Community Forums

tnedator · 08-25-2021, 03:32 PM

OK, I finally experienced the severe front end bounce that others have complained about on their Spartan chassis.

I think my normal drives on state highways just never got the right conditions.

However, when I was driving up to Newmar this past weekend, I came off a couple bridges where it was like a bucking bronco (OK, not quite, but one or two very big bounces, and then 2-4 decreasing oscillations).

I'm going to have the ride height checked, but I'm guessing based on other stuff I read, that it's not very likely to fully fix it.

Anyone with a Ventana K2 replaced the shocks, and if so, did you go with the stiff Blissteins (sp??) or Konis?

tqqest · 08-25-2021, 09:53 PM

Koni Evo if they work on the Ventana. I had to put the Koni shocks on my Spartan DS4369 in the first month due to the extreme porpoising!

tom chelbana · 08-25-2021, 10:49 PM

On our 18 London Aire with Spartan K-3 chassis was having a porpoising on big dips and change from 46mm front shocks to 60mm shocks from the KA chassis and no more issues with front suspension. Also added air control valves to the front air pages which also assist in a better ride on bad roads. Check with Spartan to see if you can get the 60mm front shocks for the K-2 chassis.
Newmar Man

hcarmon1 · 08-26-2021, 06:25 AM

Knoi on my 2019 Ventana stopped my porpoising problem. This was on a K2 Spartan

Agilitydog · 08-26-2021, 06:36 AM

What type of Konis did you put on the Ventana? I talked with Spartan last year and they said Koni doesn’t make a shock for Ventanas yet. I have been wanting to change the front shocks due to the bounce, which is awful. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

John/Mo and the pups
2020 Ventana 4037

tnedator · 08-28-2021, 05:29 PM

Ditto, curious about what model/size Konos. One of the support guys at Spartan told me to reach out to Spartan parts about getting upgraded shocks, I did, and the parts guy gives me the part numbers and pricing for the stock shocks.

Steele · 08-29-2021, 08:27 AM

We had the Bilstein’s on our 17 4018 and had the porpoising pretty bad. We were at Spartan doing their 3 day class and asked them to check the shocks. They said they had received shocks from Bilstien that had the incorrect valving installed.

They changed them out under warranty for us. I understand that the Koni’s are much stiffer, but you can try the factory route first. It fixed the problem for us.

Capt. Bill · 08-29-2021, 04:11 PM

Only one really good brand- KONI

Been there- done that!

Happy Trails-

dnoojin · 03-24-2022, 07:13 PM

I have a newmar ventana and spartan sold me gabriel shocks I put these on the back and now it feels like the back of the motorhome is sagging? anyone experience this!

Dutch Star Don · 03-24-2022, 07:46 PM

It's an air ride chassis that adjusts via a ride height valve and has nothing to do with the shocks. With that said, the shocks are within inches of the ride height valve, at least on the Freightliner chassis. There is a chance they struck and bent the ride height arm.

I'm surprised that Gabriel had a shock listing. Typically, everyone uses Koni and some Bilsteins. Is it possible they put too short of a shock on it, restricting the bag inflation?

ThunderRidge · 03-25-2022, 05:54 AM

I’ve never experienced any kind of bouncing or rough riding in my coach, and I have driven over some pretty bad roads as well as some poorly done bridge aprons. Why is it that some of these coaches are having the bouncing problems?

Mark3101 · 03-25-2022, 12:56 PM

My 2022 King Aire was horrible with the Bilstein 60mm shocks so I went to Koni Evo's and that really helped. Nowhere near the bouncing that occurred with the OEM shocks.

I did the same thing with a couple of my Prevost coaches (H3-45's) and it worked on them very well too.

capt fast · 05-22-2022, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tnedator

Ditto, curious about what model/size Konos. One of the support guys at Spartan told me to reach out to Spartan parts about getting upgraded shocks, I did, and the parts guy gives me the part numbers and pricing for the stock shocks.

my dutch star is much older but had new 'stock' bilsteins on the front end. it reminded me of mule deer in montana jumping fences, while we were going thru a construction area on I-25. . IFS1200 granning. they are new shock specced by granning for the isf 1200. after some thought, I installed the bilstein shocks specced for the higher load ifs 1380 axle. same size 60mm shock, different valving. rebound is now much better controlled.