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Old 08-11-2008, 03:48 AM   #1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 114
'03 Journey shock replacement, continued
Some of you may recall my post seeking a recommendation for shock replacement ('03 Journey shock replacement). Well, we purchased the Koni FSD shocks for the Journey. I installed them myself and got quite a workout. I replaced the front shocks using your everyday basic ½" drive ratchet, breaker bar and a couple of wrenches. The real work out was "breaking" the 1 Ό" lower bolt on the bottom of each shock. I used some creative license to free that sucker! The old "Porta-Power" body jack came in quite handy freeing up that thing... and tightening as well! I did have to remove one of the two upper shock mount bolts to pivot the mount so I could remove the top bolt.
Then, after checking out the rear shock placement, I knew there was no way I could free up those 1 Ό" top and bottom bolts without an impact wrench. Luckily, a good friend let me use his impact wrench and compressor! Although I had to just about make love to the tires and underbody of the coach the install was completed in less time than I took to loosen one front shock! My 5'6" frame and 62 year old arms just ain't what they used to be. But what a difference when you've got the right tools! Proud to have completed this task myself and looking as if the coach rolled over me, I sat back to admire those Gold classy looking shocks and enjoyed a cold glass of water and contemplated, was all this work and cost be worth it. (I'd like to think I saved some costs by doing it myself!) My wife and I could hardly wait for out first campout to see if it was all worth it. I don't know if it was wishful thinking, but just driving the Journey back to it's parking spot, I noticed a lot less sway taking turns over uneven surfaces at slow speeds.
The day of reckoning is here. Seven days after the shock installation we're headed for the Northern New England Winnebago/Itasca Rally. We put on just over 300 miles and we cannot say there is a "major" improvement in our ride over expansion joints, pot holes or the typical conditions from deteriorating road surfaces. From the outset I need to clarify two things; first, handling and second ride. Handling I will define as; sway, and pitch as we turn or go over smooth dips, etc. Handling was noticeably improved. Underway the coach didn't require very much steering correction to help with road undulation, wind, vehicles passing, etc. Unfortunately, ride; the one thing we hoped would be better was only slightly improved. We still felt the suspension hit expansion joints hard and the best way for me to describe any improvement is to say, some of the "sting" was less when we hit the expansion joints, etc.
We've logged over 34K on our Journey, we've battled falling overhead light lens, things banging in the cabinets and some loosening of things here and there. But when we got to our destination I noticed that the bedroom sliding door was hanging off its lead trolley. The screws had pulled right out of the wood (of course the wood is only particle board), dropped onto the plastic guide at the bottom and pulled it out of the wood. To boot we found a fair sized screw on the floor of the kitchen! Now, I'm sure all this didn't just happen. These types of problems are systematic over time. However, I must say, our coach has really been hitting the road hard... literally!
Our next step will be tires. We will be looking to step up to larger tires so we can run with less pressure in them and we certainly hope we'll see a much more noticeable improvement in ride then! Here's hoping!
__________________
2003 34H Journey, 300 HP Cummins, 2000MH Allison, Demco "Excalibar" Tow Bar, BrakePro and Chevy HHR
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Old 08-11-2008, 03:48 AM   #2
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 114
'03 Journey shock replacement, continued
Some of you may recall my post seeking a recommendation for shock replacement ('03 Journey shock replacement). Well, we purchased the Koni FSD shocks for the Journey. I installed them myself and got quite a workout. I replaced the front shocks using your everyday basic ½" drive ratchet, breaker bar and a couple of wrenches. The real work out was "breaking" the 1 Ό" lower bolt on the bottom of each shock. I used some creative license to free that sucker! The old "Porta-Power" body jack came in quite handy freeing up that thing... and tightening as well! I did have to remove one of the two upper shock mount bolts to pivot the mount so I could remove the top bolt.
Then, after checking out the rear shock placement, I knew there was no way I could free up those 1 Ό" top and bottom bolts without an impact wrench. Luckily, a good friend let me use his impact wrench and compressor! Although I had to just about make love to the tires and underbody of the coach the install was completed in less time than I took to loosen one front shock! My 5'6" frame and 62 year old arms just ain't what they used to be. But what a difference when you've got the right tools! Proud to have completed this task myself and looking as if the coach rolled over me, I sat back to admire those Gold classy looking shocks and enjoyed a cold glass of water and contemplated, was all this work and cost be worth it. (I'd like to think I saved some costs by doing it myself!) My wife and I could hardly wait for out first campout to see if it was all worth it. I don't know if it was wishful thinking, but just driving the Journey back to it's parking spot, I noticed a lot less sway taking turns over uneven surfaces at slow speeds.
The day of reckoning is here. Seven days after the shock installation we're headed for the Northern New England Winnebago/Itasca Rally. We put on just over 300 miles and we cannot say there is a "major" improvement in our ride over expansion joints, pot holes or the typical conditions from deteriorating road surfaces. From the outset I need to clarify two things; first, handling and second ride. Handling I will define as; sway, and pitch as we turn or go over smooth dips, etc. Handling was noticeably improved. Underway the coach didn't require very much steering correction to help with road undulation, wind, vehicles passing, etc. Unfortunately, ride; the one thing we hoped would be better was only slightly improved. We still felt the suspension hit expansion joints hard and the best way for me to describe any improvement is to say, some of the "sting" was less when we hit the expansion joints, etc.
We've logged over 34K on our Journey, we've battled falling overhead light lens, things banging in the cabinets and some loosening of things here and there. But when we got to our destination I noticed that the bedroom sliding door was hanging off its lead trolley. The screws had pulled right out of the wood (of course the wood is only particle board), dropped onto the plastic guide at the bottom and pulled it out of the wood. To boot we found a fair sized screw on the floor of the kitchen! Now, I'm sure all this didn't just happen. These types of problems are systematic over time. However, I must say, our coach has really been hitting the road hard... literally!
Our next step will be tires. We will be looking to step up to larger tires so we can run with less pressure in them and we certainly hope we'll see a much more noticeable improvement in ride then! Here's hoping!
__________________
2003 34H Journey, 300 HP Cummins, 2000MH Allison, Demco "Excalibar" Tow Bar, BrakePro and Chevy HHR
Tagalong is offline   Reply With Quote
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