For those running Koni inserts...?

[05Blast]

I got all of my inserts into the spare housings this weekend. The fronts fit like a glove and I was able to tap the top metal "cover plate" on just like the original.

The rear inserts, however, are about an inch or so longer than the originals and the metal "cover plate" hits the top of the Koni insert before snugging onto the housing for that contact fit.

Did anyone else have this problem? (Yes, I cut each of the housings the exact same way (6 mm from the top))

The auto craft shop isn't open until Wednesday, so I won't be able to install them on the car until then. There aren't any Auto Zones to rent spring compressors from over here... :-(

[SteveW]

Discard those cover plates. You don't need them and all they do is hold the boot in place at its lower end.

Are you sure you got SRT-4 rear strut housings and not Neon strut housings by accident? I was one of the first to put Konis on an ACR version and nobody knew about the car (except for Rallyfreak). It turns out ACRs use standard Neon strut dimensions and Konis for Neons fit perfectly, not SRT-4 inserts. The rear SRT-4 inserts are about an inch too long for Neon Strut bodies.

You should be able to tell by comparing the location of the spring perches relative to the clevis brackets. Neon spring perches will be about an inch lower than SRT-4 perches.

[05Blast]

Thanks Steve!

All four of the strut housings have stickers on them identifying them as SRT pieces. I bought the complete set from a guy in the states that took them off his SRT-4. I will compare them to mine when I switch them out.

As long as it isn't a big deal I won't stress about it and will just toss those rear cover plates. The contact fit of the rear inserts inside the strut housings did engage a little, but not nearly as much as the fronts did. That could be an issue causing the insert to move a little inside the housing perhaps?...

That's interesting about the ACR using Neon dimensions. I hadn't heard that before. Something to keep in mind when I eventually find a smokin' deal on an ACR... someday...:-)

[SteveW]

Quote: Originally Posted by 05Blast

Thanks Steve!

All four of the strut housings have stickers on them identifying them as SRT pieces. I bought the complete set from a guy in the states that took them off his SRT-4. I will compare them to mine when I switch them out.

As long as it isn't a big deal I won't stress about it and will just toss those rear cover plates. The contact fit of the rear inserts inside the strut housings did engage a little, but not nearly as much as the fronts did. That could be an issue causing the insert to move a little inside the housing perhaps?...

That's interesting about the ACR using Neon dimensions. I hadn't heard that before. Something to keep in mind when I eventually find a smokin' deal on an ACR... someday...:-)

Hmm...'05 Orange Blast, right? You can make an ACR by getting a set of 35-40mm offset 16x7 wheels and installing Neon struts...

And eventually the right seats and speedo gear.

[05Blast]

That would be another option... :-)

I took my struts off last night and compared them to the other ones. All measurements are the same... I tossed those rear cover plates.

Unfortunately, I didn't have the right tool to remove the top nut on the strut! I left my air compressor and air tools back in Georgia when I came over here and the old "shock tool" I have is not the right size. So, I bugged all the "car guys" in my neighborhood and called the auto craft shop with no luck anywhere.

I know you're not supposed to zip the nut back on with an impact. Where can I get the right size socket set for this job? My really intelligent plan of "minimizing downtime" just went out the window. The car is on jack stands in the car port and I'm driving my wife's Suburban with 8 struts and 4 tires/wheels in the back. Hopefully I'll be able to get away from work at lunch and find some way to get the springs switched over...

[05Blast]

A spark plug socket and 1/4" drive ratchet with a 10mm socket did the trick. I thought the top strut nut would have been torqued down more than that...

[pdqsrt4]

How did you guys get the cover plates off? Any tricks?

Thanks

[05Blast]

You just tap them off with a small hammer. They come off pretty easily.