The KONI Shocks have arrived!

[Busdepot]

[airschooled]

Ron, thanks for letting us know, AND for restocking them! These are one of the few parts out there that pass my quiz:

If something costs three times as much but lasts ten times as long, which is REALLY cheaper?

Robbie
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Learn how your vintage VW works. And why it doesn't!
One-on-one tech help for your Volkswagen:
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[Brian]

[flat4powerhouse]

[Stuartzickefoose]

Ill get on the boat soon enough....
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Stuart Zickefoose

2011 Jetta Sportwagen TDi 6 speed manual

206-841-7324
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[richparker]

[mack00]

[Busdepot]

[airschooled]

[Brian]

[DougB]

Just got my Konis installed on my '75 Westy over the weekend My old shocks were definitely gas charged...black...looks like they've been on there a while. I didn't look at them closely enough to see any stamped numbers.

Initial impressions of the ride: it really didn't feel that different at first. I went with the softest setting on the front and one half turn on the rears. There was definitely less lean on turns and then this morning, on the highway, the ride was steady and sure with a tighter feel...much less affected by crosswinds. That said, the ride at lower speeds, hitting potholes and speed bumps, is still quite supple. I also don't feel the car bobbing as much, and maybe there's a bit less dive with the brakes.

I got mine from ShockWarehouse.com and think the deal was pretty good. It took them maybe a week to get them in the mail.

- Doug
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'75 Campmobile (tin-top to SpaceRoof)
'73 Fastback
'52 BMW R67/2
'41 Zundapp KS600
'55 Puch SGS250
A very, very understanding wife

[WhirledTraveller]

I put the Koni's on the front a few days ago. Gonna do the rears eventually, but I need to set aside the time to do the torsion bars as well (currently running coil-overs in the rear).

The old front shocks where maybe original... black Boge shocks made in "West Germany". They still had good resistance throughout the full stroke and didn't seem obviously worn out. But the Koni's make a huge difference. I set mine at one half turn. Ride on the highway is much, much improved. Straighter tracking, less affected by wind, less brake dive, and still pretty supple over bumps although more "new Mercedes" than the previous "old Cadillac". A worthwhile improvement.
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1977 Westy, Automatic. Big Valve heads, CS Cam.

[Mark70baja]

Pretty sure these are the same KONI shocks. On sale now, but not expected in until mid-July. Pretty big savings on the fronts though.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/kon-82-2101/overview/year/1982/make/volkswagen/model/vanagon


http://www.summitracing.com/parts/kon-82-2100/overview/year/1982/make/volkswagen/model/vanagon
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Try talking yours ideas up, without talking other peoples ideas down. Everyone stays much happier that way.

82 Vanagon with ASI Full Camper Conversion, 2010 Jeep Rubicon

[tristessa]

Vanagon shocks are different than Bay Bus shocks.

[Xevin]

I read these shocks are wonderful. I get it. Bus gets used only for camping and day offs. Mostly 6 months a year. I'm not usually thrifty on parts but 4 bills on shocks seems steep. Is there a less expensive shock worth looking into? I only average about 3500 miles a year. The KYBs on there now seem OK.
I run sway bars too. Just thinking budget might be better spent on essentials. Apologizes if this is the wrong place to ask. Thanks.
72 Campmobile.
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Keep on Busin'

[airschooled]

[dirtkeeper]

[static]

[tristessa]

[Busdepot]

If you've been thinking of upgrading to Koni's this may be the time. Koni is running a $50 factory rebate on a set of 4, and I have confirmed that they will honor the rebate on '70-79 font and '72-79 rear Bus shocks purchased through us even though they're not a normal production shock for Koni. That would be these ones...

http://www.busdepot.com/802110 ('70-79 front)
http://www.busdepot.com/802220 ('72-79 rear)

The earlier ones are a bit murkier. Those are officially a Bus Depot only product (meaning they won't do custom runs for anyone else regardless of quantity). Technically the terms of the rebate are that custom shocks like these qualify for the rebate IF they appear in the Koni online catalog at koni-na.com. Which these do. However Koni has said they did not intend to include them and plan to remove them from the e-catalog during the rebate period to avoid paying out. As of this posting they're still there, but even so it wouldn't shock me if the rebate center gave you a fight over it (and I couldn't guarantee a win, even though you'd have a good argument as per the rebate terms). Therefore we're not mentioning a rebate for the early ones. However if you were planning on buying them anyway, if it were me I'd submit the rebate form and a screenshot of the e-catalog listing, as the worst they can say is no. As another alternative, if you have a '70 or '71 you could use the '72 up rears, as they will fit (and are confirmed for the rebate) only the valving is slightly different to compensate for the heavier Type 4 engine.

Anyway, I don't see Koni ever dropping the price on these Bus shocks (to the contrary they seem to go up every year, and at some point will probably go NLA entirely), so a $50 rebate is probably the closest thing to a price reduction you're ever likely to see.
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- Ron Salmon
The Bus Depot
www.busdepot.com