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What is the Correct way to Install rear Bilstien or Koni ?

Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2005 4:26 am
by gtv11636
What is the correct direction to Install the rear shocks on a GTV ?
The original shocks looks upside down, any special reason for that ? what will happen if The rear Koni or Bilstien Installed the opposite way then they should ? Does anyone have picture of them Installed the correct way ?

Thanks in Advance
Tomer :D

Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2005 6:24 am
by ar4me
You can save some unsprung mass by mounting the heavier end of the shock towards the car.

Jes

Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2005 7:36 am
by Mats
If you mount the Koni upside down it will not work.

Heaviest side towards the cars body? Isn't that the way the Bilsteins are designed? I.e. the piston+rod on the body-end and the "shell" downwards.

Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2005 9:43 am
by Maurizio
Mats wrote:Heaviest side towards the cars body? Isn't that the way the Bilsteins are designed?


Only the fronts of the bilsteins are designed like that. Probably because of the huge weight of the dion, %wise it won't matter. But keeps the piston more out of the dust/dirt.

Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 4:11 am
by Mats
Huh? What are you talking about? ALL the Bilsteins I have ever seen have the piston rod end upwards... :?

Pictures?

Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 4:29 am
by Maurizio
I'm saying rod end\piston attached to the A-arm and shell to the body. Wasn't very clear in my previous posting. I've one laying under my computer desk at home :-)
I used it as an example to do the coil-overs for the front.

Not the best pic.........
Image

Number lasered in the body F4-B46-0465-H00-2

The bound and re-bound demping rate are proballly different, so it would not be wise to ,ount then upside down.

Ps on my bilsteins are several arrows present to prevent wrong mounting :lol:

Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 7:03 am
by Mats
Hmm, that sounds weird, exactly the opposite to all my Bilsteins and all other I've ever seen.
I'll dig up a pic too. ;)

Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 7:33 am
by Kunta
This s an old pic of my front susp. Still, Bilsteins are mounted with the piston rod poiting upwards 8)

Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 7:35 am
by gtv11636
Kids kids :D

For some of us who doesnt speak perfect english :oops:

Rear Shocks - the original mounted with ther wider section on the de dion axle, what about Koni and Bilstien, should they be mounted the same as original shocks with wider section on bottom or should they placed in with ther wider section on top ?

BTW - What will it couse if you mount the rear Bilstiens the opposite way then they should ?
:?

Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 10:12 am
by Zamani
BTW - What will it couse if you mount the rear Bilstiens the opposite way then they should ?
If you mount your Bilsteins the wrong way, Mats will be very upset. :lol:


BTW, I think I sold my upside down FRONT bilstein shocks to Ben Bishop. They were just too harsh for the street. The rod was pointing DOWN unlike many other Bilsteins I've seen.

Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 1:04 pm
by gtv11636
Thats Confusing!

Are ther two types ?! :shock:

In Maurizio Picture the wider side attaches the a arm and in Kunta's picture its the opposite :?

What about those rear ones ? any marks from factory pointing the correct direction or what ? the rear ones are those who can trick you if not marked, not the front ones, at front shocks you cant go wrong!

Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 1:37 pm
by Mats
Maurizio wrote:
The bound and re-bound demping rate are proballly different, so it would not be wise to ,ount then upside down.

What the hell are you smoking? :D

Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 1:45 pm
by ar4me
What the hell are you smoking?
I'm wondering too :lol:

When it compresses, it compresses, whether right-side-up or upside-down.

Jes

Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 3:14 pm
by gtv11636
So, from what your saying, its the same thing if I install them in both directions ? except from the Unsprung weight issue ?

Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 10:25 pm
by Maurizio
Mats wrote:The bound and re-bound demping rate are proballly different, so it would not be wise to mount then upside down.
Ooops, I wasn't too sharp anymore last night :oops:
The back dampers are still on the car and the shell is on the dion and the piston/shaft attached to the body.

(Fronts will be revalved and go back onto the daily diver. Have now koni's in front which are even worse then these shot bilsteins.)

Saluti,
Maurizio