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ratwell Samba Member
Joined: April 26, 2003 Posts: 8717 Location: Victoria, BC
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Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2006 1:01 pm Post subject: Koni steering damper (stabilizer) 76-1099 (APRIL FOOLS) |
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During my original research I discovered that Koni also made a steering damper (80-2193) in the 80s for our buses but it seems for a much shorter period than the shocks.
I haven't been able to locate any specs or details until recently because Koni's computers do not have this information anymore. Luckily my Koni contact in Australia was able to hunt down the data in his vintage printed material.
When I contacted Koni about doing a run of steering dampers they flatly said no and Bus Depot's buying power didn't sway them either. This is unfortunate because it would really complete the set we all have.
I have been able to locate 12 steering dampers in Australia. They are NOS, in the old style boxes with the old style logos. I put them on hold with a deposit ( bless the USD->AUS exchange rate but curse their shipping rates ) and shipped one box over to test on my bus.
Again, I'm simply stunned by how much of a difference it has made to steering feel. If you've ever driven a bus with a worn out steering damper you'll notice that the wheel is practically jerked out of your hand when you drive over speed bumps. When you have a good damper, the same goes to a lesser degree for the road when you hit a pothole or a bump especially during a turn.
The Koni steering damper is adjustable just like the rest of their classic red shocks and you can dial in the amount of road feedback you want. Unlike the front/rear shocks, the valving is linear and you can adjust them to a much finer degree.
On the softest setting, you don't even need to hold the steering wheel anymore (practically). Every deflection of the tires is absorbed by the damper. The hardest setting starts to feel like the stock Boge damper that tugs on the steering wheel a little. There's probably a nice setting in the middle but I haven't driven long enough with them to discover it.
These are NOS shocks, not new so they are slightly more orange in color than the latest shocks because Koni changed their paint formula. If you have NOS rears and new fronts like I do you'll see the difference up close but a bystander won't notice it looking at your bus.
So how do you get one? I'm going to import the remaining 11 from Australia as soon as I can fill all the orders. The shock was originally $49 but with shipping it's going to cost closer to $74 after I have them shipped to USA and then remailed to your address even though they are much lighter than a front/rear shock. After these are gone they are really gone.
These steering dampers fit all 68-79 buses as there is only one steering damper (211 425 021A) for all models.
Just send me a pm and I will add you to the list. It's first come first serve and I'll be taking money orders and Paypal. Details to follow. _________________ '78 Westfalia CDN
'76 Doublecab
Read the Baywindow FAQ
Last edited by ratwell on Sun Apr 02, 2006 12:47 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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[email protected] Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2003 Posts: 747 Location: Colorado Springs, Co.
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Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2006 3:56 pm Post subject: |
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nice find!! _________________ luck is the result of good preperation |
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BobDog Samba Member
Joined: January 15, 2004 Posts: 1193 Location: Orange County
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NO_H2O Samba Member
Joined: January 03, 2004 Posts: 143 Location: Stockbridge, GA
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[email protected] Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2003 Posts: 747 Location: Colorado Springs, Co.
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Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2006 6:41 pm Post subject: |
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PM sent , Put me down for two. Let me know where to send a money order to.
Best Regards,
John _________________ luck is the result of good preperation |
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ratwell Samba Member
Joined: April 26, 2003 Posts: 8717 Location: Victoria, BC
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sailorkh Samba Member
Joined: March 29, 2004 Posts: 288 Location: Alameda, Ca
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Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2006 7:38 pm Post subject: |
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Dude...I for one was taken hook, line, and sinker. You could have made a lot of money taking pre orders. SOME day, SOME way, we need to get you back for this one.
_________________ Kris
1971 Deluxe
1978 Westfalia |
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[email protected] Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2003 Posts: 747 Location: Colorado Springs, Co.
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Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2006 7:39 pm Post subject: |
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Wow...You got me Ratwell! _________________ luck is the result of good preperation |
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moxnix Samba Member
Joined: September 11, 2003 Posts: 667 Location: Mpls Minn.
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Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2006 7:52 pm Post subject: Curses!! |
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I was pretty damn excited too
No wonder the bosslady thinks I'm wacko
Thanks for the laugh dude _________________ Ritterlich im Kriege, wachsam für den Frieden |
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tristessa Samba Member
Joined: April 07, 2004 Posts: 3992 Location: Portland, OR
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Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2006 8:27 pm Post subject: |
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D'oh! I got all excited from the first couple posts, then I get down to the bottom. Ratwell, you bastard! I'd almost forgotten what day this is.
Good one, though. |
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Bart Dunn Samba Consiglieri
Joined: May 09, 2004 Posts: 2354 Location: Sea level (Mid Atlantic)
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Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2006 8:47 pm Post subject: |
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Don't blame me for being one of the first suckered in on this one--blame the vodka, vermouth, and olives. To quote a latter half of the 20th century genius: "It's not my fault: I was drunkened by intoxicating liquors!" _________________ Not enough car seats fit into my:
'58 Beetle convertible
'58 Beetle sedan |
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westy78 Samba Member
Joined: August 20, 2002 Posts: 2005 Location: Portland OR
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Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2006 9:12 pm Post subject: |
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Thats cold Richard, just cold. The photo was the piece de resistance. If it were anyone else I wouldn't have fallen for it, but you of all people. You should be ashamed of yourself. Oh well, just saved me $75. _________________ Jasan C.
'78 Westy
VW Campmobile, it goes on vacation with you. |
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steponmebbbboom Samba Member
Joined: May 01, 2004 Posts: 6390
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Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2006 9:16 pm Post subject: |
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Ive got no regrets. |
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DurocShark Samba Member
Joined: April 05, 2004 Posts: 6624 Location: Crappy town in a crappy state. But the beach is nearby, so I have that going for me.
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Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2006 9:17 pm Post subject: |
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ROFTLMAO!!! _________________ No boom today. Boom tomorrow. There's always a boom tomorrow. |
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sailorkh Samba Member
Joined: March 29, 2004 Posts: 288 Location: Alameda, Ca
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Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2006 10:02 pm Post subject: |
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With all the rain we have been having here, like every %#@& day, I took the day to lock myself in the shop at work and have at my CV joints. They were a drag getting off and I was taking break when I saw...Koni Steering Dampner...WOW!!!!, Very cool.< And, I had even seen the T2 list guy stuck under his bus with a computer too>...Well, I PM'ed Mr. Ratbastard, oops I mean Mr. Ratwell, and hoped I was at least #9 on the list of 11. Well, I got back to work and went right up to the front of my bus and then it hit me I'm not # 9, I'm #2....that dude just pulled that one out of his engine compartment!!! After I was done laughing, the rest of the job went much better.
Thanks, that was cool. Too bad the chummys just came out cause that would have been a good one! _________________ Kris
1971 Deluxe
1978 Westfalia |
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sailorkh Samba Member
Joined: March 29, 2004 Posts: 288 Location: Alameda, Ca
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Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2006 10:11 pm Post subject: |
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steponmebbbboom wrote: |
Ive got no regrets. |
That's cause you've got no life.
It's just a joke, son _________________ Kris
1971 Deluxe
1978 Westfalia |
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BobDog Samba Member
Joined: January 15, 2004 Posts: 1193 Location: Orange County
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Smithy Samba Smithy
Joined: May 10, 2004 Posts: 508 Location: under the hill
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Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2006 11:02 pm Post subject: |
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Richard- you outdid yourself- brilliant and believable. _________________ Don't take life too seriously- you'll never live thru it....
Dyslexic rebel, I beats to the drum of a different march. |
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benzene Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2005 Posts: 61 Location: memphis
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Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2006 8:42 am Post subject: |
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That was great! _________________ you can either start living
or start dying |
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Amskeptic Samba Member
Joined: October 18, 2002 Posts: 8568 Location: All Across The Country
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Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2006 8:57 am Post subject: |
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Please return my bank account numbers, my personal password codes, my dog and my mother-in-law and the deed to the house and my first-born.
Colin _________________ www.itinerant-air-cooled.com |
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