Thread: Size of Koni & Bilstein Shocks vs genuine LR ones

Originally Posted by SG1

Rick130,

Thanks for all those interesting comments.

By the way, I read the thread you refer to, maybe just a bit too fast and may have missed something

Based on your comment about the Koni bushes I have almost decided to destroy my bank account and go for the Koni Raids. Can you confirm if the correct Koni Raid dampers for a standard suspension (Defender 110) setup are the 90 5374 (front) and 90 5375 (rear)? I imagine that the longer rear version of the Raids that you refer to is the 90 5401. Is this correct?

Yep.

A last question:
Do the Koni Raids require regular maintenance as do the OME LTR shocks?
Cheers
Santiago

AFAIK Raids are bolt in and drive forever, the only 'maintenance' I can think of an LTR needs is the nitrogen pressure checked occasionally ?

Koni Raids: Big Red...

As for the part numbers, yes, that is correct for standard height Defender 110 and is what I have fitted.

the HT Raids are that big and heavy you will need to derate the paylod of your vehicle only joking but they are heavy.

That is a pretty good price at Ultrarev. I tried to have some sent from the US but did not have any success as Koni appear to guard the country specific dealer recommended price. In Aus it is approx AUS$600 a corner.

They aren't that heavy! Only about 8kg a corner

DMdigital,
I've read your thread on the Koni Raids and it has ended up convincing me to buy them. I am going for them.
I hope to buy them fast so that I do not change my mind after realizing how much I am spending.....

Cheers,
Stgo

So I finally bought 4 Koni Raids for my D110 from Ultrarev in the US.
Thanks to those who convinced me to go for the Raids

The Raids are currently in short supply so I will not receive them until around mid-December.

In the meantime I am studying how I will connect them to my suspension setup and I want to ask a couple of questions to see your opinions on this.

Facts are:
1) My Defender is lifted 3.3cms, both in the front and in the rear. Its lifted by means of suplements (aluminium discs) that go underneath the springs.

2) I want to keep the same lift with the Koni Raids.

3) The genuine shock absorbers I currently have (well, they are Armstrong in the back and genuine LR in the front) have been fitted in a way to maintain their travel.
The upper mount of the rear shock absorbers has been lowered exactly 3.3 cms so that the shocks work as in the factory setup.
The base of the front shock absorbers is raised 3.3cms so that they also have the same travel as in the factory setup and the shocks have no problem either in compression or in extension.

4) With the only exception of a misalignment of the rear shock absorbers caused by the steel plate used to lower the rear upper shock mounts (which moves the eye of the shock way to much towards the outside), everything else works fine.

5) My current suspension articulation is fine for my needs and I do not want to improve it. I do not need more droop, I just want to install better (MUCH BETTER!) shocks while keeping my 3.3cm lift and current suspension articulation.


Questions:
A) Should I just replace my current shocks with Koni Raids and leave everything as it is or will I benefit from returning the upper shock mount of the rear shocks back to its original position while at the same time keeping the 3.3cm lift?
I ask this because the Koni catalog specifies that the Koni Raids 90 5375 (which I bought for the rear) are designed to be installed in vehicles with suspension setups ranging between standard and a 4 centimeter lift.

Same question for the front.
I bought the Koni Raids 90 5374 which according to the catalog are designed to be fitted to Defenders with suspension arrangements ranging between standard setup and a 5 centimeter lift.

I am tempted to remove the extension of the rear shock upper mounts (which as it is lowers the eye of the shock 3.3cms) and maybe the same for the front ones (remove the base that lifts the shock) but I do not know the pros and cons of this.

I am a beginner in terms of suspension setups so any help will be appreciated.

If I am missing important information that is required in order to understand the issues involved please let me know.

Finally, in case it is better to install the Koni shocks with the current setup I will have to correct the misalignment of the rear shocks. Does anybody know if there is a company which builds and sells modified shocks mounts for the rear shocks just as the one sthat "Expedition Exchange" sells (Expedition Exchange Incorporated :: Suspension) but designed to lower the shock mount around 3 to 3.5 cms instead of 2 inches (>5 mcs). I am afraid that using the "Expedition Exchange" ones will be too much lowering and may cause other problems (on compression?).
Thanks and sorry for so many questions!
Santiago

Maybe this picture helps understand the way in which the upper shock mounts of my rear shock absorbers have been modified in order to lower the eye of the shock by 3.3cms.

DSC00111.jpg


The second picture may illustrate the misalignment of the rear shock absorber caused by the, in my opinion, incorrect upper shock mount geometry. The misalignment is exagerated by the full extension of the shock.

PA240013.jpg

Any suggestions guys?