Miata Mailing List: May 1996, Message #11
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   From: bowles@inforamp.net (John Bowles)
Subject: Re: Another Koni install rep
   Date: Wed, 1 May 1996 16:10:05 -0400

>        Reply to:   RE>Another Koni install report
>
>Eric Rowland wrote about his Koni install.
>
>I also installed a set of Tokikos this past weekend.  I've contacted Gary F.,
>and I'm going to add this (and other stuff) as an update to the Maintenance
>section (and/or as a link to the shock install stuff) on the web site within a
>week or so.  My intent is to provide a step-by-step shock install procedure
>for the novice (like me).
>
>In any event, based on messages over the past few months (and some help from
>Peter Balfour, Mike Simmons, and others (to be credited on my write up ),
>one can change the shocks without resorting to breaking the ball joints (and
>potentially altering the alignment):
>
>>I started out with the rears, since they're easier.  Fairly simple, though I
>>did have to remove the 'upper A-arm to suspension upright' bolt.
>
>I agree.  The rears were rather straightforward.  Briefly: 1) loosen (but
>don't remove) top piston bolt; 2) remove top mounting nuts; 3) remove sway bar
>link; 4) remove lower shock mounting bolt; 5) remove upper A-arm to suspension
>upright bolt.  Comes right out.
>
>Fronts:  Repeat 1-4 as above; 5) step on lower A-arm, thereby providing
>another 2-3 inches of space; 6) pull the top of the strut closer to outside of
>the car -- provides another 2-3 inches, enough to: 7) install spring
>compressor, and compress spring while still on the car; 8) push down on the
>piston rod, which gives enough room to remove top mounting plate (and also
>giving another 2 inches of clearance); 9) push down on top piston again, and
>swing the unit out.
>
>It was the first time I changed the shocks on any car.  Before I learned the
>compress piston trick (thanks, Pete), I couldn't do it (and I didn't want to
>break the ball joint).  The procedure above took me about 2 hours for the
>fronts, including the time it took to repaint where I scratched the wheelwell
>and applied undercoating ('cause I'm anal about those things )
>
>Bob
>Buffalo, NY


===================================================



Nice report, Bob.  But I have to chastise you for giving all that credit to
my friend Peter Balfour.  What you should know is that Peter first
experimented on *my* car before attempting to change the springs on his
car.  Allowing my car to be the guinea pig was, I feel, an enormous
sacrifice in the cause of engineering advancement.  After all, my car is
BRG and Peter's is merely red.

Peter also failed to mention that we were following -- sort of -- the
article on shock changing that appeared last year in the Miata rag ... I
mean mag.  Anyone who has that article will notice that in order to remove
the coil-overs you must have a helper who is wearing nice clean deck shoes.
If you don't have someone so equipped you will not be able to push down
the hub assembly.  Fortunately for Peter, I was wearing topsiders at the
time and thus was able to perform the critical task.

Just thought you should know.  Credit where credit is due and all that.


John
'91 BRG (with new shocks and springs, thanks to Peter Balfour and friends)