Are Koni Adjustable Shocks Rough?
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From: NC
1999 C43
Are Koni Adjustable Shocks Rough?
I installed my own shocks to the instructions, including the part where they ask you to put the shock into a vise and turn it (I did 2 full turns).
After installation, I noticed that the shocks were on the softest setting, but I am feeling EVERY bump in the road. I am actually popping out of my seat at times.
Is this usual? I was told that the soft setting on the Konis would be similar to the feel I had with the original AMG shocks. This is obviously not so.
What is the problem (if there is one). What should I do?
After installation, I noticed that the shocks were on the softest setting, but I am feeling EVERY bump in the road. I am actually popping out of my seat at times.
Is this usual? I was told that the soft setting on the Konis would be similar to the feel I had with the original AMG shocks. This is obviously not so.
What is the problem (if there is one). What should I do?
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From: NC
1999 C43
Yeah, things are beginning to settle just a little bit. It is still really rough though. You could lose some fillings.
I think that for some reason my rear suspension is much harder. They return the energy much quicker.
I think that for some reason my rear suspension is much harder. They return the energy much quicker.
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C43/55,2k11 Volvo S60 T6AWD,2k Audi B5 S4,95 Eagle Talon Tsi AWD 500+awhp
Try adjusting them to soft in the front and medium in the rear. Man these shocks have me feeling like keeping my Bilsteins on.Have yet to install the Koni's as of now.
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From: NC
1999 C43
With the Konis on for a few days, I seem to be generating a lot of body noise. I feel like I am shaking some bolts loose and my rear is beginning to squeak.
The front is rubbing a little when I do U-turns and there is a little popping sound in my right front when turning at all. I am beginning to regret my setup a little bit.
The front is rubbing a little when I do U-turns and there is a little popping sound in my right front when turning at all. I am beginning to regret my setup a little bit.
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I heard Koni's are the way to go on my C36. I'm ordering new shocks on Monday. Should I get something else? I'm really not looking for a harsher ride then the AMG Bilsteins. BTW, I'm also going to be using Eibach springs if that makes a difference.
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maybe you are on full stiff instead of full soft? I have the adjustable koni's on both my clk 320 and my porsche 944 turbo. They are softer than stock on the clk when I put them on full soft. I set my 944 ones to full stiff in the rear in error, and you feel EVERYTHING. Check that first! 
good luck
good luck
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Thread Starter
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From: NC
1999 C43
Hmm. They are turned all the way to the soft side...
Maybe I should turn it to the firm side and see what it does.
/just rode it on the most firm. Oddly, it does not seem to change anything. I think it might have something to do with putting the shocks in a vise and turning them before installing them (as in the instructions). I might have manually adjusted them stiff.
/RocketR: Actually, I seem to be the only one experiencing problems (probably because I messed with them myself). I don't think it would give you the same problems.
Maybe I should turn it to the firm side and see what it does.
/just rode it on the most firm. Oddly, it does not seem to change anything. I think it might have something to do with putting the shocks in a vise and turning them before installing them (as in the instructions). I might have manually adjusted them stiff.
/RocketR: Actually, I seem to be the only one experiencing problems (probably because I messed with them myself). I don't think it would give you the same problems.
Last edited by Jon R; Jul 24, 2005 at 05:37 PM.
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From: Mid West
1997 C36 AMG
Originally Posted by Jon R
Hmm. They are turned all the way to the soft side...
Maybe I should turn it to the firm side and see what it does.
/just rode it on the most firm. Oddly, it does not seem to change anything. I think it might have something to do with putting the shocks in a vise and turning them before installing them (as in the instructions). I might have manually adjusted them stiff.
/RocketR: Actually, I seem to be the only one experiencing problems (probably because I messed with them myself). I don't think it would give you the same problems.
Maybe I should turn it to the firm side and see what it does.
/just rode it on the most firm. Oddly, it does not seem to change anything. I think it might have something to do with putting the shocks in a vise and turning them before installing them (as in the instructions). I might have manually adjusted them stiff.
/RocketR: Actually, I seem to be the only one experiencing problems (probably because I messed with them myself). I don't think it would give you the same problems.
Did you use the stock bump stop..
I am assuming you're aware that you will need to cut the stock rubber bump stop since the car is sitting lower now.
Other wise when the suspension compressed the shock have got a chance to its job and the shock boddy and the car body squeeze the bump stock in between in which might explain the rough bumpy ride..
Regardz,
J Irwan
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I ran without bumpstops in teh front and i got a loud clunk whenever i hit a dip in the road which i assume is horrible for the shock. I then put the factory ones in without trimming and havent had a problem, i thought about trimming it but i could not come up with a good guess as to how much it shoudl be shortened?
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From: NC
1999 C43
My front suspension "seems" to be fine (just a feeling), but the rear shocks are really rough. I have not trimmed the bump stops at all. I followed the instructions, placing the plastic washer, bump stop, shock cover (drilled), etc.
I was not advised about trimming the bump stop. I was told that they would keep my car from bottoming out and possibly doing damage to my already lowered car.
If trimmed, how much should they be trimmed?
I was not advised about trimming the bump stop. I was told that they would keep my car from bottoming out and possibly doing damage to my already lowered car.
If trimmed, how much should they be trimmed?
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hi jon,
i use bilstein sport and brabus springs on my setup and not sure if this may apply to your situtaion, however when you vise clamped your shocks during adjusting, you didn't clamp it too tight perhaps seizing the rod from travelling up and down? not too sure how thin or thick the valve tubing is, but any small nick in the tub channelling may cause the internal valve from travelling hence why you maybe experiencing the very harsh ride as you explained. my suggestion is to remove the rear shock and see if the rod will travel freely. to do this, after you have removed the shock, flip the shock over and press it down as far as it can go against a piece fo wood on concrete and see if it slowly and smoothly moves back up. if you have a very hard time pushing it down or it doesn't come up smothly, it may be damaged. anyone else, please fill in or correct my comment
i use bilstein sport and brabus springs on my setup and not sure if this may apply to your situtaion, however when you vise clamped your shocks during adjusting, you didn't clamp it too tight perhaps seizing the rod from travelling up and down? not too sure how thin or thick the valve tubing is, but any small nick in the tub channelling may cause the internal valve from travelling hence why you maybe experiencing the very harsh ride as you explained. my suggestion is to remove the rear shock and see if the rod will travel freely. to do this, after you have removed the shock, flip the shock over and press it down as far as it can go against a piece fo wood on concrete and see if it slowly and smoothly moves back up. if you have a very hard time pushing it down or it doesn't come up smothly, it may be damaged. anyone else, please fill in or correct my comment
Last edited by linuxfoo; Jul 25, 2005 at 03:49 PM.
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Jon,
KONI shocks come from the factory at their full soft setting. The adjustment method will vary depending which model shock you have. The W202 comes available with internally adjustable or externally adjustable shocks and their adjusting methods are completely different.
In both cases, you should notice an immediate difference when pushing then extending the shock shaft. Extending the shaft should be considerably more difficult the stiffer the shock is set.
KONI shocks come from the factory at their full soft setting. The adjustment method will vary depending which model shock you have. The W202 comes available with internally adjustable or externally adjustable shocks and their adjusting methods are completely different.
In both cases, you should notice an immediate difference when pushing then extending the shock shaft. Extending the shaft should be considerably more difficult the stiffer the shock is set.
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From: NC
1999 C43
Something must not be right with my setup. I emailed Koni, but they were not too helpful. After about a week with this setup and mechanics refusing to work on my car, I have a 2 o'clock appointment to have my shocks and springs removed. I will reinstall things some day when I have more time to deal with this.
I needed more education before getting everything installed. Hopefully the future will be different. As of now, I have invested too much money.
/From the box, the shocks were difficult to compress and took a long time to extend. Also, the soft adjustment and firm adjustment were no different.
I needed more education before getting everything installed. Hopefully the future will be different. As of now, I have invested too much money.
/From the box, the shocks were difficult to compress and took a long time to extend. Also, the soft adjustment and firm adjustment were no different.
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From: Mid West
1997 C36 AMG
Originally Posted by x15jq
I ran without bumpstops in teh front and i got a loud clunk whenever i hit a dip in the road which i assume is horrible for the shock. I then put the factory ones in without trimming and havent had a problem, i thought about trimming it but i could not come up with a good guess as to how much it shoudl be shortened?
I don't really have a formule for this.
But Here is what I did for my car. The H&R lowered the front of car about 2.2" from stock form.
And the bump stop is 3.3" long. So I cut 1.5" from it.
Look at it this way, the bump stop is design to prevent the shock from bottoming, but that was with stock height, once the stock height is dropped you will also need to make necessary adjustment to your factory bump stop to allow the new sport sport to travel.. Other wise the dampening system on your car doesn't work properly and you might have a harsh ride...due to nothing could absorb those shocks and vibration from the road.
Regardz,
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on a side note, bilsteins sport shocks have shorter shafts than the stock and may also have shorter shafts than the konis as well, i can not confirm on the koni's. however, i sepcifically chose the bilstein sport shocks over any other because of this. the advantage of shorter shafts is that it is supposed to give you the same amount of travel as if the car was at stock height, less chance of bottoming out and without even cutting the factory bump stops.
but again its all user preference
but again its all user preference
Last edited by linuxfoo; Jul 27, 2005 at 06:37 PM.
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From: Georgia
E 63S Wagon Renntech, E55 Renntech, SL65, SL 55 030, ML, bunch of old ones--they come, they go...
After experimenting with them for a while...
I can just say I won't be using Koni again. I knew in the back of my mind this wasn't the right thing for a Benz, as I had been totally happy with Bilstein for years. And yes, they are definitely way firmer than US spec AMG. Just my .02.
