|
|
03-18-2010, 02:15 PM
|
#15
|
Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 80
|
We changed out the Monroes for Bilsteins at roughly 5000 miles, the improvement was more than expected, very pleased with the decision. As I have mentioned on other posts, the Monroes were so inadequate it seemed criminal that they were installed in the first place, must have been an accountant at Monaco's decision. Regardless of your final choice, anything will be a 100%+ improvement over the Monroes.
|
|
|
|
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!
iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!
|
04-07-2010, 10:44 AM
|
#16
|
Member
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: The Mogollon Rim
Posts: 81
|
Jumpin in here, late as usual. Been reading alot of the posts and got a lot of questions. Got a 2003 Dipl. RR8R. I got the ride checked at Henderson's (Oregon) at about 25000 miles. They mentioned Koni shocks back then but I figured the rv wasn't that old. They told me the ride was not bad on my old Monroe factory shocks. I'm now at 60000 miles. Some of the ride characteristics some of you are describing are beginning to seem familiar.
Jarring shake going over cracks in the roadway. Leaning on turns seems a bit more that usual. My problem is that I've grown used to my current ride and not sure about the shocks. I gotta figure though at 60000 plus, my old shocks gotta be on the way out. Reading the reports here about the Koni schocks has got me wondering. Kinda getting interested to see if new shocks will make a big difference in the overall ride. At the prices I've seen, I would hope they do more than give a "little" better ride. Don't know much about these.
Are there different sizes for the front and back? One of the sites mentioned the size of the upper bolt, 18mm vs 3/4? Different shocks? Is there an easy way of telling which ones I would use? Anyone found any great prices? I noticed that Koni had an add on their site about the FMCA show in New Mexico about installation. (past, but Redmond is coming up) Is it better (read cheaper) to get it done at a show?
|
|
|
04-07-2010, 05:32 PM
|
#17
|
Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Knoxville, TN, USA
Posts: 3,994
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Galvanizd
Jumpin in here, late as usual. Been reading alot of the posts and got a lot of questions. Got a 2003 Dipl. RR8R. I got the ride checked at Henderson's (Oregon) at about 25000 miles. They mentioned Koni shocks back then but I figured the rv wasn't that old. They told me the ride was not bad on my old Monroe factory shocks. I'm now at 60000 miles. Some of the ride characteristics some of you are describing are beginning to seem familiar.
Jarring shake going over cracks in the roadway. Leaning on turns seems a bit more that usual. My problem is that I've grown used to my current ride and not sure about the shocks. I gotta figure though at 60000 plus, my old shocks gotta be on the way out. Reading the reports here about the Koni schocks has got me wondering. Kinda getting interested to see if new shocks will make a big difference in the overall ride. At the prices I've seen, I would hope they do more than give a "little" better ride. Don't know much about these.
Are there different sizes for the front and back? One of the sites mentioned the size of the upper bolt, 18mm vs 3/4? Different shocks? Is there an easy way of telling which ones I would use? Anyone found any great prices? I noticed that Koni had an add on their site about the FMCA show in New Mexico about installation. (past, but Redmond is coming up) Is it better (read cheaper) to get it done at a show?
|
If you have a 2003 RR8R these are the shocks that Koni says you need:
Koni-RV
If you still have the original Monroe Shocks they must be completely shot. I changed all 8 of mine at 12,000 miles and some of the Monroe shocks were already shot.
I know it seems like a high price to pay for 8 Koni shocks but you will wonder why you did not put them on long ago. When you drive the coach with all 8 Koni shocks installed you will have a big smile on your face. They will improve the ride, sway, handling, and reduce the effect of passing trucks and cross wind. Dollar for dollar installing the Koni shocks has been one of the best improvements I have made to our Diplomat.
Bob
__________________
Bob and Pam
2022 Quantum JM31
2023 Colorado Z71
|
|
|
04-07-2010, 05:46 PM
|
#18
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Punta Gorda Fl
Posts: 784
|
bob, not to hijack this thread but how was your trip back from gulf shores? we were running a little behind you. we also had lunch with rex and his dw. what nice people and rex being the fountain of knowledge is always great for conversation! jim & sue
__________________
Jim & Sue
2017 Cambria/Aspect30j
2012 Turbo Beetle
|
|
|
04-07-2010, 05:53 PM
|
#19
|
Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Knoxville, TN, USA
Posts: 3,994
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by beaverjim
bob, not to hijack this thread but how was your trip back from gulf shores? we were running a little behind you. we also had lunch with rex and his dw. what nice people and rex being the fountain of knowledge is always great for conversation! jim & sue
|
Hi Jim,
Did not know you were down there or we would have looked you up. We had a good trip all the way around. The weather was kind to us for our entire trip.
Yes, Rex has vast knowledge about many subjects and he and his wife were fun to be with. After our lunch they drove us around for a little tour. We hope to meet them again sometime.
Bob
__________________
Bob and Pam
2022 Quantum JM31
2023 Colorado Z71
|
|
|
11-12-2011, 12:23 AM
|
#20
|
Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Florence, Or.
Posts: 162
|
SHOCKS
I realize this thread is old but wondered if a person was on a tight budget could he put a set of Konis on the front and then on the back a little later? Seems that would help the most other than putting them all the way around...just a thought.
|
|
|
11-12-2011, 01:21 AM
|
#21
|
Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 713
|
Why not, that is what I am doing.
Don
|
|
|
11-12-2011, 04:04 AM
|
#22
|
Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Knoxville, TN, USA
Posts: 3,994
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by mak1
I realize this thread is old but wondered if a person was on a tight budget could he put a set of Konis on the front and then on the back a little later? Seems that would help the most other than putting them all the way around...just a thought.
|
There should be no problem with that as long as you did all the shocks on the axle at the same time. If you have 8 air bags then that would be four on the front axle and four on the drive axle. If you have 10 air bags there would only be two on the tag axle. If you have a four air bag coach then there would be two shocks up front and two in the rear. Bottom line, do all the shocks on a single axle at the same time.
Bob
__________________
Bob and Pam
2022 Quantum JM31
2023 Colorado Z71
|
|
|
11-12-2011, 10:47 AM
|
#23
|
Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Dawson Creek, B.C. Canada
Posts: 125
|
I would do the front shocks first if you are doing it that way as from my experience I did the rears first but noticed the biggest improvement when I changed the fronts. I went with the Bilsteins as part of the REK from Source Engineering and the improvement in ride was awesome so if you went with the Bilsteins you could probably do all 8. Just a thought.
CHEERS
__________________
Gramps Toy Hauler - 2003 Windsor 38PBDD, 370 ISL Cummins, Gramps Toy - 07 FJ Cruiser,Gramps Toy Box - Mirage 23' Car trailer
Co-Pilot Karen, Dash Mutts - Chewie, CJ, (spoiled rotten Shi Tsu's)
|
|
|
11-13-2011, 12:47 PM
|
#24
|
Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Florence, Or.
Posts: 162
|
Shocks
Thanks to all...Sure would be nice if one of you guys took your new Bilstiens off and put on new Koni's. Then we would all know if the dollar difference was really worth it. Oh come on, it's only money..
|
|
|
11-13-2011, 05:32 PM
|
#25
|
Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Signal Hill, California
Posts: 3,320
|
With the Road Master Sway bars front and real and Koni's the ride is incredible. Enough said..............
__________________
Sanford, Linda & R cats: Molly, Levi, Cody
2011 Monaco by Navistar RV
Good Sam Life Member Good Sam Hams Chapter
|
|
|
11-13-2011, 05:48 PM
|
#26
|
Registered User
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 3,198
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by nodine
If you are going to do this work yourself you will need a good 3/8 drive air wrench with a swivel air coupler on the end of the air hose where it connect to the wrench. Most of the work at the top of the shock is by feel and it is difficult to get into position and get the wrench on top of the shock. It also helps to have a small body as I do. A large man with large arms may have trouble with this task.
Bob
|
Anyone else have any comments about access?
At least on my knight, there is a small screw front and rear at the bottom of each fender. Unscrew em and the fender hinges up almost vertical. I didn't look at the shocks much, but the air bags are right there.
|
|
|
11-13-2011, 06:01 PM
|
#27
|
Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Dawson Creek, B.C. Canada
Posts: 125
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by mak1
Thanks to all...Sure would be nice if one of you guys took your new Bilstiens off and put on new Koni's. Then we would all know if the dollar difference was really worth it. Oh come on, it's only money..
|
Ummmm and I just bet you know someone who would be real willing to take the slightly used Bilsteins of our hands for a greatly discounted price!!!! LOL
Its going to be hard to get a direct comparison of the 2 brands but I do believe I saw a quote or something about an RV Magazine test comparison between some shock brands. Someone else might remember this article.
CHEERS
__________________
Gramps Toy Hauler - 2003 Windsor 38PBDD, 370 ISL Cummins, Gramps Toy - 07 FJ Cruiser,Gramps Toy Box - Mirage 23' Car trailer
Co-Pilot Karen, Dash Mutts - Chewie, CJ, (spoiled rotten Shi Tsu's)
|
|
|
11-14-2011, 09:26 PM
|
#28
|
"Formerly Diplomat Don"
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Moorpark, Ca.
Posts: 23,922
|
mak1......I put on just the front FSD's when they first came out to see if they really solved my issues. I waited six months before I put the rears on.
__________________
Don & Mary
2019 Newmar Dutch Star 4018 (Freightliner)
2019 Ford Raptor
|
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|