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Mon Dec 04, 2006 8:04 pm

Oh yeah! All this talk about how Koni shocks can greatly improve your bus ride and the possibility of this offer never happening again, I'm sold! :D

Mon Dec 04, 2006 8:13 pm

Even installation is fun!
Bad shocks come out...

...good shocks go in.

You've gotta love a WestyWife.

Sun Dec 10, 2006 7:23 pm

Update ...

Down to just 5 sets as of this writing. So get 'em quick if you want 'em.

I am already talking to Koni about another run, but because these are custom made, delivery usually takes months. While they haven't given me a timeframe yet, based on past history I'd expect it to be spring or summer.

Sun Dec 10, 2006 7:50 pm

There is no way I can afford a full four set, so If I were to only upgrade one end, which would you guys reccomend? Front or rear?

Sun Dec 10, 2006 9:13 pm

Does KONI offer any advice about pre-installation?

I remember in the days of old that oil filled shocks were to be upright in the open position for a few days. Also heard to turn them upside down and cycle them a few times.

Looking to get the fullest benefit from them

Thanks, Regis
78 campr

Sun Dec 10, 2006 10:24 pm

Hey Ron,

Glad to hear you are working on another run with Konis! I am too broke to afford them now, but I REALLY want a set (as well as a set of good tires - possibly Nokians)

Are you pretty sure that another run will happen? After riding in DurocShark's Guacamole bus, I am sold on the Konis... just don't want to miss out on them for good. [-o<

Sun Dec 10, 2006 11:18 pm

fusername wrote: There is no way I can afford a full four set, so If I were to only upgrade one end, which would you guys reccomend? Front or rear?

I would recommend the front just because the rear can be fitted from another car, but the front is unique to the bus.

Mon Dec 11, 2006 5:35 am

I can't tell what brand of shocks the PO installed, but they were certainlly "jury-rigged". For some reason, the PO used some brass fittings as "spacers" to make the front shocks work. I'm glad I bought the Koni's 'cause I'd not have checked that area since the shocks were working.
With the Koni's, the bus feels better, firmer and more stable, especially in the crosswinds. I'm glad I put mine on. :D

Mon Dec 11, 2006 8:06 am

I just received my Konis on Friday and installed them yesterday. I had KYB GAs all the around. The Konis do have a better feel.

Mon Dec 11, 2006 8:15 am

Someday soon, yes, someday soon (we need an emoticon of Mr. Burns twiddling his fingers saying "eeeexcellent")

Thu Dec 14, 2006 8:14 pm

I just received my Koni shocks from Bus Depot the other day and they arrived only with a few chips off the paint. Nothing that a little paint brush and the right paint color couldn't solve if I wanted them to look perfect. :)

Rick was the one who helped me a number of times at Bus Depot with my Koni shocks order and I have to say he was professional, pleasant and one super cool dude! I appreciate that type of service. I definitely will order from Bus Depot again. They even kept updating me with the status of my Koni order via email. How cool was that! 8)

I will again order from them for much needed bus item purchases after Christmas. :twisted: Thanks Ratwell and Ron for working with Koni on another group buy.

Sat Dec 16, 2006 7:09 pm

Put the KONI's on our 78 westy today. Easy task.

I do like the ride. I adjusted the front 1/2 turn from soft and the rear 3/4 turn from soft. I have just under two full turns of adjustment.

I played with various settings just to see the deal. When on full hard, they were hard to open. Full soft was compliant.

I read ratwells plethora of info about the KONI's and even went onto their site for yet more info. I'll use my inital settings as a baseline.

So the two things I like about them is the adjustablility and the fact that when fully extended they are 1/2" or so longer than the extended suspension. So if I ever get airborn...!

I also had a brass spacer on the lower front studs. I didn't know if they were KYB specific or what. So I fitted the KONI without it. I didn't like the way the rubber bushing would've rubbed against the torsion arm. I reinstalled the spacer.

Peace, Regis
78 campr

Sun Dec 17, 2006 9:55 am

If I was forced to critique the KONI's... I would only suggest that for the bay bus, have the stud in the center of the rubber bushing a tad longer so that it protrudes past the rubber. This would allow the bushing to be fully independant to flex without fear of being comprimised as the suspension goes through it's travels.

My thoughts alone.

They're gonna work just fine

Peace, Regis
78 campr

Sun Dec 17, 2006 10:32 am

I agree with Regis 101, I also didn't like the way the Koni rubber rubbed against the side of the suspension, so I added a large washer on the inside of all the shocks. I also added a star type lock washer to the "outside" of each where the nut clamped down on the stud/bolt. I figure that way I won't have to worry too much about them coming loose. :D
I also have to complain about the instructions that came with the Koni's. They were useless! :shock: I had to go to Ratwell's site to copy/download the correct way to adjust them. The instructions included were NOT for the style of shocks I received, and that's a minor, but annoying, problem. [-X

Sun Dec 17, 2006 10:51 am

I wasn't too worried about the top mounting. It is pretty stationary. The bottom would be the area to address. But it is really no big deal.

I did reinstall the brass spacer on the bottom and this has the nut only getting about 2/3 of the threads getting used.

I may go back and remove them and just use a washer . May have done that at the start. Didn't have any 12mm ones on hand.

As for the directions. They are the pictural worldwide ones and yes, somewhat confusing. Mostly as mentioned, they were not for my shock type.

Once again, No big.

They were still worth every penny and I would buy them again.

Gonna lower the tire pressure about 10 psi fr and rr. Cushier even yet.

Hope I don't fall asleep at the wheel from all that gentle motion.

Peace, Regis
78 campr

Tue Dec 19, 2006 3:25 am

I received my Koin's for the front and rear (thanks Bus Depot) and I now have them installed. I have a 1973 westy that I am taking camping up to Big Sur this week. I adjusted the shocks 180 from stiff and so far I have been really happy with the results. I am going to load up the bus with camping gear approx. 150lbs. + dog. Do you guys recommend that I bring the shocks up to full stiff for better handling with the weight load for windy trip up Highway 1? I am more concerned about handling than comfort... Thanks,
Matt

Tue Dec 19, 2006 6:54 am

I like the front ones at the "soft" or "pretty soft" setting and have the rears at "firm". Works for me.

Tue Dec 19, 2006 6:31 pm

I've had my '78 loaded for two weeks on the road and weighed in at just under 4,200lbs (including me and the hound) with my Koni's. Full soft in front and one full turn in the rear has always worked for me.

Mon Jan 08, 2007 2:36 pm

Put my Koni's in just before the motor blew in my 77. In the few miles that I drove the bus with them on, I must say that 1 half turn from full soft on the front is WAY to soft for my likings. I am more concerned with the handling side than comfort however. I felt that the front of the bus rolled more with the Koni's on than it did with the old delcos that I took out. When I get the bus back I am going to rip out of the fronts and reset them to one full turn past full soft and see how that feels.

Long story short, if you are more concerned with handling, do one full turn or more.

Wed Jan 24, 2007 10:21 pm

I have a handful of Koni's back in stock.

Koni still hasn't told me when most of my shipment will arrive (probably sometime in the late spring, I'd guess, but that's not a promise). But they had enough raw materials on hand to build me about a dozen sets right away, so they sent me those in the meantime.

Because I don't want to get stuck with an unsold pair of fronts or rears for months until the rest come in, I will only offer these to people who are buying all 4 shocks at once. The links are as follows. I will do my best to pull them from the site quickly once they are all spoken for, so no one is disappointed.

http://busdepot.com/details.jsp?partnumber=802110
http://busdepot.com/details.jsp?partnumber=802220