Red Konis adjustment

[German Dude]

Folks,

this weekend I did a little shock test (put weight on the shock, let go, observe what happened), and the rear shocks swayed up and down quite a bit, nothing like the down - then back up and that's it - kind of motion.

They are red Konis (80A-1416, Special "D", Adjustable).
Normally, I would think these shocks are bad and in need of replacement. I would also guess that they are at least 20 years old (They are "Made in Holland" and the car was brought to Texas from there in 1985). However, Koni does give lifetime guarantee on their product and they are adjustable. On the net, I found instructions to remove and adjust them.

So here is the question: Has anyone of the group done this before? Are there chances my shocks can be adjusted and thus saved, given they haven't been adjusted to the max? Or is a condition as described beyond adjusting?

Thanks,


Juergen
64 230SL #2933, 4sp, signal red, white hard top
93 Citroen XM station wagon

[A Dalton]

J,
 I have never had Koni, but  a fellow 113 friend who has them  claims  that the best handeling on his 113 was when they are adjusted to Max  load..

[German Dude]

Gee, I hope they are not currently adjusted to max load... Will have to remove them to find out. One of these weeks...

Juergen
64 230SL #2933, 4sp, signal red, white hard top
93 Citroen XM station wagon

[Bob G ✝︎]

Juergen:
It sounds like you should take the Konies off and send them in to rebuild or replace with a new set. I also have Konies on my 1987 ford Mustang LX 5.0. only after riding in an SVO with factory ADJUSTABLE unites. I decided to go all Konie even the side rear shocks . It took some time for them to loosen up as they are much stiffer than normal shocks.
I understand that bilstein has a sport shock simular to the konies you might want to inquire about them for your 230SL.
Bob Geco
1968 280SL
1992 300-E sportline
1987 ford Mustang LX coupe 5.0.

[hauser]

When Alex Dearborn restored my car back in the eighties he had installed adjustable Konis.  The previous California owner exchanged them for a set of Bilsteins.  Alex was somewhat dissapointed and commented on how well the Konis performed.  In conjuction with the adjustable shocks shorter springs were also used.


1969 280sl 5 spd
Gainesville, Fl.

[George Davis]

Juergen,

I agree with Bob, contact Koni and see about having them rebuilt.  It sounds like your shocks are simply worn out.  I have adjustable Konis, too.  The adjustment only affects the rebound stroke (extension).  The valving for jounce (compression) is fixed.  It sounds like you're not getting any damping at all, and even if you can get some rebound damping by adjusting them, you probably still won't have any jounce damping.

By the way, the newer Konis are black; I think it would be neat to keep the period red ones.

Good luck!

George Davis
'69 280 SL Euro manual

[German Dude]

Thanks folks,

I will try and find out about the rebuilding possibilities. I will let you how it turns out.

Best,

Juergen
64 230SL #2933, 4sp, signal red, white hard top
93 Citroen XM station wagon

[jmela]

Koni in the US offers a rebuild service, so...

KONI B.V. Vertriebsbüro: KONI Deutschland
Rheinstraße 96
56235 Ransbach-Baumbach
Tel. 02623/602-0, Fax 02623/602-33
Email: ittae@koni.de
 

[German Dude]

Those of you who have been to Germany know that it's not exactly the size of Rhode Island...

However, Koni Germany is located 15 miles from my door. And I didn't know... Shame on me.

Thanks jmela!



Juergen
64 230SL #2933, 4sp, signal red, white hard top
93 Citroen XM station wagon