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Posted by: plays with cars Jan 23 2011, 05:17 PM

Sorry if this has been covered already, but all of the searching and reading I've done has only led to confusion.

I bought a set of new threaded collars as part of a package with new Koni sport shocks. The collars didn't fit as tight as I would have expected so I pulled out a spare set of Bilstein shocks to see it they fit them any better (I recalled reading that Koni and Bilstein required different sized collars and thought I may have gotten the wrong ones). Anyway, they fit the Bilsteins about the same. So, out came the calipers and the shock bodies are essentially the same diameter: Bilstein - 1.973" / Koni - 1.978". I also measured two other shock sets and got the same results. So, I'm concluding the shock bodies are essentially the same.

I found this post in the forum (http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=61997&hl=coilover) that talked about using an adapter from Coleman Racing and this one from JP where he used a plastic "shim" to get his fitting correctly (http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=94630&hl=coilover). Is this just nature of the beast that they don't fit tightly and need to have a adapter or shim installed? Is it the same story regardless of shock manufacturer?

Any guidance would be appreciated.

Posted by: J P Stein Jan 23 2011, 06:06 PM

[[b]quote name='plays with cars' date='Jan 23 2011, 03:17 PM' post='1421596']
I found this post in the forum (http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=61997&hl=coilover) that talked about using an adapter from Coleman Racing and this one from JP where he used a plastic "shim" to get his fitting correctly (http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=94630&hl=coilover). Is this just nature of the beast that they don't fit tightly and need to have a adapter or shim installed? Is it the same story regardless of shock manufacturer?

Any guidance would be appreciated.
[/quote]

I don't know if the shim is *needed*, but I don't like stuff rattling around.....thus the shim stock. Without the shim, the collar can get offset to the spring clip keeper on the shock bottom & start pounding the collar out of shape. I can say that as installed it's held up well with no problems.....for 6-7 years of rough AX venues.

Here's what I mean by rough.


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Posted by: plays with cars Jan 26 2011, 10:15 PM

WOW! Simply wow. Was that at PIR?

Back to the coil over question, where did you get the plastic material you used?

Posted by: J P Stein Jan 27 2011, 07:07 AM

I got the shim stock at a tool supply outfit up the street. It is commonly used in machine shops & comes in varoius thickness .002 to .05 or so. Cambell Hardware would probably a good spot in the Seattle area....if it still exists. That was 35 years back.

Yes, PIR. An unforunate job of cone setting in the South Pits.

Posted by: campbellcj Jan 29 2011, 02:35 PM

I had the same concern with the collars fitting a bit loosely, although I chose to not do anything about it (yet). Has not been a problem in practical usage thus far. Although I drive on relatively smooth tracks with no JUMPS like above!

Posted by: speed metal army Jan 30 2011, 02:03 PM

I want brakes in the front like the vette has!lol

Posted by: J P Stein Jan 30 2011, 06:43 PM

I tried out the brakes in this 944 .....ayup, pretty good


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