a bit of wiggle room (1mm or so) cus i was slightly off center. the washer that helps secure the insert is plenty wide to completely cover a 1/2in hole and still have plenty of contact with the bottom of the casing.
    [IMG]

    Once your done with this, open up the box of koni's.. you are now ready to begin installation.


    for the fronts, insert the rubber sleeve to keep out dirt and debris. the rears casing are smaller diameter and dont allow this to be put on the inside. Pics:
    [IMG]
    [IMG]
    [IMG]

    next up, bolt the insert down into place. it uses a concave washer, lock washer and a hex bolt. torque it down to 55 ftlbs. i didnt get any pics for this. but its not rocket science. slide them in and bolt them down. done.

    now you can reinstall your springs or in my case, the ground control coilovers.
    [IMG]

    the rears are the exact same way, except for the little rubber sleeve. you slide it onto the shock first, and with ground controls, the sleeve must go on before the shock is installed and bolted down. so install the rubber sleeve, slide the coilover sleeve on, push the shock into the casing and bolt it down. then reinstall the spring and upper mount and put it back in the car.

    [IMG]

    [IMG]


    and i decided to try to fit my miatas 15x8 et +20 wheels. they look great on the car, just needs a lot of work to fit in the fenders and i didnt have the time yesterday to do it. but i might in the coming weeks.

    [IMG]


    also found some good youtube videos of koni's being installed on a 7th gen celica:
    part 1:

    part 2:


    hope this helps anyone who wants some awesome shocks. the car rides so incredibly smooth and it decently low. i might go lower in the future. but for now i am quite happy and impressed with the difference in ride quality and handling.
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    MacktasticSlick TRD whore with 36,000 posts, bitch

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    Nice dude. Those rims look better too.
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    Irvin Well-Known Member

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    Milky Enlarged Member

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    yeah, i love those wheels. if i could find them in a 16x8 and 5x100 i might run them, but they dont make them in that size or bolt patten. i have had these wheels for sale locally, plenty of interest and a few stupid offers. one kid tried to convince me his steel wheels with decent tires + 100 bucks was a decent trade for my wheels (they are tr motorsports c1's wrapped in dunlop direzzas) i laughed at him. the best offer i have gotten was 300 for them.. so i still have them.
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    MacktasticSlick TRD whore with 36,000 posts, bitch

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    That shipping would be a bitch, I want them lol. But I'm already buying something expensive that goes in the wheel area of the car.
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    Milky Enlarged Member

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    lol, yeah it would be a bit expensive to ship. it seems like everyone likes the wheels, just dont want to pay a fair price for them. hell i have been asking 500 or best offer. and ill be honest, im a pretty flexible person on the price. 2 of the dunlops need to be replaced, the others are at 60-70% life left. the rears were trashed from drifting my miata. LOL

    so what kind of wheel are you purchasing?
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    Goldy Well-Known Member

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    Yeah I like the new wheels better!

    Question: why go to the trouble of replacing the insert when you can just swap the whole thing?
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    Milky Enlarged Member

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    i havent seen koni's made as a complete replacement for their adjustable yellows.. ?
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    Goldy Well-Known Member

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    bummer! Well I ain't got time for that lol, no yellows for me.
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    MacktasticSlick TRD whore with 36,000 posts, bitch

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    I wouldn't mind paying 500 plus ship without the tires lol. But that would be a few months away.
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    Milky Enlarged Member

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    it would be a bit less without tires.
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    crolla "Wait did I just lose to a corolla?"

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    I've only seen them for volvos
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    Milky Enlarged Member

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    i have seen them for other cars, just not our corollas. like miatas, they are a complete replacement. or the is300. but they both use a shock stock. i havent seen many strut vehicles have a complete replacement. volvo is one.
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    MacktasticSlick TRD whore with 36,000 posts, bitch

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    :awyeah:
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    Goldy Well-Known Member

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    MacktasticSlick TRD whore with 36,000 posts, bitch

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    Spoken like a true jelly
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    Hummer Well-Known Member

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    images (49).jpg
    Milky likes this.
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    James Bullshit Police

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    Nice writeup dude!

    I have found my shock oil to disappear from the floor nicely :noidea:!
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    Milky Enlarged Member

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    thanks. i plan to make a couple more, including one on how to rebuild axles so others can make 6spd drivers side swap axles, going to make one for the 5 lug swap, might do the power fc install and tuning.. im open for ideas on write ups.
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    James Bullshit Police

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    I think the first two you mentioned will be more valuable to the forums as a whole. I think only a handful of people are going to be willing to move to a standalone.
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    Hummer Well-Known Member

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    Yeah that was an awesome write up.
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    MacktasticSlick TRD whore with 36,000 posts, bitch

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    I'm down for all three
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    James Bullshit Police

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    writeup writeup is writeup?
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    Hummer Well-Known Member

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    Toast toast toast?
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    James Bullshit Police

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    I agree.
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    MacktasticSlick TRD whore with 36,000 posts, bitch

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    Because racecar
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    Hummer Well-Known Member

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    Because I win.
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    crolla "Wait did I just lose to a corolla?"

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    Yea i agree with this too
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    Milky Enlarged Member

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    ill still go into the tuning process and power fc install. never know, someone might need it one day. but any other write ups, please suggest them.
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    MacktasticSlick TRD whore with 36,000 posts, bitch

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    A write up on how to be a boss
    Milky likes this.

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