Koni front shock question

[georgeramos]

I installed Konis all around last fall and have noticed the "shudder" commonly assiciated with the early throttle assembly has gotten worse. Then yesterday i could hear a sound like a tambourine when i would hit bumps and when i checked the upper shock mount nuts were conpletely loose, like spin by hand loose. I tightened them by grabbing the flat center part with a vise grip and turning the nut with an open end wrench...time consuming stuff. I cant turn them any further but... i can still wiggle the entire shock by grabbing the nut/stud at the top.

This is not normal right? Am I missing something?
Thanks

[samakijoe]

Sounds like the two rubber donuts (above and below the mounting plate ) are missing.
No, you can not use the ones from the "Dunkin" donut shop.

[18Fiatsandcounting]

I agree with Grandpa Grumpypants above that it sound like one or both rubbers "donuts" are missing. There should also be two saucer-shaped washers that these donuts rest against. So, starting from the top of the shock absorber, the order should be: saucer-shaped washer* (concave side facing the rubber donut), rubber donut, firewall, rubber donut, saucer-shaped washer, split lock washer, nut.
*I could be mixing this up with other cars I've worked on, as I don't see this bottom washer in the various diagrams for the Fiat front suspension that I have. It may also depend on the design of the particular shock you're using (Koni in this case).

One other possibility is that the threads on the top shaft of the shock do not go down far enough, so that you're tightening the nut to the end of the threads, but this isn't far enough to pull everything together. The easiest solution here would be to put a flat washer or two under the lock washer/nut.

-Bryan

[seabeelt]

Or if you have the rubber donuts, the loose operation has worn the one that has a slight lip that fits in the shock mounting hole off and now there is nothing to keep it from moving within the hole. If that has happened or if they are missing completely, you will need to get some or the mounting hole will become wallowed out and then other welding repairs will be required.