Hello! Log in or Register   |  Help  |  Donate  |  Buy Shirts See all banner ads | Advertise on TheSamba.com  
TheSamba.com
 
Koni steering damper (stabilizer) 76-1099 (APRIL FOOLS)
Page: 1, 2, 3  Next
Forum Index -> Bay Window Bus Share: Facebook Twitter
Reply to topic
Print View
Quick sort: Show newest posts on top | Show oldest posts on top View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
ratwell
Samba Member


Joined: April 26, 2003
Posts: 8717
Location: Victoria, BC
ratwell is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Apr 01, 2006 1:01 pm    Post subject: Koni steering damper (stabilizer) 76-1099 (APRIL FOOLS) Reply with quote

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 Very Happy but curse their shipping rates Evil or Very Mad ) 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.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


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
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website Gallery Classifieds Feedback
[email protected]
Samba Member


Joined: June 12, 2003
Posts: 747
Location: Colorado Springs, Co.
soulful66@hotmail.com is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Apr 01, 2006 3:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

nice find!! Very Happy
_________________
luck is the result of good preperation
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail AIM Address Gallery Classifieds Feedback
BobDog
Samba Member


Joined: January 15, 2004
Posts: 1193
Location: Orange County
BobDog is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Apr 01, 2006 6:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

This isnt a "April's Fools Joke" is it.....if not, I will take a KONI Steering Dampner. Do i go to your website to PayPal you ?

PM sent

Thanks in advance
_________________
70 Bug Vert
70 Baja
View BAJA BUGS at EL MIRAGE and Bus Ad and Film Work below

http://www.oldbug.com/hotwesty.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=H9utTT7BYbM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNIDTCV97eo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNIDTCV97eo
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
NO_H2O
Samba Member


Joined: January 03, 2004
Posts: 143
Location: Stockbridge, GA
NO_H2O is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Apr 01, 2006 6:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I want one.
_________________
NO_H2O

www.volksport.net
www.dtmengineering.com
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website Gallery Classifieds Feedback
[email protected]
Samba Member


Joined: June 12, 2003
Posts: 747
Location: Colorado Springs, Co.
soulful66@hotmail.com is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Apr 01, 2006 6:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail AIM Address Gallery Classifieds Feedback
ratwell
Samba Member


Joined: April 26, 2003
Posts: 8717
Location: Victoria, BC
ratwell is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Apr 01, 2006 7:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Wow, they all sold out within a few hours on a Saturday no less. My inbox is overflowing so no more PMs please.

Payment details are here:

http://www.ratwell.com/technical/Koni2.html

Kudos to Chris Galvin. Smile
_________________
'78 Westfalia CDN
'76 Doublecab
Read the Baywindow FAQ
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website Gallery Classifieds Feedback
sailorkh
Samba Member


Joined: March 29, 2004
Posts: 288
Location: Alameda, Ca
sailorkh is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Apr 01, 2006 7:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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.

Twisted Evil
_________________
Kris
1971 Deluxe
1978 Westfalia
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Yahoo Messenger Classifieds Feedback
[email protected]
Samba Member


Joined: June 12, 2003
Posts: 747
Location: Colorado Springs, Co.
soulful66@hotmail.com is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Apr 01, 2006 7:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Wow...You got me Ratwell! Embarassed
_________________
luck is the result of good preperation
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail AIM Address Gallery Classifieds Feedback
moxnix
Samba Member


Joined: September 11, 2003
Posts: 667
Location: Mpls Minn.
moxnix is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Apr 01, 2006 7:52 pm    Post subject: Curses!! Reply with quote

I was pretty damn excited too
No wonder the bosslady thinks I'm wacko Smile
Thanks for the laugh dude
_________________
Ritterlich im Kriege, wachsam für den Frieden
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
tristessa
Samba Member


Joined: April 07, 2004
Posts: 3992
Location: Portland, OR
tristessa is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Apr 01, 2006 8:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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. Laughing

Good one, though.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Bart Dunn
Samba Consiglieri


Joined: May 09, 2004
Posts: 2354
Location: Sea level (Mid Atlantic)
Bart Dunn is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Apr 01, 2006 8:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
westy78
Samba Member


Joined: August 20, 2002
Posts: 2005
Location: Portland OR
westy78 is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Apr 01, 2006 9:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thats cold Richard, just cold. The photo was the piece de resistance. Laughing If it were anyone else I wouldn't have fallen for it, but you of all people. You should be ashamed of yourself. Wink Oh well, just saved me $75.
_________________
Jasan C.
'78 Westy

VW Campmobile, it goes on vacation with you.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
steponmebbbboom
Samba Member


Joined: May 01, 2004
Posts: 6390

steponmebbbboom is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Apr 01, 2006 9:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ive got no regrets. Smile
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
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.
DurocShark is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Apr 01, 2006 9:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

ROFTLMAO!!!
_________________
No boom today. Boom tomorrow. There's always a boom tomorrow.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website AIM Address Gallery Classifieds Feedback
sailorkh
Samba Member


Joined: March 29, 2004
Posts: 288
Location: Alameda, Ca
sailorkh is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Apr 01, 2006 10:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Yahoo Messenger Classifieds Feedback
sailorkh
Samba Member


Joined: March 29, 2004
Posts: 288
Location: Alameda, Ca
sailorkh is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Apr 01, 2006 10:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

steponmebbbboom wrote:
Ive got no regrets. Smile


That's cause you've got no life.

It's just a joke, son Very Happy
_________________
Kris
1971 Deluxe
1978 Westfalia
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Yahoo Messenger Classifieds Feedback
BobDog
Samba Member


Joined: January 15, 2004
Posts: 1193
Location: Orange County
BobDog is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Apr 01, 2006 10:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Nice one Ratman !!!!

How many PM's did you get ?
_________________
70 Bug Vert
70 Baja
View BAJA BUGS at EL MIRAGE and Bus Ad and Film Work below

http://www.oldbug.com/hotwesty.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=H9utTT7BYbM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNIDTCV97eo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNIDTCV97eo
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Smithy
Samba Smithy


Joined: May 10, 2004
Posts: 508
Location: under the hill
Smithy is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Apr 01, 2006 11:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
benzene
Samba Member


Joined: February 09, 2005
Posts: 61
Location: memphis
benzene is offline 

PostPosted: Sun Apr 02, 2006 8:42 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

That was great! Laughing
_________________
you can either start living
or start dying
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Classifieds Feedback
Amskeptic
Samba Member


Joined: October 18, 2002
Posts: 8568
Location: All Across The Country
Amskeptic is offline 

PostPosted: Sun Apr 02, 2006 8:57 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

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
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website Facebook Instagram Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Display posts from previous:   
Reply to topic    Forum Index -> Bay Window Bus All times are Mountain Standard Time/Pacific Daylight Savings Time
Page: 1, 2, 3  Next
Page 1 of 3

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

About | Help! | Advertise | Donate | Premium Membership | Privacy/Terms of Use | Contact Us | Site Map
Copyright © 1996-2023, Everett Barnes. All Rights Reserved.
Not affiliated with or sponsored by Volkswagen of America | Forum powered by phpBB
Links to eBay or other vendor sites may be affiliate links where the site receives compensation.