Community Forums

Janet and Todd · 09-22-2015, 08:12 AM

Coach Care in Coburg, OR installed the new Koni's. The tech, Troy, had a concern that the barrel of the 99 might hit a bolt protruding from the hanger where the top of the shock is attached. He aired the bags up and dumped the air a few times to check the travel and said there was a good 1/8 of an inch clearance but said I should keep an eye on it, especially after hitting a large rut in the road or something that would make the shock travel it's full compression distance.

I really appreciate the careful attention to detail Troy took with our coach and taking time to explain everything.

Old Scout · 09-22-2015, 01:16 PM

Glad he explained everything--curious though, I thought the 99s were designed with no top "barrel/dust cover"--curiously like the road kings. Since the 99s are installed with the piston/reservoir portion of the shock down, only the piston shaft is exposed at the top--hard to believe there is a clearance issue at the top--unless the shocks were installed upside down?????

wolfe10 · 09-22-2015, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Scout

Glad he explained everything--curious though, I thought the 99s were designed with no top "barrel/dust cover"--curiously like the road kings. Since the 99s are installed with the piston/reservoir portion of the shock down, only the piston shaft is exposed at the top--hard to believe there is a clearance issue at the top--unless the shocks were installed upside down?????

That is exactly how I installed our 99's-- no clearance issues.

Exposed shaft (no dust cover) UP
Reservoir/shock body DOWN

Brett
2003 38FDDS

Janet and Todd · 09-22-2015, 06:03 PM

The shock body is down, however, when you let the air out of the bags and the shock compresses, the body of the shock moves up toward where the top of the shock is attached to the frame.

Janet and Todd · 09-22-2015, 06:05 PM

Anyway, now Janet and I have experienced what our coach is supposed to ride like and we absolutely love it. Drives like the Maserati that merged onto I-5 ahead of us, changed lanes and then disappeared, leaving us far behind in the blink of an eye.

alpinedrvr · 09-22-2015, 07:23 PM

Did you have the rear shocks changed as well and how long did they take to change out the rears?

Geoff

Janet and Todd · 09-22-2015, 09:18 PM

Geoff,

Unknown how long it took for the rears. We just left it and had fun for the day.

alpinedrvr · 09-22-2015, 09:42 PM

OK Thanks

I had my front shocks changed at the Alpine Rally in Quartzsite but not the rears but I am going to have them changed this fall.

Geoff

Koop · 09-23-2015, 05:15 PM

I had all four of mine changed last year at the FMCA in Redmond, Oregon. The rears didn't take any longer than the fronts - they just had to get all the way under the coach to do it.

Janet and Todd · 09-23-2015, 05:33 PM

I guess a better question would be why did WRV put the bolt in from the back and put the nut on the side facing the shock instead of pushing the bolt in from the wheelwell side and putting the nut on from the other side?

Vtxbiker · 09-23-2015, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janet and Todd

Anyway, now Janet and I have experienced what our coach is supposed to ride like and we absolutely love it. Drives like the Maserati that merged onto I-5 ahead of us, changed lanes and then disappeared, leaving us far behind in the blink of an eye.

Hey Janet and Todd, I just looked at the Koni website and saw the cost of 4 Koni shocks for the Alpine is around $800! What is so special about these shocks and are they really worth that cost? I have a 2008 and the ride is good so I don't need them now. I am just asking for the future.

Thanks

Janet and Todd · 09-23-2015, 07:27 PM

$715.20 with free shipping from Shockwarehouse.com They're less expensive than Road Kings. The Koni 99's are new, made especially for the Alpine. Anyway, that's 2 tanks of fuel at the $4.00 price point we had.