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Unread 01-19-2012, 10:15 AM   #1
GlenL
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Default Koni shocks

I've been looking for shocks for the Zombie car. I've got a set of used front Koni shocks and was looking for rears.

Something I noticed was that only the externally adjustable versions are offered. You have to take them off the car to adjust them. (OK, some people do it on the car with a very special tool but I'm not hep to that.) Or is it the internally adjustables that come off the car?

Can anyone confirm this change by Koni?

Does it also mean that externally adjustable shocks can't be converted to internally adjustable shocks?

I've got Koni's on my other 928 and like them. I do wish they were easily adjustable as the in-town feel is harsh. Could be my stiff springs. (Stiff for me, weak for Colin.) 2.5" coils at 400lb/in and 300lb/in.

The car will be a track car.
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Unread 01-19-2012, 04:04 PM   #2
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The rear Koni 8240-1086 is what Koni calls "standard adjustable"....meaning they must be adjusted prior to installation. The part number can be converted to externatlly adjustable by Koni. My understanding is that some dealer has had Koni do a run of these units in external adjustment configuration. Keep in mind that the Koni adjustment is for rebound, not compression so your spring rate will likely have a greater affect on ride quality.
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Unread 01-19-2012, 07:21 PM   #3
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Thanks, Jason.

I've had shocks worked on at True Choice. Was thinking of having a set rebuilt and reworked for the external adjustment.

Good reminder: single adjustment for rebound.
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Unread 02-06-2012, 10:02 PM   #4
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I was looking at Koni classics just a couple months ago, did they go NLA?

Great to have paragon expertise posting to the forum!
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Unread 02-08-2012, 12:39 PM   #5
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My GTS has externally adjustable Koni Reds on it. Devek put them on. It was some kind of conversion that Koni did to make them externally adjustable. There is a spade at the top that can be turned with a knob while on the car.

Wasn't sure because the front spade only turned about 1/2 turn while the rear turned 3 turns to adjust. Called Koni and they knew exactly the shocks I had and that they were conversions. I assume it they did it before, they can do it again.

The adjustment is rebound and doesn't really effect ride softness that much.

I adjust the fronts to help maintain front to rear balance when getting on the throttle in a corner. If they are too soft the front lifts and pushes. If they are too frim the front doesn't lift at all and the rears spin to easily.

I adjust the rears for braking into a corner. To soft and the rear tries to come around too easily under braking. To firm and the rear does not rotate as you turn in and lift off the brakes.
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Unread 02-09-2012, 10:00 AM   #6
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The regular Konis are still available, and fairly widely.

So it was Devek that had a batch of externally adjustable shocks made? Perhaps I am reading too much into this. In any case, I searched and couldn't find those for sale. Just standard versions.
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Unread 02-10-2012, 11:59 PM   #7
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Bet if you contacted Koni directly they can convert some for you.
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Unread 02-11-2012, 09:39 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RKDinOKC View Post
Bet if you contacted Koni directly they can convert some for you.
I know that their authorized service centers can.

Does anyone have a pair of used rears that they'd like to sell?
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Unread 02-11-2012, 09:40 PM   #9
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Glen,
The adjustment tool is simply a T-handled very long allen wrench. To adjust the shock while it is mounted in the car, you remove the top center nut, install the tool into the top of the shock shaft and use the tool to push the shaft all the way to the bottom of it's travel. As the shaft is pushed all the way down, you use the T-handle to adjust the shock.
I bought my tool from 928gt.com. It was somewhere around $30 IIRC.
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Unread 02-11-2012, 10:24 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by stepson View Post
The adjustment tool is simply a T-handled very long allen wrench.
I'm familiar with that approach. It worries me in having the shaft bind up or fall from the hole in the shock tops.

True externally adjustable Konis have a hollow shaft with an adjusting rod inside it. Then a knob on the top does the adjusting. No removing nuts or anything, just turn the knob.
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Unread 02-12-2012, 11:01 AM   #11
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The top of the shock has a blade like a screw driver sticking up from the center of the shock, no bolts or caps. There is a white Koni knob that has a slot in the bottom that fits over the blade to adjust.

Click the image to open in full size.
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Unread 03-03-2012, 10:55 AM   #12
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Standard Koni shocks on sale cheap:

Paragon shock sale
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Last edited by GlenL; 03-03-2012 at 11:33 AM.
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Unread 03-07-2012, 10:11 AM   #13
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I've traded a few emails with a representative from True Choice. They're an authorized rebuilder of Koni shocks. He told me that rebuilding a shock would be $140/ea plus parts of $30 to $40. That's more than a new shock.

As for making the externally adjustable he didn't give a cost but said it was "too complicated" and wanted to make me custom, dual-adjustable shocks at $600/ea. Not in the budget now. That's disappointing as the two variants, albiet with single adjustment, used to be priced within $50...if I recall that right.
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Unread 03-07-2012, 11:05 AM   #14
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Glen - I would try calling Koni directly. Last time I talked to TrueChoice, they were around 25% higher than dealing directly with Koni. IIRC, TrueChoice charges more, but they do more, such as a full dyno test after rebuild.
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Unread 03-07-2012, 04:34 PM   #15
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Thanks, Curt. I'll try that.

I contacted True Choice as they did warranty work on my shocks a few years back. Seemed like a decent operation at the time.
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