Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Shocks (Read 2013 times) previous topic - next topic
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Shocks

Yahoo Message Number: 28493
Has any one had experience with Koni shocks. I have a '94 Magna and in need for front shocks. I contacted Gillig and found the Koni was installed new. When I bought the motorcoach used it had Monroe's and the performance is a little on the loose side. Interested if anyone has any experience with the Koni shock.

Walt '94 36' Magna

Re: Shocks

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 28507
Walt,

Our 2000 Magna came new with Koni shocks. First set lasted 4 years, second set lasted 1 year. Now on third set.
Brad Ward

2000 Magna 5916

Re: Shocks

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 28508
If you want Koni, and I think most CC have them, you can call Justin in Support at Koni and he will tell you what you need and can sell them to you. 866-566-4175 ext. 314.

Richard Aquino
2001 Intrigue

Re: Shocks

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 28515
Walt, You may want to check out the new KONI FSD (Frequency Selective Dampers) at "WWW.KONIRV.COM/FSD" to see if they are recommended for your coach.

Earl

2003 Intrigue 11554

Re: Shocks

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 28516
I just put the Koni FSDs on the front, and boy what a difference! Smooth, quiet ride over bumps and road separators, etc.

Larry, 03 Allure, 30856

Re: Shocks

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 28517
Larry are the FSD shock adjustable like the regular KONI's? Adjusting those things can be a pain, you have to collapse them and then count the clicks. I'd much rather have shocks that are preset like "Bilstein's".

Earl

2003 Intrigue 11554

Re: Shocks

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 28519
No, the FSDs are not adjustable. Koni says they are "self adjsuting"

Re: Shocks

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 28533

Hi Country Coach put Koni's on my 98 Intrique the first year. I drov e them 100K in 6 years.
I was very please with them.

Fred Hoppmann
2002 Affinity

Re: Shocks

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 28586
WOW!. Seems something has got to be wrong for those shocks to go that fast. How many miles do you run each year?

My '95 Magna 39' has the original Koni's and they checked fine last summer when I had my local guy disconnect the bottom of each one and tell me the status. Coach has 62K on it.

Mike

'95 Magna Caprice #5266

Re: Shocks

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 28596
Larry,

When we were at the Indy 500 last year I asked the Koni rep why CC always uses Koni shocks instead of other brands and he said it was because the Koni shock was made for the largest independent front ends on the market. The other shock manufacturers use a smaller size bolt connection which makes it difficult to mount properly when the front end comes with a larger mounting bolt. Of course he also claimed the Koni is a heavy duty shock manufacturer and their shocks were the best for our use. Don't remember the exact bolt size but they had a nice demo trailer to show you the difference in their shocks. I believe some of us have no choise on what shocks to use. I have never been unhappy with their ride once you have the proper adjustment.

Bill G. 2005 Magna #6425

Re: Shocks

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 28614
Bill

Yes, I know what you mean about large bolts. The size of the hexnut on my Allure shock is 1 1/8". On my friend's Magna, it's 1 1/2"

Larry, 03 36' Allure #30856

Re: Shocks

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 28617
Mike,

We had to replace the original shocks at 41,901 (5/2/2005) and the second set at 55,207 (5/4/2006). Still trying to get some warranty comp. from Koni. They should have lasted more than 13k miles.
Brad Ward

2000 Magna 5916
Delivered 5/30/00

Re: Shocks

Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 28620
What was the problem with the Koni shocks in 13,000 miles? AL

00 affinity #5851 ( original shocks, no leaks, no problems)

Re: Shocks

Reply #15 –
Yahoo Message Number: 28621
One of mine would not adjust, so Koni replaced it under warranty. They upgraded to FSDs and gave me one shock under warranty and I bought the other shock for $150. The FSDs are not adjustable by the owner. Koni says they are "self adjusting."

Larry, 03 Allure #30856

Re: Shocks

Reply #16 –
Yahoo Message Number: 28667
Al,

When the CC techs and I crawled under the coach to check the suspension system, you could rotate the shocks with your hand, they had quite a bit of "play". Not supposed to be able to do this. The reason we were under there was because we had experienced pretty severe front tire wear on the outside edges of the tires. Two tie rod ends and the steering pittman arm ends also needed to be replaced. We had had the front end aligned 13,000 miles before.
Brad Ward

2000 Magna 5916

Re: Shocks

Reply #17 –
Yahoo Message Number: 28670
Handling made easy,

The first time I had my coach aligned they used a portable alignment rack. Big mistake, as the coach was not handling well and believed an quick alignment would fix the problem. By bad handling I mean wondering all over the road. My god, it was just exhausting after a couple of hours of driving. After finding a reliable truck alignment shop with a in ground rack changes were made. Country Coach furnished align specs and these were entered into racks computer system. Guess what ! "free" for the asking.
Fuel and water tanks were put at 1/2 full prior to shop appointment. Careful attention was paid to driving the coach on the rack. Tech wanted to be sure coach was straight on. Air ride was depleted and refilled twice. I was comfortable that the normal ride height was set. Tires were all checked for correct air pressure. Gauge devices were installed on all for wheels. Found specs were off a lot. Reset and wow what a difference of night and day. Cost was $100.00 and worth every penny.
Al

00 affinity

Re: Shocks

Reply #18 –
Yahoo Message Number: 28694
I've posted this on other sites, but for those of you CC owners wishing to set your minds at ease about alignment, here's what YOU can do. Might take you five minutes.

Toe-in specs are usually 0 to 1/16" toe-in, with 1/32" being the best. Find another person to help check the distance between the fronts and backs of the front tires, measured from anywhere on the tread as long as it's from the same relative positions for the front and rear measurements. Measure the distance across the back as high up as you can get on the tire without chassis interference, then measure the front at a similar height.
The distance across the front should be slightly less than across the rear. If the difference is greater than 1/16", you can be sure the toe-in is actually greater than that halfway up the tire (where it's officially measured), and if it's greater across the front than the back you definitely have a problem with toe-OUT.
If you've got one of these conditions you'll know to take it in, and it would be money well spent. You can also verify the work afterward.

Bill & Debbie in San Diego

Shocks

Reply #19 –
Yahoo Message Number: 32089
A friend of mine has a 98 CC Intrigue. It has 4 Koni shocks on it.
Can those shocks be adjusted on the coach or do you have to take them off to do it. Has anyone ever done this and what was the results of the ride? Any help would be appreciated. Jim

Re: Shocks

Reply #20 –
Yahoo Message Number: 32090
In theory, yes you can adjust the Koni shocks on the vehicle. As long as there's room to get to it. I tried adjusting my front shocks and was able to adjust the left one while on the vehicle, but the right one would not adjust, even after I removed it. Koni placed it with an FSD shock and I purchased an FSD shock for the left side. What a difference (improvement) in the ride! I want to install them on the back now. I looked at the back, and I don't think there is enough room to adjust them while on the vehicle. They look much more difficult to get to (remove or adjust) than the fronts.

Larry, 03 Allure #30856

Re: Shocks

Reply #21 –
Yahoo Message Number: 32131
After our recent ride thru New Orleans on Route 10 and much severe porpoising of the front end, I am sincerely interested in any shock absorber improvements over the standard Koni shocks. Granted the road was in terrible shape, but I didn't expect such severe porpoising with the Konis.

Larry, if you do the the FSDs all the way around, please post your results. There has to be a better way to dampen the front end. I also noticed that Ride King is starting to market their truck shocks for RVs. I'm looking for a significant improvement and any suggestions based on real live experiences are appreciated.

Bob Kumza
2003 Intrigue

Re: Shocks

Reply #22 –
Yahoo Message Number: 32133
I just experienced a similar problem and discovered an improvement by adjusting the front Koni shocks up near their max setting and adjusting the air pressure in the air bags.
Found a 80% improvement in the ride and especially over those large bumps.
I would recommend checking the air bag pressure first then if necessary move on to the Koni shocks.

Walt & Pam
'94 Magna 5160

Re: Shocks

Reply #23 –
Yahoo Message Number: 32134
-
Walt:

I understand the action of adjusting the shocks but I am at a loss when you speak of changing the air bag pressure. To change the air bag pressure is to change the ride height. Is this what you actually did? To raise the ride height might have the effect of less bottoming out but there is an obvious limit. We went to the new variable firmness Koni and it eliminated the bottoming out problem.I appologise for not remembering the exact name for the shocks but they were about $150 each FMCA show pricing.

James M. Green Intrigue 11021 (2000) 36'

Re: Shocks

Reply #24 –
Yahoo Message Number: 32136
Bob, make sure the shocks are set to firm setting, and the ride height is set properly.I found the ride height to be critical for the porpoising.

Ray G

03 magna 6267