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Shocks

Yahoo Message Number: 82145
I'm looking at getting new shocks for our coach.
I asking this group, if U replaced your shocks on your coach what was the deciding factor for U to go with the shock that you put on the coach. Price.. word of mouth your endless search on the web
I do not want to get into a big discussion on who has the best shock just why did you go with what you did. Thanks
Dave

07 Country Coach Allure 430 #31495 12 Jeep GC Toad Mountains of So Cal
Dave & Jodi
2007 CC Allure 40’ Tag #31495
2012 Jeep GC
Big Bear Lake, Ca & Henderson, Nev

Re: Shocks

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 82152
I stayed with Koni because they offered warranty replacement, twice over three years. The FSDs on the front worked great for 2 years before they "sprung" so Koni sent another model that has been doing fine for three years.

Larry, 03 Allure, 30856

Re: Shocks

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 82154
Good luck! I was very unhappy with the ride from day one. Coach would bottom-out with the slightest dip in the road. I had Koni shocks on an SOB and they were great. I finally found out that the Koni's CC installed were non-adjustable. I simply switched to adjustable ones and now the ride is much better. By staying with Koni I didn't have any dimensional problems during the change-out..

Ed Wiseman

2009 Inspire #52167

)

Re: Shocks

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 82159
-Word of mouth

-Endless search on the web

Price, well yes in a way. I figured we'd be keeping this rig for at least 10 years. So, I spread the costs of the shocks over that period, and figured out the added stability/control/safety was worth the upfront out of pocket higher costs.

We installed Road Kings.

On Koni, a fine if not as 'robust' a shock as the Road Kings (and at 1/4 - 1/3 the costs, good reason for that:)!). Call and talk with Koni, and confirm if they now recommend the FSD for the IFS on the CC's. 2 1/2 years ago, they said they had stop recommending the FSD's for the IFS, as the shock was sometimes not able to keep up. Said to go with Adjsutables on the front, and if I wanted, FSD's on the rear and tag. On the Adjsutables, if you go the Koni route, be sure they are the SP3 generation of Adjutable, as they are more shock then the SP1 and SP2 of earlier generation.
In addition to the Road Kings, we added Super Steers Motion Control Units front and rear. Did this after talking with Hendrson's Line-up, and for the low costs involved, also pleased.
In general, the Road Kings and MCU's make our coach handle very well, and securely.

Best of luck,
Smitty

04 Allure 31017, 40' with Tag
04 Allure Sold to a nice new owner! Now enjoying a 07 Magna Rembrandt 45' ISX600 #6775
"We're ONDROAD for THEJRNY!" (Toad and Coach license plates, say Hi if you see us!)

Re: Shocks

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 82160
Dave,

Had SERIOUS bottoming problems in the front when we bought our coach about 1 1/2 years and 15,000 miles ago. Climbed under the coach and saw they were Koni's which surprised me as Koni makes great shocks. Decided I didn't want to go through this problem again so after doing considerable research I installed Road King's. Haven't regretted it. They are also rebuildable if need be.
I suspect most would agree that, when putting the cost aside ($350 each), Road King makes the best shocks available for our use.

Barney

07 Inspire 52059
(Desert of So Cal)

Re: Shocks

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 82164
Dave

I called Koni and followed their recommendations. I have never bottomed out and this has included a number of trips to Mexico with their famous topas (speed bumps). They told me that CC ignored their recommendations and did not put enough shock on the heavier coaches.

Dan 2006 31348

Re: Shocks

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 82167
I have adjustable Koni's in my 2003 Lexa. The front end wandered a little more than I liked, so when I had it at OMC (Oregon Motorcoach) for some other work, I asked them to verify if the shocks were set to full stiffness. They weren't, now they are. Problem solved, front end more stable, and less jounce over swales in the road.
The adjustables are designed to adjust as shock wears, or load is higher than originally specified. You can do it yourself - just disconnect one end, push the shock in all the way, and turn counterclockwise until you feel the 'click' as it engages the adjustment nut. Keep compressed, and turn to stiffen (righty tighty, lefty loosy). Pull back out to disengage so you can turn the end you disconnected back to the position you need to reconnect.

Worth a shot in lieu of replacement. Worked for me.
A quick Bing search found this link, looks like some series have a turnable knob rather than the turning the whole shock: http://www.koni.com/index.php?id=319
Jim Walsh
2003 Lexa

Re: Shocks

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 82177
Hi Dave

The deciding factor for me was the quality of the shock. Once i got my hands on one i admired the way they were built. I also got recomendations on the forums.I had porposing and bottoming out with the factory setup.I first did the front then replaced the rears. Roadkings were my choice.

Rod
inspire
51473

Shocks

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 84376
I had my coach at Camping World for some other work and decided to have them stiffen up the shocks. I told them to take the front to the second-to-the-stiffest position, and stiffen the rear by one click. I do not know what they did, but my ride now sucks. I think they went the wrong way. I bounce all over the place now. So I guess I have to get under there and do it myself. Does anyone have the procedure for adjusting Koni shocks? And what is the torque setting for the bolts?

Al Colby

2000 Intrigue 10979

Re: Shocks

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 84379
Allan:

I usually turn the Koni's all the way clockwise (Full Firm) them I turn them counter clockwise 1 1/2 turns when I install them.

Kevin Waite (Former Country Coach Service Tech.) K&M Mobile RV Repair LLC
95430 Noraton Rd.

Junction City, OR. 97448
541-953-6162 (Cell)

kvn.wt.7629@...

Re: Shocks - For what it's worth

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 84387
My Inspire was delivered with the front shocks set on medium. The ride was spongy, with lots of porpoising and occasional bottoming.
Resetting the Konis to max firm (all the way clockwise) solved the problem.
I would imagine the variance of fore and aft loading ratio from coach to coach might affect this. Take it for what it's worth.

Jay

05 Inspire 51457

Shocks

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 84388
Thanks for the replies. I still need to know the torque setting when re-attaching the shock mount.

Al Colby

2000 Intrigue 10979

Re: Shocks

Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 84393
Good thread, as always - members jumping into help each other.

Just as FYI, a bit more on Koni Adjustable Shocks.
-The age of your coach, could determine which Koni Adjsutable you have on your unit: -My 2004, for sure, had Adjustable SP1 generation -Koni had a SP2 generation, that had different setting parameters -When we bought our coach about two 1/2 years ago, I researched a bit more. Koni updated me that they were just about to come out with the Adustable SP3 series. They are out now.

From my research, and talking with Koni, I determined that: -The Koni FSD's were not up to handling the front IFS on the larger, 40' and above, CC's.
-The Koni gent I talked to, suggeted I wait until the SP3's were available, as they are larger more robust shock the the SP1/2 generation.
I went a different route, as I had some shock credits coming my way as part of my purchase agreement. So I changed all 6 shocks over to Road Kings. (Very pleased with the results, but they are expensive.) In addition to this, I added Super Steer Motion Contro Units to both the Front and back of the coach. At the recommendation of Henderson's Line-up, I went with under 30K Lbs on the front, and over 30K Lbs on the rear. These too I like, and working together with the Road Kings, I have a ride and handling combination I'm very pleased with.
On Koni's, and the settings to try for your coach. Remember to check the SP generation (SP1, SP2 or SP3(If on a used coach), and factor your coaches size/weight and tag vs non tag. What works for one coach, may not work for another.
The changing of the Adjustable's settings are not real hard to do, so experimenation may be worth the time/hassel if doing it your self, or the $$ to pay someone to do it for you.

Best to all, be safe, and have fun, Smitty

04 Allure 31017 40' Tag
04 Allure Sold to a nice new owner! Now enjoying a 07 Magna Rembrandt 45' ISX600 #6775
"We're ONDROAD for THEJRNY!" (Toad and Coach license plates, say Hi if you see us!)

Re: Shocks

Reply #15 –
Yahoo Message Number: 84397
Al, per the DynaMax Chassis Manual your answer is 30 to 40 ft.lbs torque.

thanks, Mike 03 Allure 1st Ave. #30898