CJ7 wrote: Just bought a set of Konis for my 2002 Adventurer 32v. Haven't driven it yet, I have one more to install after I get a breaker bar. But I was suprised that they didn't appear to be gas charged and the rear shock didn't have a boot to protect the rod from stones. I expected more features from a top of the line shock.
My FSDs are fully incased and are super heavy duty compared to the Bilstein with a rod and boot.I wouldn't go any further.Make sure you have the FSDs if not send them back.
1994 Pace Arrow 33L Class A 454 P30 2002 F250 lariet crewcab 4x4 7.3 PSD srw short bed auto 3.73 gears,reese 16k slide hitch,reese brake controller ford factory aic,autometer three guage pod trany temp,pyrometer,turbo boost,banks 4inch monster exhaust,aFe air box,sonnax valve and tri springs,magnafine trans filter,Wicked Wheel,TS flip chip 75/100/125/OMG,03 tt heated/signal mirrors,runningboard leds.Other than that its all stock
2oo4 ground up ridgid chopper 120rwhp http://community.webshots.com/user/oneHD
We bought a used MH. 99 tiffin. It had only 42k on it when we got it...After the drive home I was very unhappy with how it handled...sway, bounce, wind buffeted...I was not expecting a corvette....I had driven 6x6 and realize a truck was a truck...After our first trip about 200 miles I was scared of the coach and thought we made a mistake and should not have gotten a class A...I started looking at all the susp. goodys out their...On the advice of a friend I bought the Bilstein's and installed them....After that first drive with the new shocks....I don't look at any susp. goodys any more...My wife even said that the coach was riding a lot better from the passenger seat....I don't now about the Konies..I have never had a set..But the Bilstein's are far from junk...Just my 2 cents
Bilsteins are not "junk" but I too had a brand new set of Bilsteins on my P37 based Fleetwood. It still handled terribly. I then took the Bilsteins off and installed Koni FSDs. It was like night and day. The Bilsteins were a bit better than the stock shocks (which only had 25k miles on them but the Koni FSD's made it a new coach. My wife noticed the tremendous difference and felt much more safe after the Konis.
Even on my Country Coach which had regular Koni shocks as shipped from the factory the FSD's made a significant difference. The coach only has 16k miles so the original shocks were far from being worn out.
Bilsteins are not junk but if one is going to spend his money on new shocks spend them on Koni FSD's and if you really want your coach to hand the best it is capable of swap out the Bilsteins for the Koni FSDs.
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Ron
N6QL
2002 36' Country Coach Allure 350HP Cummins
2001 Jeep Wrangler Sahara
1978 Cessna T210M My Flying My website
I replaced the front Bilsteins with Koni FSDs. On a 50 mile test ride, I noticed an improvement in stability, a reduction of steering wheel input and less sway. I then replaced the rear Bilsteins with FSDs and took another 50 mile test ride. I am impressed. I'd venture to say it handles better than it ever did, is extremely stable, less prone to wind influence and 'road-steer', tracks better and has a better ride.
However, when running over road imperfections like potholes and joints, the "Hit" seems a bit more noticeable.
All-in-all, the FSDs seem to have done what PennDOT can't.
Granted, the Bilsteins were probably the originals of 1999 and had 47K miles.
BTW, I bought the FSDs for $110.00 each last year before the price went up. That alone is pleasing because my track-record is to buy something only to have the price drop dramatically 2 weeks later. Except in the case of this MH. We bought this Coach because Diesel was almost $0.40 per gallon less than Regular Gas at the time. 2 weeks later, Diesel went to higher than Premium. In the case of the Konis, it seems I won this time.
I had two sets of Monroe's put on by Workhorse in 25K. Then they told me ,What do you want the warentee is up. I put on the FSD's and had it out for the first time last weekend. What a differance.The thing I was surprised was Workhourses attitude. Warentee is up. The shocks were wrong new and the new shocks should have been on workhorse. But what a shock the KONI's are and what a differance.
I installed them on my front end a year ago. Can't tell any difference from the Monroes that I took off except they are so stiff that it feels like they are shaking my inside cabinets apart and I am getting more rattles. I cannot see why everyone likes these shocks. Of course I don't get any bouncing but I didn't get any bouncing with the Monroes either.
Lee and Joan Haeberlein
Arcadia, CA
03 Dolphin 5355 on WH W-22
07 Honda CRV
Brake Buddy
CJ7 wrote: Just bought a set of Konis for my 2002 Adventurer 32v. Haven't driven it yet, I have one more to install after I get a breaker bar. But I was suprised that they didn't appear to be gas charged and the rear shock didn't have a boot to protect the rod from stones. I expected more features from a top of the line shock.
You don't need the "features" if they work better!! Gas charged isn't necesary for a shock to work well, as the Koni's prove. Dust cover? I've never seen a Koni without them. I have Koni's all around and am waiting on the FSD's for the front (already have them on the rear). ReycoGranning is waiting on the supply right now, then they'll ship me a set.
Deen - Vancouver, WA
'02 Dutch Star 4090 (41+', triple slide)
435/1200 ISC Cummins/Banks PowerPak
'97 Grand Cherokee/4 down
'05 Honda Odyssey/dolly
NRA Benefactor Life Member
FMCA f47302s, Life Member: Good Sam, Newmar DP Owners Group
51st yr of RV'ing
lhaeb wrote: I installed them on my front end a year ago. Can't tell any difference from the Monroes that I took off except they are so stiff that it feels like they are shaking my inside cabinets apart and I am getting more rattles. I cannot see why everyone likes these shocks. Of course I don't get any bouncing but I didn't get any bouncing with the Monroes either.
Does "them" mean Koni FSD's or Bilsteins?
Mark
2000 Itasca Suncruiser 35U on a Ford chassis
2003 Ford Explorer toad with US Gear brakes,
ReadyBrute tow bar, and Demco base plate.
lhaeb wrote: I installed them on my front end a year ago. Can't tell any difference from the Monroes that I took off except they are so stiff that it feels like they are shaking my inside cabinets apart and I am getting more rattles. I cannot see why everyone likes these shocks. Of course I don't get any bouncing but I didn't get any bouncing with the Monroes either.
Well, you are by far in the minority and the first person I've heard from that the Koni FSDs didn't make a dramatic difference. I've not noticed any stiffness on the two different coaches I installed them on. In fact, both coaches smooth out potholes and road seams really well so I would say either you have the wrong shocks on or there is something else wrong with your coach like too much air in the tires or airbags.
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