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CJ7ole · 05-01-2013, 10:58 PM

I was under the MH today implementing the cheap handling fix and I noticed that the right rear Koni FSD shock tube and upper ram were covered with oil, suggesting that a seal went bad. I installed them nearly 5 years ago just after I bought the coach. Current pricing seems to be about $180 each. Is the oil that I see an indicator that it needs to be replaced?

This appears to be the part number: FSD 8805-1019

pumper9x9 · 05-02-2013, 09:30 AM

Could be does it look like new oil or old oil? ie. dust and dirt. There was a scam a few years back where mechanics would crawl under a vehicle with an oil can and spray it on your shocks and tell you that you need all new shocks. Also look for an oil source from some other location

chboone · 05-02-2013, 07:33 PM

Koni's have a lifetime warranty to the original purchaser.

Chuck

CJ7ole · 05-02-2013, 08:23 PM

I don't see any other source for the oil other than the shock. I only have had it in for chassis service once, last fall, for a brake job. They made no mention of the problem with the shock so it must be recent (2500 miles with a trip down and back to FL since the servicing).

Quote:

Originally Posted by chboone

Koni's have a lifetime warranty to the original purchaser.
Chuck

THAT is good news. Tomorrow I will try to find the receipt. Thanks.

deandec · 05-03-2013, 09:23 AM

Does the rig do a deep bounce more than once when you hit a road depression?

If so, replace the shocks. If instead it bounces once and then starts to level the shocks are good. (Pretty tough to lean on the fender of a MH to initiate the shock bounce recovery test like you do on your car.....)

I would cleanup that dirty shock and then take a drive to see if it works like it is supposed to.

MDPD · 05-03-2013, 02:56 PM

If it has oil on the outside, it is bad. Even the best of anything can fail, it was built by a human.

KSCRUDE · 05-03-2013, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MDPD

If it has oil on the outside, it is bad. Even the best of anything can fail, it was built by a human.

X2 If the oil has leached out, that shock is junk. The others may not be until they blow also. They may last a long time. I would just replace the leaking one. Koni shocks are hydrolic and only work on oil. As long as they don't leak oil, they can have a very long lifespan. They are not a gas shock. Hydrolic shocks seen to have better character for MH use then gas shocks do. Konies are oil, hydrolic shocks. Bilsteins are gas, and their ride will give you gas, or a backache.

micki49 · 05-04-2013, 05:20 PM

That happened to me after I installed the new Koni's I had a seal go out. I called the and the said send it back and they would replace it for free but not the labor to install it.

KSCRUDE · 05-04-2013, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by micki49

That happened to me after I installed the new Koni's I had a seal go out. I called the and the said send it back and they would replace it for free but not the labor to install it.

This is good to know. And I installed the Konies myself so the labor was free.