I'm swapping out my Koni STR.T rear shocks for Special Actives...and lo and behold, the OEM top nut is too small. Turns out it takes a nut that's the same size as our front struts.

Anybody run across this before? I'm kinda stuck because our cars use that funky nut/dome/rubber bushing all in one deal for the top. Thought about using some strut top nuts and a few washers and a few duggas to tighten it down, but I'm low on sleep lately so thought I'd be rational and ask you guys.

 

Something is wrong. They are sold as a direct factory replacement. The factory nut should fit and be the same size. American Muscle only has 1 review but he said it was a easy install and didn't say anything about the nut not fitting.....

 

The Konis use a different nut than OEM. The shocks should have included a hardware package with the lock nut, two washers, two bushings. Yours might be missing. Mine were, I went through this last year when installed the Special Active rears. Contact Koni, they'll send you the hardware (they did for me).

 

Mine didn't come with the hardware. But I just grabbed a 1/2" drill bit from work, a few zips on the underside broke the lip on the nut and it just dropped off. Used an M12 flange nut I had lying around (Subaru swaybar link nut probably) and went together no muss no fuss. Because the underside of the bushing is rubber, it didn't need much stretch to slip over the larger rod.

The interesting part is, I was taking out STR.T's, not stock shocks. They used the smaller OEM tops.

Anyways, it's back together, but raining cats and dogs outside so no road tests tonight.

 

just swapped my rear shocks with Konis and I did NOT get any hardware kit with it! Went down to Lowes and picked up a couple of M10-1.50 flanged hex nuts. Good to go!