Koni Shock absorbers

[uninformed]

Hey all, I thought Id start a thread for Koni shocks. Somewhere we can gather specs and information being it bolt on OEM application through to sourcing other vehicle type/make konis and how they work. If you like another brand, feel free to start a Bilstein, etc thread. I'd like to keep this one Koni only, so not to get into brand wars and have a bugger of a time searching for the Koni information.

We need:
part numers
open closed lengths
vehicle it is mounted on
what they are originally off.
type of top/bottom mount
valving if possible
any other comments

[uninformed]

about 6 years ago I rang Toperformance in Vic and asked them to sort me a shock. I wanted 12inch stroke, eye top, pin bottom and LR valving. They came back with the following and I got it through GSA, their closest retailer to me.

Part# 88 1262SP2
Open 782mm, Closed 475mm (center of eye, to center of smooth shank on pin end)
1998 Landrover Defender 110 C/Chassis
Merceded Truck/Bus front ( I will confirm asap)
Originally eye-eye, but converted to eye-pin
Valving: Rebound 3300nm/s, Bump 600nm/s

I have just spoken to Toperformance and they are going to dig out the specs to see if they changed the valving on mine. I think they will have as their LR Def specs are: Rebound 1750nm/s, Bump 900nm/s. I personaly feel that what ever they are they have a little too much bump (harsh), but that is a factor that spring rate will change the feel of also. (Note: They did not revalve my custom rears)

Note, that any longer shock like this requires the careful checking of closed length vs mounting length at full bump/stuff articulation, including allowing for bumpstop compression. This usually means rasing the top mount and/or packing the bumpstop (lots of way to skin a cat and alot are personal choices)

This particular shock will not bolt straight on without modifications or damage will occur.

[uninformed]

82 series

oil filled twin tube, some have a small amount of nitrogen, some dont.

50/55mm body (eg my Toyota 80 series are 50mm body)
33mm piston (can varry a little)
16mm shaft dia

88 series

Oil filled twin tube

55mm body
36mm piston
16mm shaft dia

90 Series (what Koni Raid are based on)

Twin tube oil filled, no nitrogen. Internal hydraulic rebound stop.

70mm body
18mm shaft
42mm Piston

The dust sheild, which is the larger dia metal cylinder, usually top half of shock, is going to be bigger dia than the shock body.

Feel free to correct any wrong into I have posted

[uninformed]

currently Im running Koni 82 2385 which I believe are Toyota 80 series +2inch lift.

Part# 82 2385
Open: Closed:
Land Rover Defender 1998
Toyota Landcrusier 80 series
pin/pin
valving: Rebound 2600nm/s Bump 1000nm/s

Stock defender replacement from Koni would be 82 401181SPX. Valving for these are: Rebound 1300nm/s Bump 600nm/s

[rick130]

Serg, what shaft speed are those forces at ?

Bilstein uses a stupid high shaft speed to rate their shocks, and it gives no indication of the shape of the curve at all, it's just a point on a graph.

I got into all sorts of grief with a certain Bilstein rebuilder years ago with some race shocks as they couldn't get their heads around what I was asking for and I ended up with stuff I wanted at 3-4"/sec at something over 20"/sec.
They seemed incapable at the time of running their machine at any speed other than flat out.
I'm guessing instead of a force/velocity curve they were working on and generating displacement/force graphs at a fixed speed, which is something Koni used to mainly use too.

I should have foot valve (bump valve) part numbers for the 82-2385 somewhere.

[uninformed]

I have no idea I did ask if there was any other info but was just told Newton meters per second.?????

I dont expect it to mean anything to me (pea brain) but if we know the numbers for stock Koni replacements, I figured it would give us something to shoot for if getting Toperfromance or Proven Suspension etc to revalve another Koni shock for our trucks.

After my last phone call with Toperformance, they seem reluctant to do what they did for me 6 years ago A time/$$ thing really. I did say that if I have a list of the 88/90 series shocks they stock, with open/closed lengths and what type of end (pin or eye) That I would do the leg work for them....again they were not interested

I did find a massive list for Koni Truck shocks, and was able to use Koni's crossreference link to get open closed lengths and end type. But the main problem with this is alot of these shocks are not carried here in Oz.

The whole point of this, for me anyway. Is to be able to use a good quality Koni, hopefuly a bit more HD than stock (ie 88 or 90) and get the travel we want.

I did try to tell them that I was well aware that the closed lengths would mean not a bolt in application and that it was common on our LR.....but I think the guy was sceptical about that.

[Dougal]

Koni 30-1426 Heavy Track.
Pin-Pin style, original fitment is 80 series landcruiser front.
These are monotube high pressure gas/hydraulic with 4 step rebound adjust.

If I measure over the steps at the base of each pin, they are 364mm closed and 584mm fully open.
That's 220mm (8.7") stroke.

They stroke perfectly with extended front bump-stops, longer brake lines and 420mm free-length springs. If you don't extend the bump-stops, you'll need to raise the towers or use much thinner bushings.

I don't have any specs for the damping force, but I run them wound open on 180lb/in springs and ~1150kg front axle weight. I would like a little less compression damping and a lot less rebound so I can use the middle of the adjustment range.

[rick130]

82-2385

TLC 80 Series fronts.

Base of pin to base of pin.

Open. 617mm

Closed. 370mm



It's possible to get some more travel with a slightly shorter closed length on any Koni twin tube by shortening the internal rebound adjuster, but you then lose the external adjustability.

[rick130]

Just for reference, some old (superseded) Koni Land Rover coiler dampers and dimensions.

84-1190

Front for RRC/Disco 1/90/110/127/130

Open. 540mm

Closed. 322mm

84-1186

Front for RRC EAS.

Opened. 568mm

Closed. 342mm

84-1189

Rear, RRC, Disco 1, 90/110/130

Opened. 563mm

Closed. 346mm

[rick130]

Raid 90-5401

Rear 110/130 for raised suspension from VIN XA159807 onwards (but in my experience can be used on earlier ones, IIRC it's just the bush washers/cups that are different)


Opened. 607mm

Closed. 391mm

Cheap buggers, all they did was add a longer shaft, the body length is the same as the 90-5375 so travel is identical. ie. stock