Seized Coilover Rings

[calgarydub]

Hi All,

Despite using anti-sieze compound which I purchased at Concept-1, my Koni coilover adjustable rings and lock collars are seized on the threads, so far I have only tried the front.

I have tried liquid wrench and beating them till I was blue in the face, with no successful results.

I am looking at getting replacement rings, but Koni says they are out of stock with a 4 week wait + shipping time.

Does anyone know if FK coilover rings will be the same size as the Koni rings?

Concept one only supplies FK but they look very similar and I would suspect the diameter would be the same, however the thread size may differ, anyone know?

When I find a replacement I will try an air hammer or use a dremel or sawzall to get them off.

Link to FK rings in question:

http://store.concept1.ca/store/produ...er-Adj-STLESS/

Koni rings:

[All_Euro]

Re: Seized Coilover Rings

Vogtland rings may fit... I believe they use some Koni components.

I went through www.vogtlandsuspension.com to buy mine and when they seized, Vogtland sent two new replacement shocks to me directly from Germany for free... cool people to deal with.

[Lo)2enz0]

Re: Seized Coilover Rings

Use a butane torch and add a bit of heat, works every time man. Than hit it with a punch, using chemicals rarely works in this case

[calgarydub]

Re: Seized Coilover Rings

Won't the heat damage some internal parts of the gas strut?

[Geobmx4life]

Re: Seized Coilover Rings

PB BLASTER will free up anything!

[All_Euro]

Re: Seized Coilover Rings

Heat and chemical combo is a good place to start but Yes be careful with keeping the heat strictly on the collar so you don't damage the strut as you've mentioned.

I've got broken studs in a K03 turbine housing that I'm trying to get out & Dustin mentioned Loctite Freeze & Release... haven't tried it yet but may be a good option for you.

[calgarydub]

Re: Seized Coilover Rings

The thing that sucks most, is that I am eager to do the work, but I am afraid I might break the rings and not have a replacement. I better call concept-1 on Monday and see if the FK rings are compatible.

Only reason I want to raise the car is the West LRT construction is making my drive out of my neighborhood a living nightmare, and with a skid plate on the car now, I scrape everywhere I go, just not comfortable.


Thank you for the replies.

[Shoppingcart111]

Re: Seized Coilover Rings

Well first off I hope your trying to remove or spin them with the spring tension off the ring right? If so then heat is your friend, the problem with most of the coil overs I've seen are some sort of low grade stainless on the strut body and most likely aluminum rings. THe problem with that is dissimilar metals which causes galvanic corrosion between the rings and body. The anti seaze should of helped but not always, (one reason I wont run coils anymore). But due to the dissimilar metals the heat expansion rates of the two are different, the aluminum ring will heat more quickly and expand more the stainless body should, if you heat the both together you run the risk of the body and the ring epanding together which will just seaze it more, so localize heat the ring(s) and you should have some luck.

[onceover]

Re: Seized Coilover Rings

This happened to matts jetta. Tried EVERYTHING to free them (Heat, PB blaster, brute force) bent the crap out of like 4 coilover wrenchs.

Ended up sawing them off with a hacksaw very carefully