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Fri Jul 22, 2011 8:34 am

Chris,
Are there any Konis for 2wd Vanagons with both compression and rebound adjustments?

d

Fri Jul 22, 2011 8:35 am

insyncro wrote: Chris,
Are there any Konis for 2wd Vanagons with both compression and rebound adjustments?

d

Not that I am aware of. If there were, I would own them.

Fri Jul 22, 2011 9:50 am

loogy wrote: insyncro wrote: Chris,
Are there any Konis for 2wd Vanagons with both compression and rebound adjustments?

d

Not that I am aware of. If there were, I would own them.
Ditto. Koni makes "generic" race shocks that are double adjustable, and then it would be up to the user to design and make a mounting system that would work for the application. The rears would be pretty easy, assuming there is one with a free length relatively close to the Vanagon's, but the fronts would be tough.

Fri Jul 22, 2011 10:02 am

The Vanagon has a lot of suspension travel. At stock or slightly lifted height (as mine is) compression damping is not very critical, but when you lower the van or drive hard off-road adjustable compression damping would be a great thing to have.

Wed Dec 07, 2011 8:07 pm

So on a van with stock springs the ride is not any harsher than with stock Boge shocks using the Konis?

The rebound is just better controlled and adjustable.

That the idea?

Thu Dec 08, 2011 7:06 am

r39o wrote: So on a van with stock springs the ride is not any harsher than with stock Boge shocks using the Konis?

The rebound is just better controlled and adjustable.

That the idea?

My van with S-10 springs and Konis, has no harshness! just control.

jcl

Thu Dec 08, 2011 7:09 am

I would agree that my van (Carat springs) is not harsher with the Konis at the settings I have now. Even when I tried full-stiff, it wasn't really harsh. There are other ride issues that crop up with Konis, but for me, I don't think harshness is one of them. I'm happy with mine for the most part.

Thu Dec 08, 2011 8:00 am

I am running Konis and the new Syncro.org 2wd lift springs.
Very nice indeed!

I like them on setting 4.

Thu Dec 08, 2011 8:17 am

Yours have positions? The ones for the 2wd vans don't have any clicks, just a range. You have to count the turns, etc. Positions would be nice on these.

Thu Dec 08, 2011 8:24 am

Harshness is in the butt of the beholder. I think the Konis work just like I want them to, but I prefer a firmer ride.

Thu Dec 08, 2011 11:50 am

My family complains about the ride. I know my shocks are worn (out) but it is not bad to me. I have to get a ride that is acceptable to the family.

Cornering I can get nicer with sway bars, but the basic ride is what they complain about. So it has to be cushy for them. I don't care, as long as it is safe.

This is on a 1990 Multivan with the stock (Carat?) springs. It is mostly for around town and freeways. I have new 215/65-16 tires and CLK rims waiting to put on with the big brakes.

I need to get all parts together so we get it all done at one time.

I am torn between an up rated shocks and pure stock (lean to Koni, I guess and I should have bought them when they were less money.....)

Help me, please....

Thu Dec 08, 2011 1:58 pm

Bilstein will revalve their shocks for a nominal fee. You'd hace to take the off and do w/out for a while tho if you were unhappy with their daming or rebound.

Thu Dec 08, 2011 3:22 pm

r39o wrote: My family complains about the ride. I have to get a ride that is acceptable to the family.

Interesting to tune your ride as a family wagon. Soft ride is what is needed here? Getting a nice soft ride both empty and full will be a challenge.

So I'm thinking the softest Vanagon springs you can get. That and some Koni's. I can not say enough on how well the Koni's makes the suspension work.
When I was looking for shocks there are some folks that did not like the Bilsteins. With the Koni's very very few unhappy customers. Yes they cost more but it's only the price cost difference between the Bilsteins and Koni's.

Sun Dec 18, 2011 10:09 am

Installed new Konis in my Westy yesterday. I'm looking forward to the test drive. I set the fronts and rears at one full turn stiffness (360 degrees).
Ron

Sun Dec 18, 2011 12:09 pm

You will like them. I started out at one turn, they were awesome. With front and back sway bars and 215/65 x15 tires it would really hold through turns. After a year I dialed them back to almost full soft as the majority of driving is straight. Plus the kids get tossed around the back seat taking all those turns aggressively :D

That's the beauty of them, you can change them to suit your different driving needs.

Sun Dec 18, 2011 1:07 pm

CTB wrote: Yours have positions? The ones for the 2wd vans don't have any clicks, just a range. You have to count the turns, etc. Positions would be nice on these.

Rotations......STIFF

Looking back over my notes, I have installed 6 sets of Konis for different people.
All but one settled on 2 rotations after driving the van for a minimum of 500 miles.
The lone set was set to as soft as possible and road very well as an everyday, around town van, but lacked stiffness at higher speeds and in tight corners.

Suspension tuning is all about what each driver feels and prefers.
I hope this helps.

Sun Dec 18, 2011 5:20 pm

I have Konis with weitec on my 2wd 7 seater.
I dialed the Konis to max stiff ride and it doesn't
nose dive. I like the way it rides.. I'm like Loogy,
Like my bus to be somewhat in performance driving
ability..for pure performance, I drive my E30 M3:)
Cheers.

Mon Dec 19, 2011 10:27 am

I plan on installing Weitec springs, from Van Cafe, in the next few weeks. Having a lower center of gravity can't help but improve the handling, and I need an extra inch to fully clear my garage door opening. Presently, the rubber garage door strip rubs slightly on the skylight.
By the time I do the spring install I should know if I want to increase the shock's resistance. After I install the front springs I'd rather not have to take the shocks out again for an adjustment.

Mon Dec 19, 2011 10:44 am

911pickup wrote: Installed new Konis in my Westy yesterday. I'm looking forward to the test drive. I set the fronts and rears at one full turn stiffness (360 degrees).
Ron
You must have gotten the last ones......I was told they ran out our rears just the morning I placed my order....argh.....

So now I am going to do an experiment with another brand of shocks, not commonly discussed....

If it does not work out, I will wait for Konis along with some other items on back order coming in a container.

Mon Dec 19, 2011 4:33 pm

insyncro wrote: All but one settled on 2 rotations after driving the van for a minimum of 500 miles.
This is where I have mine set.

edit:

Kombi///M3 wrote: I have Konis with weitec on my 2wd 7 seater.
I dialed the Konis to max stiff ride and it doesn't
nose dive. I like the way it rides.

Also you guys(gals) the Koni's are only REBOUND adjustable. You are not changing the compression.