Want to buy - Late 'Sud / Alfa 33 front struts

['Sud Mania]

Hello again folks,

I recently managed to source some rebuilt Koni Special D strut inserts for my 1983 Alfasud Ti QV. You'd think that given the car's build date, it would have the latter strut type used in late model 'Suds and the Alfa 33. But no, the struts on the car are the early type and the original Spica strut inserts are well past their best.

So, does anyone have a pair of latter type struts (as used in late model 'Suds and Alfa 33s) that they'd be willing to sell?

Please let me know.

Thanks in advance,

Andrew Matusiewicz

[GTVnut]

Don't Sprint Struts fit as well?

['Sud Mania]

Hi GTVnut,

Later Sprint struts (e.g. those fitted to Sprints with plastic bumpers) which still use inboard brakes should be OK.

Hope this helps....

Andrew Matusiewicz

[Spooty22]

The later type Sud struts (82 - 84) Alfa part no. 542472/3 (boge) and 542650/1 (spica) are similar to Alfa 33 struts but different and not interchangeable. They have the same sealed non replaceable casing, shorter more powerful spring and shallower lower spring mount. But the lower mounting flange is COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.

Btw are you looking to sell the early type Konis?

good luck in your search!

['Sud Mania]

Oh dear,

Now I'm getting confused

The Koni strut inserts I purchased are for a late model 'Sud.

However, for some reason my 1983 Ti QV is fitted with early type struts. The strut inserts in these struts are well past their best. Basically what I need is late 'Sud struts to fit the Konis.

I hope this clarifies things.

Sorry Spooty22, at this stage I don't want to sell the late-type Koni inserts...

Cheers all,

Andrew Matusiewicz

[Spooty22]

Hi,

What is the part no for your Konis?

I have reds fitted to my QV in early type sud struts. The part no. is 86-2303 (If I remember correctly) They didn't just slip straight into the early struts though, surgery was required. All Konis are like this.

['Sud Mania]

Hello again Spooty22,

Sorry about the delay in replying - I was away for the long weekend.

My Konis are a rebuilt set of Special-Ds, part number 86-2303. I bought them from an Alfa specialist, who mentioned that they wouldn't fit the struts presently in my 'Sud TI QV, though they could be used if I switched to the later-type strut.

He's also currently trying to hunt down a set of struts...

Cheers,

Andrew Matusiewicz

[Spooty22]

Sorry, you're right. I have Koni reds fitted to my early type struts but they are an earlier part no.

The 86-2303s will only fit into late model sud spica 'sealed type' struts. Or early 33 spica struts. Only problem is if you use 33 struts you won't be able to keep your inboard brakes.

Hope you find the late type sud struts which are a hybrid of 33 struts and sud hub mounting flange.

[damonb]

What are the differences between early and late type Spica struts? Different length or tube diameter? I have Koni yellow inserts fitted to Boge struts in my sprint. The inserts are for Spica's but they can be made to fit fairly easily.

[dave.armstrong]

I have a new set of 86 2303 inserts that i intend to fit to my 1983 1.5Ti Green Cloverleaf.

Does any one know if they will fit?

[lenus]

Are the early type the struts with the huge shock absorber?

I have a set of struts on the sprint that have like a 2" diameter piston in the shock absorber, and I also have a pair of struts that orginally came out of my ti with the thinner armed shock absorbers..

What exactly are the differences between the struts at a glance?

[dave.armstrong]

The originals only have a narrow piston.

I have the fitting instructions and it says that I have to grind the top off but it is not vey clear how it then secures the spring pan etc when you put it back together. It shows how you drill the bottom and secure it using a bolt but the top is very vague.

[damonb]

Lenus - the 'huge' shock is the Boge type used on suds. It's not actually the piston you're looking at, but the body of the shock. They are upside down like on a modern motorbike and the piston remains inside the strut tube. The end of the piston can be seen attached to the very bottom of the strut tube with a little nut. These are a clever bit of engineering and very nice struts. I don't think Koni ever made inserts for these struts, only the Spica ones.

Dave - you just take the very top lip off the strut tube so you can extract the old insert. Usually it's just been rolled over enough to retain the innards. The spring pan mounting flange, needle roller bearing, and related bits are not effected.

[BigSud]

So the struts that are on our V6 sprint are the Spica ones? I had this vague idea I saw Boge on the strut body. Either way, the Koni inserts are held in by a bolt through a hole drilled in the bottom, by the flange?

Maybe I can get a photo tomorrow - there must be 1000 words above that need untangling!

Chris

[damonb]

CK - yes they're Boge (as far as I can recall) but of course they're not sud but 33 style, so different. 33 style Boge struts are not "upside down" and Koni did make inserts for them I believe.