Community Forums

DebbieMH · 03-16-2016, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Al S.

The words "almost the same" would bother me, I have never heard of changing shocks on just half of any vehicle. JMO...Al

Well, it is working for me. And Spartan was the one that recommended it. So, it's not bothering me a bit :-)

brobox · 03-16-2016, 04:14 PM

Koni install update.

1. The Koni shocks are twice as heavy as the factory Bilsteins shock that were removed. The ram on the Bilsteins are about 3/8 inch where the Koni's are about 1/2 inch. The shocks are so large there is not much room to clear the mounting area. They have got to ride much better than what I removed. I could not believe how light the Bilsteins were for that heavy of a front end.

2. The change over is not a DIY project unless you have heavy tools. 1 1/8 inch wrench and sockets are required along with a high impact torque wrench and a compressor large enough to run it. There is not enough room under the coach to use a cheater bar for hand tools.

3, the Koni instruction are incorrect. They say there is 5 half turns from stop to stop, where on my shocks there were only 2.5 half turns. Called Koni and they said that was normal. If you have Koni's installed make sure the installer goes from stop to stop, then divide the the number of turns by half for the Spartan setting. Had I followed the instruction, the shocks would have been set on firm instead of medium as recommended by Spartan.

I can see where those that have change to Koni's rave about them......one heck of a shock! I am glad I upgraded. I will road test them tomorrow.

brianw8602 · 03-16-2016, 06:22 PM

Chuck, hopefully you will fine the ride as smooth as we have. I wouldn't be without them. I had them installed on our 2016 before I ever drove it off the lot

Looking forward to your assessment.

Brian

brobox · 03-16-2016, 06:56 PM

Thanks for the word of wisdom and encouragement. Thanks to posts like yours and removing the Bilsteins made me realize what I have been missing.

DebbieMH · 03-16-2016, 06:59 PM

Brian is the one that got me to do it! All his fault :-)

brianw8602 · 03-16-2016, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DebbieMH

Brian is the one that got me to do it! All his fault :-)

As long as Chuck is as happy with them as we are Lynn, I will take the blame

757driver · 03-17-2016, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brobox

Koni install update.

1. The Koni shocks are twice as heavy as the factory Bilsteins shock that were removed. The ram on the Bilsteins are about 3/8 inch where the Koni's are about 1/2 inch. The shocks are so large there is not much room to clear the mounting area. They have got to ride much better than what I removed. I could not believe how light the Bilsteins were for that heavy of a front end.

2. The change over is not a DIY project unless you have heavy tools. 1 1/8 inch wrench and sockets are required along with a high impact torque wrench and a compressor large enough to run it. There is not enough room under the coach to use a cheater bar for hand tools.

3, the Koni instruction are incorrect. They say there is 5 half turns from stop to stop, where on my shocks there were only 2.5 half turns. Called Koni and they said that was normal. If you have Koni's installed make sure the installer goes from stop to stop, then divide the the number of turns by half for the Spartan setting. Had I followed the instruction, the shocks would have been set on firm instead of medium as recommended by Spartan.

I can see where those that have change to Koni's rave about them......one heck of a shock! I am glad I upgraded. I will road test them tomorrow.

Chuck,

Thanks for the report on the settings and the install. We will have ours done at Spartan when we are there in April.

Diesel Diva · 03-17-2016, 10:29 AM

Thanks to all you posters! DH and I will be hitting Phoenix in a month or so to have them installed and it's great to hear all the positive feedback. Deb

jb4545 · 03-17-2016, 11:00 AM

Has anyone put Koni's on a Conerstone? I tried to get a part number from Spartan and Koni and neither of them can cross reference the Blistien part number. Koni doesn't have the K3 chassis with the Reyco IFS listed either.

dennis45 · 03-17-2016, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowejug

I also would like to hear if this makes a noticeable difference in ride?
I thought I read that Entegra installed
Billstein shocks all around from the factory. Which I thought were top quality?

Shocks will have very little if any effect on the ride. They will have a major effect on stability and overall handling

lowejug · 03-17-2016, 12:32 PM

I think you will find most people would say high quality shocks makes a huge difference in ride😮

dennis45 · 03-17-2016, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowejug

I think you will find most people would say high quality shocks makes a huge difference in ride😮

I installed a set of Konis on the front of my DSDP. They made a huge difference in overall handling but other than eliminating the porpoise action of the front end, which was the reason for the change, did virtually nothing to change the ride.

Tony Lee · 03-17-2016, 12:55 PM

Lot of owners run too high a pressure in their tyres and then blame the shocks for not ironing out the cracks in the pavement. Lower the pressure a few psi and let the tyres do more of the work in decreasing impact effects.

Mississippi · 03-17-2016, 01:53 PM

Did any of you who have installed the new shocks had to purchase the replacement bottom shock mounts? I called to order and the salesman suggested that I check the bottom shock mounts on my 2012 Spartan chassis to see if I need to order new bottom shock mounts. Guess I will be crawling under the coach to see what I can see.