Shocks?

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Shocks?

February 16, 2016, 07:33:27 pm

I was in for something else and the technician discovered that at 100000 miles, one of my front Konis SP1's has a loose lower bushing. This makes sense since I have been hearing a banging over bumps. He also found that both rear Konis are leaking oil and the lower bushings are shot to hell. I can see that for sure. How badly they are really leaking I am going to have to go look.
The cheap tag axle shocks look fine. I am NOT impressed with the Konis having problems at 100000 miles. I am also a little confused since the coach never bottoms out but I don't like the way it rides over washboards.
The Koni view is they don't replace the $1 bushings: you buy a new shock. I see no reason why the pressed in bushing on the front shock can't be replaced assuming you can find the bushing and have been told it could be done fairly easily. Has anybody had this done? Other than Road King which is too expensive, is there anything else available for our coaches? Bilstein? Who has the best deal on Konis should there be no other options? Rich 2002 Magna

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Re: Shocks?

Reply #1 – February 16, 2016, 08:32:26 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 104722

I bought Konis from Kevin Waite. He had the best price I could find, which included shipping. My coach has just under 97K miles and the shocks were completely gone. I'm guessing the ones that came off were original. Good luck.

John

2006 Inspire 51919

Re: Shocks?

Reply #2 – February 16, 2016, 09:55:42 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 104724

Check with RV Supply in Eugene, Oregon they are a surplus RV outlet in the area and I had seen some Bilsteens on the shelf. Cheap!

Re: Shocks?

Reply #3 – February 17, 2016, 09:35:42 am

Yahoo Message Number: 104725

100,000 miles seems like a lot to me, especially for a 50,000 lb coach. Sounds like the shocks did their job.

Re: Shocks?

Reply #4 – February 17, 2016, 09:45:01 am

Yahoo Message Number: 104727

I recently replaced my original Koni SP1 shocks withe their newer SP3 shocks.
Their dampening ability is much more robust. They work great on my coach.
I too believe at 100,000 miles you got your monies worth out of your shocks.
RJ 2005 Inspire #51264

Re: Shocks?

Reply #5 – February 17, 2016, 12:07:25 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 104728

IMO, the Koni SP1 shocks were a CC mistake. I had a conversation with Justin at Koni about shocks when we bought our coach. He said Koni made it clear to CC that the SP1 generation was not going to be robust enough for the 40' or plus IFS coaches. He said that his contacts at CC agreed, but said that then CC owners National was providing 'influence' on the decision of which shocks to go with. (One fun factoid, is the SP1 shocks that I took off our coach - were identical models to the shocks I had installed on our Bounder F53 18K chassis.)

When looking over shock options with Koni for the replacements. Justin suggested 'no' to the FSD's (And as I understand it, they do not recommend them for IFS 40' + coaches at all now.) He said while the SP2 generation of adjustable were more robust then the SP!, he still felt they would be working pretty hard on the front end. Suggested if I could wait, that the SP3 generation which were in development at that time, should turn out to be a good shock for our coaches.

Due to front end handling issues, and an upcoming long trip, as well as a 'credit' towards new front shocks as part of our purchase agreement - I ended up having Road Kings installed all around. No complaints, and yes, it was a bit of a hurt to the wallet:)!

Today. I've suggested that CC owners looking for new shocks, consider the Road Kings for the front, and Koni SP3 generation of adjustable's for the rear duty. Or FSD for the rear, if available for their coaches. While I do believe the SP3 would work well on the front, I personally liked the more robust Road Kings for the steer/IFS duty.

I'm also a fan of the Source Engineering Air Check Valves. Having removed Super Steers Motion Control Units, and replacing them with the Source Engineering. (Super Steers 'check/restrict' air flow resulting in dampening in both directions. Source Engineering only check/restrict air flow in one direction. This results in less stiff ride, and still having the benefits of faster chassis 'setting' when say going thru mountain S curves, or during emergency maneuvering. (Sure, not a sports car. But the combo of the Road Kings, Source Engineering Check Valves, and good tires inflated to the proper PSI per actual weight - did improve the handling of this beast:)!)

As far as the quality of Koni, I have no complaints. I see shocks as wearable items, and replace when needed. But, that is just my opinion:)!

Best to all,

Smitty

04 Allure 31017

Re: Shocks?

Reply #6 – February 17, 2016, 11:48:13 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 104741

Thanks Ron Smitty and everyone else. This is very useful. I'm going to be having a long talk with Koni and see if they make these sp3's for my magna. No one has mentioned this just new sp1's. Just to be clear, this coach still rides very well other than over washboard. It never bottoms or bounces. Other than worn lower bushings, I'm not sure the shocks are actually bad. I inspected the rears today and I think the tech may have mistaken grease that has flown off of the u-joint over the years under the shocks as leaking shocks. I will have to perhaps tried to unbolt the bottom mounts on one front and one rear and see if they still are working. They may be shot internally for all I know. Finding bushings is going to be a challenge so it may be a dead issue. One person told me Koni is now using polyurethane bushings. Rubber bushings are going to go no matter what overtime especially in the southwest.
Rich 2002 Magna

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Re: Shocks?

Reply #7 – February 18, 2016, 09:34:58 am

Yahoo Message Number: 104743

Rich, another vote here for the Koni SP3. My coach had FSD's all around and I had too much bounce and occasional bottoming out on the front. I called Koni and got the same message Smitty got.....FSD's were not up to the task on the front of our heavy rigs and they recommended the SP3. Mine are adjusted to #4 of 5 settings (5 is most firm) and they do the job. I still have the original FSD's on the rear and they seem to be OK. I've got about 56K miles on my rig so they should not be worn out yet.

Gary

07 Allure Siskiyou Summit 42'

Re: Shocks?

Reply #8 – February 18, 2016, 07:58:30 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 104752

I would highly recommend the Road Kings. My 03 40' Allure with a tag axle was starting to bounce (after about 80,000 miles), especially with a Hydralift motorcycle carrier and a 1000 lb bike on the back of the coach. I researched the options extensively, and decided to spend the extra money and go with Road Kings. I couldn't be happier, and when they replaced the shocks at Oregon Motor Coach, they showed me where four of the six original shocks, which were all adjustable, had failed and were providing little or no shock absorption. My research led me to believe the Road Kings were designed and built on a very different concept than the other brands. Because of that I decided to "bite the bullet" and spend the extra money, as shocks are such an important safety component of a motorhome. After about six months of use now, I am convinced I made the right decision. Just my two cents worth!

Re: Shocks?

Reply #9 – February 19, 2016, 12:53:44 am

Yahoo Message Number: 104755

Worse shocks and experience I have ever had! These shocks were designed for off road racing and rebuilt after almost every race they have heim joints on each end and if not install properly will make noise they also are not done properly and certainly not for most coaches that are 10 - 15000 pounds on the front end they don't work right I have revalve my Road Kings at least 6 times and they fail and never have enough control went to the new Kony shocked that just came out and they are fantastic you will have to look for them as they are brand new on the market and specifically designed for country coach

Re: Shocks?

Reply #10 – February 21, 2016, 11:48:46 am

Yahoo Message Number: 104781

I was the first one to get the new Koni's last November. (07 42ft Allure) They are great shocks. Messed with Road King for 3 years and never had a satisfactory result along with failures.

Brian H Morrow

bhmmorrow@... 949-677-2221

From: "rich_barlow@... [Country-Coach-Owners]" To: Country-Coach-Owners@yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, February 17, 2016 8:48 PM Subject: [Country-Coach-Owners] Re: Shocks?

Thanks Ron Smitty and everyone else. This is very useful. I'm going to be having a long talk with Koni and see if they make these sp3's for my magna. No one has mentioned this just new sp1's. Just to be clear, this coach still rides very well other than over washboard. It never bottoms or bounces. Other than worn lower bushings, I'm not sure the shocks are actually bad. I inspected the rears today and I think the tech may have mistaken grease that has flown off of the u-joint over the years under the shocks as leaking shocks. I will have to perhaps tried to unbolt the bottom mounts on one front and one rear and see if they still are working. They may be shot internally for all I know. Finding bushings is going to be a challenge so it may be a dead issue. One person told me Koni is now using polyurethane bushings. Rubber bushings are going to go no matter what overtime especially in the southwest.
Rich 2002 Magna

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Re: Shocks?

Reply #11 – February 22, 2016, 11:59:12 am

Yahoo Message Number: 104793

Friend came over with an air wrench this weekend. We pulled the bottom bolt on the right front with the allegedly bad bushing. Turned out it appears that all that was wrong was that the 1.5 inch nut was not quite tight enough. I checked the internals by pushing the shock up. It took a great deal of strength to move it. It took even more strength to move it back down so it appears to me to be fine as far as damping goes after 100,000 miles including considerable off road use. The rear shocks have different 2 piece plain rubber bushings and they are cracking and shot. We see no leaks on any shock so I have seen they're all good. I have located bushings when they arrive we plan to pull all the shocks adjust them a bit to compensate for wear replace the bushings.
Rich 2002 Magna

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Re: Shocks?

Reply #12 – February 22, 2016, 07:01:05 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 104808

Hey Brian - How about sharing a bit more info on your Road King experience?

Do you recall if they were the current generation of Road King's, or the previous ones that were not as large of diameter bore?

My experience is for sure opposite of yours. Mine are now about 6 years old, and were the previous generation of Road Kings. I may have been lucky, as when I called to talk with Road King, Lonnie picked up the phone. We're in the same neck of the woods in Southern California, and after talking about Aerospace (where I worked at a company called Rohr), we then started talking over my coach and my desire for more control without too harsh of a ride. I also provided him the info on the existing SP1 Koni part number that came form CC.

He said he had an idea on how to set the shocks for the front (the rear he said would be pretty easy), and to go drive the coach for at least 1K miles. That if I felt I needed more damper, or more stiffness, that he would re-valve them. (Pretty easy for me to just drive them to their shop, if needed.).

After about 1500 miles, I decided to leave them as they were. Now close to 40K on them, and they, along with the Source Engineering Air Check valves, help keep the coach poised and I feel handling very well.

So that was my results. And sure not saying you had no problems, just curious about which shocks you were working with. And more info on what were the characteristics that were causing you problems?

And again please note. I too feel the Koni SP3 are a good shock, and much less expensive. A friend had one installed on his Alpine, and the 'before and after' handling was dramatic. He played around with different settings. Landing on the 3 setting on the fronts, and setting 1 on the rear. So understand you liking the SP3's.

Best,

Smitty

04 Allure 31017

Re: Shocks?

Reply #13 – February 22, 2016, 11:30:21 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 104811

I had a lot experience with Road king, and have worked with them at the factory on the bench with the techs. I also know suspensions through my racing experience. The Koni shocks in 2007 went to the non-adjustable from China (Garbage), which is what my Coach came with. They were shot at 3000 miles, and no other alternatives except Road King. I messed with them for 6 years and gave up when the Koni guys called me with the new Konis from Holland. As a favor they sent me these monster shocks last November before they were on sale. They appear to be great Shocks and specifically designed for the Heavy IFS Country Coach front ends. When I was working with Road King they had to close all but one port to even get close to the correct control on dips and they failed at about 18 months. I am a real traveler as I have been around the US and Canada 4 times in the last 8 years with my Coach Clocking over 45,000 miles. I know The Country Coach and it's problems as well as anyone. They are great Coaches if you fix all the problems, and there are a lot of issues! If you need any further information please give me a call anytime. By the way I leave for another year the end of April. P.S the Larger Road King 3 inch Shocks wont work on the Country Coach suspensions. No Clearance

Brian H Morrow 2007 Country Coach Allure Siskiyou 42ft bhmmorrow@... 949-677-2221

From: "gsmith77_7@... [Country-Coach-Owners]" To: Country-Coach-Owners@yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, February 22, 2016 4:01 PM Subject: [Country-Coach-Owners] Re: Shocks?

Hey Brian - How about sharing a bit more info on your Road King experience?

Do you recall if they were the current generation of Road King's, or the previous ones that were not as large of diameter bore?

My experience is for sure opposite of yours. Mine are now about 6 years old, and were the previous generation of Road Kings. I may have been lucky, as when I called to talk with Road King, Lonnie picked up the phone. We're in the same neck of the woods in Southern California, and after talking about Aerospace (where I worked at a company called Rohr), we then started talking over my coach and my desire for more control without too harsh of a ride. I also provided him the info on the existing SP1 Koni part number that came form CC.

He said he had an idea on how to set the shocks for the front (the rear he said would be pretty easy), and to go drive the coach for at least 1K miles. That if I felt I needed more damper, or more stiffness, that he would re-valve them. (Pretty easy for me to just drive them to their shop, if needed.).

After about 1500 miles, I decided to leave them as they were. Now close to 40K on them, and they, along with the Source Engineering Air Check valves, help keep the coach poised and I feel handling very well.

So that was my results. And sure not saying you had no problems, just curious about which shocks you were working with. And more info on what were the characteristics that were causing you problems?

And again please note. I too feel the Koni SP3 are a good shock, and much less expensive. A friend had one installed on his Alpine, and the 'before and after' handling was dramatic. He played around with different settings. Landing on the 3 setting on the fronts, and setting 1 on the rear. So understand you liking the SP3's.

Best,
Smitty

04 Allure 31017

Re: Shocks?

Reply #14 – February 23, 2016, 08:41:05 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 104830

We also replaced the Koni SP1 with the Koni SP3 shocks last summer. Huge difference in the dampening and the adjustment feature seems to work well. Very pleased with the results. Between the shocks and correcting the toe in the coach is now well behaved.

Dale Collier

2005 Inspire 51477

Re: Shocks?

Reply #15 – February 24, 2016, 10:41:53 am

Yahoo Message Number: 104834

Thanks Brian - Appreciate you sharing our experience. Never knew the larger RK's should not clear on the CC's.

Travel safe, have fun,

Smitty

04 Allure 31017

Re: Shocks?

Reply #16 – February 24, 2016, 11:01:21 am

Yahoo Message Number: 104835

Dale,

I also have a 2005 Inspire. Like you, I replaced the original Koni SP1 shocks with the SP3 and increased my toe in. Both of these changes have made a huge difference in the coaches road manners. One other improvement you may want to consider are the Motion Control units from Source Engineering. They will pretty much eliminate body roll and wind effects on the coach.
RJ

2005 Inspire #51264

Re: Shocks?

Reply #17 – February 24, 2016, 02:35:33 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 104836

You may want to try getting the apportioning Valves installed on your Coach from Source Engineering out of Eugene Oregon for body Roll. Just got a heads up from Ron Jacobs about these. You should be able to get them installed anywhere that does Chasis work on Country Coach

Brian H Morrow

bhmmorrow@... 949-677-2221

From: "gsmith77_7@... [Country-Coach-Owners]" To: Country-Coach-Owners@yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, February 24, 2016 7:41 AM Subject: [Country-Coach-Owners] Re: Shocks?

Thanks Brian - Appreciate you sharing our experience. Never knew the larger RK's should not clear on the CC's.

Travel safe, have fun,
Smitty

04 Allure 31017

Re: Shocks?

Reply #18 – February 24, 2016, 02:35:44 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 104837

Havent heard of "motion Control" device

Brian H Morrow

bhmmorrow@... 949-677-2221

From: "Ronald Jacobs RONANDSUE74@... [Country-Coach-Owners]" To: Yahoo! Inc.

Sent: Wednesday, February 24, 2016 7:55 AM Subject: [Country-Coach-Owners] Re: Shocks?

Dale,

I also have a 2005 Inspire. Like you, I replaced the original Koni SP1 shocks with the SP3 and increased my toe in. Both of these changes have made a huge difference in the coaches road manners. One other improvement you may want to consider are the Motion Control units from Source Engineering. They will pretty much eliminate body roll and wind effects on the coach.
RJ

2005 Inspire #51264

Re: Shocks?

Reply #19 – February 24, 2016, 02:35:49 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 104838

I did check with Source engineering and I am familiar with them as they supply the PTO I had installed on my Coach. They told me they have limited products for the Allure, being apportioning Valves. Which are a help if limited to body roll. I am heading to Oregon in a month or so, so I will see them and probably have them install the valves. Thanks for the heads -up on these. Regards

Brian H Morrow

bhmmorrow@... 949-677-2221

Re: Shocks?

Reply #20 – February 24, 2016, 05:52:18 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 104839

The valves are a very easy install. About a 30 minute job.
RJ

2005 Inspire #51264

Re: Shocks?

Reply #21 – February 24, 2016, 08:37:25 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 104841

Thanks Ron! I'll check out the motion control. We are pretty happy with where we are with handling and drivability in comparison to where we started though.

The coach is in the shop right now, I thought for a radiator leak but they can't find it. They are saying it was just the cap, guess we'll see.

Dale Collier

2005 Inspire 51477

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