Topic: 12mm drill bit

[elff]

Does anyone know who sells the 12mm cobalt drill bit that I need to drill out my uppers for Koni shocks?

[Uranium-238]

You're going to need a good drill press too if you don't have one already. Drilling the uppers was probably the toughest part of getting the new shocks in, really easy to screw things up.

[TomatoSoup]

Does it have to be exactly 12mm?  Wouldn't a 1/2" bit (12.5mm) work?

[1LILNDN]

Does anyone know who sells the 12mm cobalt drill bit that I need to drill out my uppers for Koni shocks?

 Try Lowes or home Depot . They are a " BIT " Pricey for a good (1) 

[elff]

Been to both.
Nada!!
Thats why I'm asking.

TS. I did a test with a 1/2" drill bit on a piece of scrap metal. Too much play for my liking. 

[snaponbob]

I used a 1/2" drill bit to install my Koni's NO issues. One way to drill out the washers and cushion bushing is to use a shop vise, a slow speed high torque drill, spray lube, and various drills to slowly open the holes. The key is a) patience, and b) something stout to hold the pieces being drilled out. One inch = 25.4 mm, thus a 1/2" hole 12.7mm. That .7mm is going to have ZERO negative impact on the final results. Once everything is put in place and torqued down, nothing is going to move.

[ophidia31]

Can I see a picture of what needs to be modifed? All the threads Ive read on the konis didnt mention drilling anything out to make them fit. Unless I missed it which is a high possibilty with me. Im pretty sure Im going to do the zok/koni setup when these shocks start to go out on me. Dont need all the adjustability of coilovers otherwise Id go that route.

[Sol Asylum]

Elff if you can't find a 12mm(.4724) and decide to go with a standard bit a 31/64 is just slightly bigger at .4844 which is +.012 or if you want to go under sized 15/32 is .4688 which is -.0036 and I doubt you will be able to keep the bit from wobbling and taking up those few thousands.

Also a step drill works well for opening up holes and not binding.  They do make them in metric but you will probably have to order something.  Do you know anyone that works in a machine shop?

[snaponbob]

The step drill should work well for the two washers at each cushion. The cushion bushing will need to be drilled. Ophidia, what needs to drilled are the parts that are on the TOP of the shock.

[kennysabarese]

Glad I bought used Konis someone did this part for me!

[elff]

I wasn't too worried about the washers.  Those are simple and I figured they could be a little bigger as long as the bushing was the right size the top of the shock would not wobble.
The closest metric size I could find was 29/64= .453 which is just a touch too small.
I guess I will just go for it with the 1/2" bit.  Those are everywhere.

I read that freezing the bushings before drilling makes the process easier.  I sure am glad I got a spare set of shocks so I don't have to have the car on jack stands while I doing this.

[ophidia31]

Ophidia, what needs to drilled are the parts that are on the TOP of the shock.

I got ya, the shaft is bigger than the stock one I take it?

[snaponbob]

I got ya, the shaft is bigger than the stock one I take it?

Yes.

[elff]

That's what she said!

Oph

I will take a picture of the parts you need to modify tonight.
I have them off the stock shocks and springs.

[Chemist]

Ace Hardware has everything in my town.

[elff]

I keep forgetting about them.
We have 2 of them within 30 minutes and you are correct.  They are pretty awesome.
I ended up just getting a 1/2" cobalt bit.  Apparently my old one was a little bent.  This time, the hole I drilled was almost perfect for the top of the shock.
Gonna finish all the washers tonight and attack the other parts later.

[elff]

Oph

Here are the parts we are talking about

[ophidia31]

That looks like a fun time. Like you said, freezing them would definitly make drilling that bushing out easier. Wont try to jerk all over the place as much as it might otherwise.

[elff]

doing it in a vise was a major fail.  Am going over a friends house tomorrow morning to do it in his drill press.
Gonna throw all of the bushings in the freezer overnight.