Koni shock install, help needed...

[DustyDave]

I tried to install new Koni’s and new springs On the rear of my car this weekend, and got held up. I could use some advice of someone who has done this before. They are on the car, but I am having a bear of a time torquing the top nut. First, it has 6mm flats at the tip. I can get a 6mm open wrench on it, but feels like it is going to round off at the recommended 30 ft-lbs recommended by Koni. Second, I am not sure how best to get a torque wrench on the 17mm nut? Not a lot of room in there for one. And can’t get a socket on and hold the shaft with 6mm wrench, so using a crows foot. This also is difficult to hold on so it does not round off, while also holding the 6mm. Are the special tools that help? I was trying to finish the job but thought better to leverage the wisdom and experience of others. Any thoughts greatly appreciated!

[18Fiatsandcounting]

There are no doubt better techniques, but I've just used a pair of vice grips to (gently but firmly) hold the shaft end of the shock and a 17mm box end wrench for the nut, using my best guess to get to 30 ft lbs. Decades of wrenching away on cars gives you a fairly good feel for torque values. Not foolproof, but close enough for my purposes.

Good luck with it!

-Bryan

[Daddio]

Get it as tight as you're comfortable with, be sure to install jam nuts, and retighten in a few hundred miles.

[geospider]

Did the same as Bryan. I believe the Koni's come with the double nuts for the tops.
You'll be close enough.
Geo