Alfa 33 front struts to take Koni inserts

[JetJackson]

Does anybody have any Alfa 33 front struts that will take Koni inserts? I have the inserts and a pair of strut cases but one has been modified to take coil overs and I want to run standard Spring seats....

[alfasuddriver]

Hi, I've got a pair of struts but don't know at this stage if they can take Koni's

[JetJackson]

Can you post a view or the bottom of the leg please? A bolt should be visible.

[alfasuddriver]

Having trouble uploading the photos, shall I send them to an email address? Someone wiser than me says Koni's can be fitted to these struts. Thanks.

[PETROLHEAD]

Can you post a view or the bottom of the leg please? A bolt should be visible.

already having a bolt visible doesn't dictate whether they will finally accept an insert or not, i've had blind ended legs before and used both koni and avo inserts in them and drilled my own bolt hole for the retainer.

hope that helps

[Veesix75]

You need to match the koni inserts to the strut casing.

Late sud and early 33 struts had a narrowed rounded end, and konis existed for that type.

Late 33 and outboard sprint had a uniform strut casing with a flat bottom, and konis exist for that type, either bolted at the bottom or screwed home with a threaded top.

I've had all 3 types over the years.

Post a pic of your koni.

[PETROLHEAD]

quite correct Tim

[alfasuddriver]

JetJackson, which Koni's have you got? Yellow or red?

[Veesix75]

Doesn't matter whether yellow or red does it ? I've got reds in flat bottomed inserts and yellows in flat bottomed inserts, and had reds in the bubble end early struts.

[JetJackson]

I've had reds before. I know what you mean about the ends. They fitted in the sud legs I had on my car in the 90s. Following that I switched to 33 outboard brakes and sourced some yellows and legs but one is modified to take coil overs.

I will take some pictures of the bits in the next few days and post.

[JetJackson]

Here you go... Inserts are approx 445mm long. Part Numbers are 86-2303.



And the casings :






Interestingly digging around in completed items on eBay I found this : http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Koni-86-2303- ... SwqfNXmekc

One of the images shows the installation instructions and shows how to modify the strut cases to fit them...

So are these S2 or S3? What are the differences in dimensions?

[alfasuddriver]

I've got a pair of new red Konis, might have instructions with them

[Veesix75]

Big edit.....I wrote the below after getting a reference for your shocks matching a series 3 33 from a general site.....however I've since found an old koni parts list that says your shocks are actually series 1 33, the ones with the tit on the bottom which I think I can see on you strut casing pic.

So while the below is probably correct in general for the later struts and shocks, it looks like you need series 1 33 struts according to this list......sorry I can't say for sure now.

I'm not 100% sure on this as its a while since I've seen all the variations.

However I'd say that the series 2 and series 3 33 strut casings are the same, likewise the late outboard sprint.

The reason for different shock serial numbers for the above 3 casings is mainly down to the strut top mount. Series 2 33's had a 4 stud castle turret type rubber top mounting, the early series 3 33 had a 4 stud smooth and flat rubber top mounting. The castle type has a wider diameter shocker top that feeds through the top mount, the flat type is a thinner diameter shocker . I'm referring to the inner steel plunger of the shock, not the yellow outer. Or in other words, the hole in the top mounts are different sizes.

It's the strut top mount you need to match up.

I never used or saw the late s3 33 3 stud type top mount.


For strut casings with no bolt hole, you just need to drill one. My struts came off a series 3 33 and we drilled holes.

[JetJackson]

Interesting. Where did you find the koni part number list?

[JetJackson]

I also found this today : http://www.alfaclubvic.org.au/forum/ind ... ic=15473.0

It has the same part list previously posted.

I like the idea of lowering the insert in the tube to increase the travel slightly. I remember my 'sud bouncing around on the bump stops before on the BLS springs I have!