TheSamba.com :: View topic - Rear Shock Purchase: OEM, Bilstein, KYB, Koni...

Wed Mar 31, 2010 6:48 pm

Totally good point on the website. I find the VC website very easy to use and easy on the eyes, so I go to them first. Second pick is GoWesty. Third is usually BD, though they do seem slow to ship. I also use a myriad of others like Summit, Partsgeek, etc.

Wed Mar 31, 2010 7:12 pm

I'd have the Koni's if they would fit with the GW lift springs. Bil HD's have been great, no complaints. I've been really happy with shox.com for the HD's & a set of Addco swaybars.

Had KYB's once upon a time, never again. Way too harsh.

Wed Mar 31, 2010 7:18 pm

presslab wrote:
If you want stock-like ride get Bilstein HD, for something adjustable get the Koni. I have a set of hardly used HDs for the front if anyone is interested.

So here's a crazy question: does anyone actually install the Sachs or other OEM stock shocks? Especially for that stock-like ride? :wink:

Wed Mar 31, 2010 7:39 pm

Quote: I'd have the Koni's if they would fit with the GW lift springs.

Oh crap! The Koni's don't work with the 1.5" GW Lift-Springs? Damn. Didn't even think of that and it's a fall project.

..the Bostig/Zetec cradle runs pretty low. Last week, I made my first camping trip with the Bostig. There was a bit of snow still, on the dirt road and the typical car tracks had create small mound in the center of the road ... and I could see exactly where the cradle had scrapped the snow off the top. I'm running 205/65-16s, just right for the rpm's IMHO.. so I was going to compensate with a small lift.

Wed Mar 31, 2010 8:50 pm

I should clarify actually, The Koni's didn't fit up front & I've heard they don't fit the rears. I had a Boge (spelling) set of rears & they would top out on big bumps & make a aweful noise.

Wed Mar 31, 2010 10:05 pm

boulderdrop wrote: Quote: I'd have the Koni's if they would fit with the GW lift springs.

Oh crap! The Koni's don't work with the 1.5" GW Lift-Springs? Damn. Didn't even think of that and it's a fall project.

..the Bostig/Zetec cradle runs pretty low. Last week, I made my first camping trip with the Bostig. There was a bit of snow still, on the dirt road and the typical car tracks had create small mound in the center of the road ... and I could see exactly where the cradle had scrapped the snow off the top. I'm running 205/65-16s, just right for the rpm's IMHO.. so I was going to compensate with a small lift.

This just popped up in a thread yesterday. One member is already running GW springs at 18.5" with Konis. Perhaps you could PM him and ask him to weigh in on this thread.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=406651&highlight=

The facts are that the Koni's are only slightly shorter than the Bilsteins, by 6.5mm on the fronts and 7.5mm on the rears. If someone's routinely topping out their shocks on the Konis, they're very likely to do the same on the Bilsteins as well and that's what it sounds like most folks are running with the GW springs. I think you'll be fine - but check the official specs if you're still concerned (posted a while back as I was thinking the same thing as you) - http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=380114&highlight=koni+bilstein

Even if you do, run a limiting strap like the off road guys do - prevents too much articulation on the super twisty rock buggies and such.

Thu Apr 01, 2010 9:26 am

I used these.

made by Gabriel I think. bought them at Les Schwab. just didn't have the cash for the Koni's. mine isn't a full on Westy like some of yours (no cabinets,sink,etc. just the poptop bolted on over the sunroof) so I don't weigh as much. what a difference though. ride was much improved. good thing about LS is they even replaced the front passenger shock when I cross threaded the nut trying to put it on. told the guy when I went in there I was yapping on the phone,not paying attention and screwed it up. he got out the sawzall and cut it off and slapped a brand new on for no charge.

Thu Apr 01, 2010 9:33 am

I sent him a PM about the Koni's and lift springs....
Let's wait and see....

Edit:7.5mm = .300"... Thats nothing to sneeze at.

Thu Apr 01, 2010 12:00 pm

I am running Konis and GW springs. I was worried about them topping out in front and, at first, it seemed like it might be an issue for me.

I called VC (where I bought the springs) before installation and asked them if the combo would work. They said yes and I went ahead with it.

For the first couple hundred miles I was a little worried I'd made a mistake. There was a discomforting noise happening up front when I drove off a drop off or went over a bigger than normal rise at speed and got the front end traveling up.

I think the springs settled during that time and worked themselves into a more 'normal" range. They look more compact. No more noises and shocks seem to be fine. The rears never seemed to act up for me.

If my understanding of that break in/settling process in my vehicle is correct, I guess maybe you could do damage to your front shocks during that period?

Maybe that's what happened to BlackDogVan?

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=361395&highlight=koni+curb

Mon May 03, 2010 6:27 am

I didn't want to start a new thread on a much-discussed topic, so I'll add this info here.

A couple of weeks ago while replacing my rear springs, I noticed that one of my Alko shocks from BD was very easy to compress and had fluid all over it (this photo was taken after they'd been sitting for about 30 minutes; the right one has yet to rebound.)

This is after 20k miles of regular driving. I don't generally go offroad and I don't think I've ever driven this Vanagon on a washboard. So I was surprised that one of these gave out.

While I am planning on going with Bilsteins when it's more economically viable, I needed something to hold me over in the meantime. I went with cheap Gabriel shocks.

And when I say cheap, I mean CHEAP NOS Red Ryders from Ebay for 99 cents. (and $8.00 shipping.) That's around $391.01 savings over going with the Koni's or Bilsteins at this point.

I figured what the hell, for that price it's worth experimenting. I took them out of the box and compressed them several times and they continued to bounce back; they didn't fall apart in my hands or explode on contact, so I installed them.

After driving around on them this weekend, they do the job adequately. The ride is definitely not as smooth as the oil-filled Alko's (I have OEM Boges on the front.) But, I think they'll hold me for a few months until I can get better ones.

Mon May 03, 2010 9:42 am

While I very much subscribe to buying from our specialty vendors, http://www.shox.com is a 10 minute drive from me. They are VERY reasonable.

Wed Jun 30, 2010 5:10 pm

joetiger wrote: I didn't want to start a new thread on a much-discussed topic, so I'll add this info here.

A couple of weeks ago while replacing my rear springs, I noticed that one of my Alko shocks from BD was very easy to compress and had fluid all over it (this photo was taken after they'd been sitting for about 30 minutes; the right one has yet to rebound.)

Hey Joe, those Alkos are purely hydraulic shocks with no pressurized gas charge and aren't ever going to push back. Konis, Boges and Sachs' are like that too.

As long as they are hard to collapse and extend and do it without too much gurgling, the shocks are fine. ;)

Mon Oct 18, 2010 1:04 pm

Wow I feel dumb asking this, but nobody mentioned the old man emu shocks, and I was just about to pull the trigger on some. Is there any reason why there is this haunting unsaid agreement that they should not be considered?

Mon Oct 18, 2010 2:43 pm

2wd: Konis, by far best shock available.
Syncro: and lifted with springs, TrailMaster front and rear (BusMan.be), ProComp (rear) or Ranchero (rear)

Coilovers is you have the need and cash.

Mon Oct 18, 2010 3:03 pm

I think OME shocks only fit the Syncro, not 2wd.

Mon Oct 18, 2010 4:35 pm

Aha, I see. How much more articulation comes with the coil over system? I was looking at Burley's which are awesome, but it seems hard to justify the extra dough.

I am coming from the Moab mindset where driving off road and 4-wheeling are very different. It seems to me the Vanagon has no chance at the kind of articulation that would allow it to be used to climb uneven rocks.

I would expect to do this with a standard set up (except my wheels are too small): - this is flat requiring little articulation..

But with articulation, I would expect this:
Maybe not the best video, but that Jeep is pretty stock, and handles the articulation fine (stock jeeps are not that good with articulation). When you see what the guy traveled over at the end of the video, it seems daunting for a Vanagon.

Check out this stock Vangon on some rocks in Sedona: - Yikes, very little travel!

Tue Oct 19, 2010 8:21 am

Hello lads and lasses

I have been reading the many shock absorber threads on this here Samba and it seems that the only products discussed are

OEM
KYB
Bilstein
Konis.

Personally my money is on the Konis, however, I was wondering why no one mentions Monroe and Gabriel, which Gabriel makes a so-called "Airl-Lift" shock. I had a set many years ago on a full size Chevrolet station wagon and did not, at the time, detect any particular problems.
As we all know they can be "pumped up" at any station or with the Air Control Lift I believe from inside the car.

I am not advocating anything, just wondering

Tue Oct 19, 2010 8:42 am

Classicvibe wrote: Wow I feel dumb asking this, but nobody mentioned the old man emu shocks, and I was just about to pull the trigger on some. Is there any reason why there is this haunting unsaid agreement that they should not be considered?

Glad I'm not the only one wondering about these. I am getting ready to change out the shocks/springs on my '87 Syncro Westy. I'm leaning towards the OME shocks, and Syncro.org springs. I hope I'm not thread jacking, but it seams to be a question that fits here. Any thoughts? Thanks!!!

Tue Oct 19, 2010 9:15 am

VisPacem wrote: I was wondering why no one mentions Monroe and Gabriel, which Gabriel makes a so-called "Airl-Lift" shock.

<SNIP>

I am not advocating anything, just wondering
Probably because they are a niche item.

I have the Monroe Sensatracs on the rear of my 89 Westy. Some 15k miles. now.
I have put them to work. Loaded. Unloaded. Onroad. Off.. Twisty mtn and coastal roads. Long straight interstate cruising.

I would NOT recommend the Sensatracs unless you are planning to haul loads, regularly.

In my unloaded Westy they were a fairly harsh ride. Often skipping the rear wheels over bumps on the HWY. And when I installed syncro.org springs, that symptom worsened.
But thats a tradeoff. I can load up 300lbs off the rear, the van sits level and there's still room to work with.

They DO lift the rear 1/4-5/8" unloaded.. and that can help with old saggy springs. A reasonable interim solution.
They DO help firm up the rear if your are using a trailer and or carry accessories off a rack on the back.

With the syncro.org springs, I am thinking the Monroes may be a bit short (not enough droop).. I have not looked into that in much detail yet.. but am rebuilding the rear swing arms sometime this winter (new 16ers) and will measure droop then.

The Monroes were a considerable improvement over stock and are much more firm than the Bilstein HDs. I have had some odd wear on my Monroe Sensatracs. The coil-over comes in contact with the shock itself.. and has, so far rubbed off paint. May not be much off an issue. But Monroe placed a plastic guard in there to prevent that (I am guessing) and the plastic guard on mine is disintegrating.

I am very tempted to try the Gabrials next time around. But that would not be for a couple yrs out. My suspension is "good enough" for now.. and the wife wants that SVX out of the garage.

Wed Oct 27, 2010 9:25 pm

VwMomofthree wrote: Peter has helped me out at VC on other stuff before I like there customer service!
So did you buy from VC just for the cookies?
I would!!!

I agree. They are more than patient and helpful. When Peter explained that the Bilstein might not ride as well, depending on the condition of the springs, I decided to go with the Koni. I appreciate the guidance and customer service... and the cookies, of course.