Strut Identification help for Koni Insert purposes, Monroe housings + Koni = Yes

[Rubix]

I've had Koni's and Intrax laying around for a few weeks now and decided to finally start this process from **** today. Here is a strut I've removed from the "experiment" (my car) and this is also what the other three corners have bolted in. I had assumed suspension on this was stock since it's so bad and I've looked under there before. I mean I've had the wheels off plenty of times for brake jobs (seized caliper when I obtained the car), wheel changes, and a 60k, but **** they were so damn dirty I guess I never noticed their blue color. So I'm assuming this isn't stock... struts anyway; the springs are just blank, black, awful looking springs. These are not light blue like Tokicos.

To the point, what are these and can one insert Konis into them?

Made in USA
780 P134



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I'm not going to wait around in limbo for a response on this... when I get time later this week (****, hopefully tomorrow night) I'm going to go ahead and drill the small 3mm hole in the bottom of it to release pressure, then hack and remove the guts. Then I'll decide if the Konis will fit inside and drill the larger 14mm hole if they'll work. Length and diameter wise they look like they will work but I figured I'd post up and see if anyone has experience with these before I get to drilling and hacking, maybe someone can save me some time. I've never seen blue housings with Konis before, but I know Monroes will work and obviously Ford units. I'm going to be ****** if I can't use these.

 

[zblackbeast]

Glad to see your doin' stuff with them!

 

[trainguy1989]

I don't know if those will work but those look like Gabriel struts(dark blue).

 

[Rubix]

Actually... I might have answered my own question on this one... http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=60966 . Opinions? Thoughts? Anything positively reinforcing or comical?



Thanks Clay!

 

[trainguy1989]

Actually... I might have answered my own question on this one... http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=60966 . Opinions? Thoughts? Anything positively reinforcing or comical?

Yea I was comparing part numbers on Monroe's website and they look similar. I think you found them. Defiantly not stock!

 

[Rubix]

I noticed the 780 in the part number as well. It's in all of Monroe's part numbers for front strut applications it seems. Assuming these are indeed Monroe units they should hopefully work and I'll update the thread accordingly when I've found out for sure for the sake of informational purposes. Speaking of information, thanks to Matt (frosho) already discussing this, http://www.shoforum.com/showthread.php?t=109966

 

[frosho]

I was going to say those look like Monroes to me, but it sounds like you already figured that out. Let the cutting begin!

FWIW, I only used Monroe housings for the rears, but I don't see why the fronts wouldn't work fine too.

 

[kevinspann]

He still needs to find his drill

 

[K-Dawg]

Measure three times, cut once.

 

[zach44102]

those are monroematic o.e replacement struts.. one step below sensatracs. i have them.

 

[Rubix]

those are monroematic o.e replacement struts.. one step below sensatracs. i have them.

Yes that's what I've discovered. The car has just under 160k miles and let's assume the factory struts lasted at least 100k, I'd say these Monroes suck!


Yea, drill still not found. I am off work early today though (2pm!) so if I can find my drill this will happen in the coming hours.


I noticed you had OE fronts and Monroe rears Matt... I'm assuming the fronts will work also.

 

[zach44102]

monroematic struts actually handle pretty well on o.e springs....
i plan on buying two front sensatracs and then swaping in intrax springs....once the sensatracs take a **** i might be able to afford some koni.

 

[frosho]

i plan on buying two front sensatracs and then swaping in intrax springs....once the sensatracs take a **** i might be able to afford some koni.

Koni discontinued the SHO inserts, so you might not be able to find any when that time comes.

 

[Rubix]

They fit. Just like Matt said in his thread regarding the rears, the fronts are also just right for a nice and tight fit. I was hoping to respond with a picture in this post but the camera must be in a bag from the beach still - I can't find it right meow. I will say my setup here will perform better than it will look, I'm too lazy to paint the blue Monroes... yellow inserts in beat up blue housings with purple springs in a green car

Mount question... I'm curious as to what I should reuse from the old set up. Obviously I'll reuse the spring seat and the boot. I have new bearings and I have hardware from the new adjustable mounts and from the Konis. What about the two cup washers from the old setup? You can see the top one on the old mount in my 3rd picture in my original post if you don't know what I'm talking about. I don't think I need them, but figured I should ask - if I wasn't going with these adjustable mounts I would be fine but I'm not fully sure what I should and shouldn't use here.