TheSamba.com :: View topic

Tue Nov 28, 2006 8:24 pm

The "maybe last ever, maybe not" (those who have followed my travails with Koni know what I'm talking about) custom run of Koni shocks has arrived. These are the same shocks we did a couple of group buys on, thanks to Ratwell's initial contact with Koni. One thing I'll say for Koni is that their estimate was dead-on; three months ago they promised them at the end of November, and here it is November 28 and they showed up at my door!

For those unfamililar with the excitement over these shocks, see this thread, this thread, and this thread, among many others.

As before, this will be first come, first served, web orders only. I will do my best to pull them from the site as soon as the last set is sold, so no one who places an order is disappointed. We'll do our best to get them out the door quickly, but it may be a couple of extra days for delivery if we get deluged. Also a reminder that the fronts only fit '70-79 (although the rears fit '68-79).

Links:

Front

Rear

Tue Nov 28, 2006 11:08 pm

WOOHOO! Just ordered fronts and rears! CAN'T WAIT!!!

Wed Nov 29, 2006 9:11 pm

You won't regret them. On my first drive after installation the results were so dramatic that I was quite nearly reduced to tears. My wife concurred; this is how the VW bus is supposed to drive.

Wed Nov 29, 2006 9:49 pm

Yo grady, what setting(s) did you end up with?

Peace, Regis
78 campr

Wed Nov 29, 2006 10:03 pm

Couldn't resist. Jumped on-line and ordered some fr & rr KONI's.

Peace, Regis
78 campr

Wed Nov 29, 2006 10:06 pm

Man I sure do wish I had the money to get some Koni's...maybe one day

Wed Nov 29, 2006 10:29 pm

you won't regret spending the money.

long raving endorsement:
My front end handling was bad, and I blamed my pos shocks. I got in on the first group buy, and the ride was so much better, I was able to delay ball joint work... though I probably shouldn't have. I've since replaced the ball joints (bus-boys torsion arm swap), and upgraded the front sway bar. With all of the changes, I can drive in rush-hour traffic with the valleys in the interstates and the potholes - with one hand. There's one pothole just South of the OR217 flyover in the right-hand lane of I5 South. Any local knows it. I used that as my test for all changes. The biggest improvement was the shocks. Not the ball joints that were rattling in their cages when I replaced them. Not the swaybar. The shocks, man. Pre-shocks, I'd swerve to avoid it cuz it would toss me around. Now... one hand, straight through :)

Best money I've spent on my bus was on those shocks.

Thu Nov 30, 2006 9:23 am

Yep - Count me in too. Just spent my Christmas bonus :D

Thu Nov 30, 2006 10:44 am

Regis--I went with Ratwell's recommendation: full soft in front, 180degrees tighter in back.
http://www.ratwell.com/technical/Koni.html

Thu Nov 30, 2006 11:33 am

I have to know. Is it 109.00 for a set of front Koni's or for one shock?

Thu Nov 30, 2006 11:39 am

Herbst '71 wrote: I have to know. Is it 109.00 for a set of front Koni's or for one shock?

Each.

I know, I've spent less than $400 for entire cars, but I am hoping they help the handling as much as I've read.

Thu Nov 30, 2006 11:47 am

Looks like I'll have to explain to the wife why I need to spend 400.00. Then again, maybe I'll order them and surprise her. Does a smoother ride in the passanger seat count as a Christmas Present?

Thu Nov 30, 2006 11:59 am

Rick,
Tell her it's the gift that keeps on giving!
Merry Christmas sweetheart! :)

Thu Nov 30, 2006 12:11 pm

poptop tom wrote: Rick,
Tell her it's the gift that keeps on giving!
Merry Christmas sweetheart! :)

I hope that works. I plan on telling my wife the shocks are for her!

Thu Nov 30, 2006 5:59 pm

GreenBrick wrote: poptop tom wrote: Rick,
Tell her it's the gift that keeps on giving!
Merry Christmas sweetheart! :)

I hope that works. I plan on telling my wife the shocks are for her!

I can second that. My girlfriend and I just came back from a long trip to Death Valley with lots of washboard, curves, 80mph wind gusts, and other challenges and she was very impressed with the poise and comfort of the bus, which is riding on four Konis. Absolutely the best addition I have made to my bus. Before I installed the Konis, a 45mph gust would have me straddling lanes; this time I never touched the lane markers despite some very strong winds in the Tehachapi pass and on 395.

Thu Nov 30, 2006 6:15 pm

Thanks grady. My first thought would be med-med to establish a personal baseline. Also knowing that the rear will prolly end up firmer than the front.

I'll read ratwells info. Good stuff there.

I'm actually a tad less than 200 lbs lighter because I gutted the 'ol westy. I do have a full width seat/bed from a 74. I keep the spare in the rear well. I may be able to go med-med. I should be at ~3200 lbs.

Regards, Regis
78 campr

covelo. How do you have your shocks set?

Thu Nov 30, 2006 11:15 pm

After I got mine, I did a little test drive. I swerved back and forth between the white lines imagining that they were cones, (no traffic, country road). All I can say is WOW. It handled almost like a sports car. It now drives like a modern vehicle. It feels safer and it is much more relaxing to drive. Best 400 bucks I ever spent.

Gary

Fri Dec 01, 2006 9:06 am

I hope these help as much as everyone says they do. I wasn't going to buy them until I was out driving in high winds today. My hightop was just getting blown everywhere. I got home and dropped my $450. I really hope they help. I didn't really have the extra money but wanted to get them before they are gone.

Fri Dec 01, 2006 2:27 pm

regis101 wrote: covelo. How do you have your shocks set?

The Ratwell recipe: soft in the front, half hard in the back. I find that makes it bouncy and pliant at the same time. I have had a number of different passengers comment on the comfort level. The only times when I wish I had them harder in the front is on curvy downhills (like in Yosemite) where there is a bit too much lean in the front, IMO. But I'm too lazy to adjust my shocks for those occasions.

Fri Dec 01, 2006 2:30 pm

jaredm81 wrote: I hope these help as much as everyone says they do. I wasn't going to buy them until I was out driving in high winds today. My hightop was just getting blown everywhere. I got home and dropped my $450. I really hope they help. I didn't really have the extra money but wanted to get them before they are gone.

I'm not sure whether you're in a particularly windy area there, but if you are I would also recommend good truck-rated tires. The stiffer sidewalls help a lot with strong winds as well, especially on a high top I would think. [/i]