So I'll just get to the point. We just installed KYB struts in the front of the TTA as well as new KYB strut mounts. They didn't completely clamp to the spindle and left a gap and when driving over bumps there is a constant clunking and it feels very loose. After contacting KYB and asking whether shims are a good idea I was told to send them back. Do konis have this same issue? Does the TTA have different spindles? I contacted koni and was told that the distance between the mounting points that clamps to the spindle was 35.25mm, I couldn't measure to clarify but would like to know if anyone knows anything about this? The front suspension is going to have to be taken apart anyway so I might as well see it konis are worth the $600 price tag. If anyone has experience with these please let me know.

 

What did you tq your big bolts to on the spindle to struts?

 

Torqued them until I couldn't anymore.

 

What kind of tools did you use? It's supposed to be 195lbft for those two bolts and that will squeeze the strut tight to the spindle, if it is the correct part.

 

I don't recall having any gap when putting on the KONI's prior to torquing, but its been a long while now. Does your TTA have the big brake option with the dual piston calipers? The spindle is different for that, but I can't imagine the strut mount point being any different. You can look up part numbers in some of the online parts vendors for your specific model and see how they vary.

And ya, definitely get your torque wrench out and do it by the book! But what ever you have going on, it aint right. stop driving the car until resolved.

 

I used a long half inch ratchet and a combination wrench, like I said until I couldnt go anymore

 

YEs it has the 1LE package, I believe it was standard. But I assume that wouldn't change the thickness of that mounting point. Unfortunately the car is going to need to be driven before that gets fixed but not a lot hopefully. I'm still debating the konis but am not willing to spend the extra money for the same problems.

 

I have never seen any gaps when changing struts. Sounds like you either have some bad parts or someone shaved down the mounting location for whatever reason. Regardless you have a TTA you shouldnt be installing low grade parts IMO.

 

Yeah I was thinking the same thing, but like I said I'm not paying more money for the same problems. I was hoping for some definite answers on whether anybody has had similar problems with the konis but I guess it's not all that common my issue.

 

maybe a few photos would help, hard to envision this issue.

 

The spindle to strut mut area is the same thickness with 1le and regular spindles so there shouldn't have been an issue

 

May I strongly recommend getting a 1/2 inch torque wrench that can do ~250 foot pounds? Harbor Freight probably has a suitable tool that won't break the budget. That way one can know the bolts are correctly torqued.

In 2012, I had a shop install Bilstein struts on my 91 RS. They didn't torque to spec either despite claiming so. A few years later getting an alignment the car wouldn't line up properly. That was because my car's front suspension was about to fall apart because those bolts weren't torqued to spec.