Me:
I have a concern regarding an application with your struts and wanted to get some input from Koni. I have a 2011 Fiesta (non-ST) into which I’m installing a new set of OEM springs, strut bearings, and mounts with your 8750-1101L and -1101R STR.T struts. When assembled, but not installed in the car, with no spring pressure, the mount/bearing turns as normal, with the strut shaft tight in the mount plate. When the spring compressors are removed and the springs loaded up into the bearing/mount assembly, the bearing/mount become very difficult to turn.
At first, I thought this was an issue with the bearings. Replacing the new OEM with a set of KYB bearings/mounts made no difference. My thought is the spring pressure is simply pressing the shaft/piston assembly upwards in the strut tube with enough force that the piston is topping out in the tube and creating drag, and once on the ground and the shaft/piston moved within the normal travel range, there shouldn’t be an issue. Is this a valid theory or is there a concern that I would damage the struts? I’ve run Konis on various VWs in the past, but their mount/bearing assembly is different in principle and practice. I’m not used to the Ford style assemblies.