| Author | Message | ||
| BretM (Bretm)
Intermediate Member Username: Bretm Post Number: 1867 Registered: 2-2001 |
I'm seriously considering lowering my car a hair, but if/when I do so I'm just gonna make the perches lower because my shocks are good. | ||
| Henry D. Chin (Hanknum)
New member Username: Hanknum Post Number: 4 Registered: 2-2002 |
Sounds like some people would like to lower their 308. So would I. I used to have a couple of the lowering perches but just recently sold them. Instead, I found a place that has new Konis and can have different grooves machined into to the body where the perch mounts. This in effect will have the same effect as the lowering perches. The cost of new Konis is actually pretty cheap, fronts are $115 ea and rears $140 ea. There is an additional charge to have the additional grooves machined though. Please let me know if anyone is interested, as maybe we can get a discount on a group buy. | ||
| Verell Boaen (Verell)
New member Username: Verell Post Number: 48 Registered: 5-2001 |
STILL HOPING FOR AN ANSWER: KONI REBUILD $$$?? How much does TrueChoice/others get for rebuilding 308 Konis shock/spring ass'ys? | ||
| Verell Boaen (Verell)
New member Username: Verell Post Number: 15 Registered: 5-2001 |
KONI REBUILD $$$?? How much does TrueChoice/others get for rebuilding 308 Konis shock/spring ass'ys? | ||
| BretM (Bretm)
Intermediate Member Username: Bretm Post Number: 1627 Registered: 2-2001 |
They say as a general rule of thumb, with a US car just push down on the corner of the big rubber bumper and the shock should rebound at I want to call it an average pace, not fast but not slow, just kind of come back comfortably. It should come back without any major noises, binding, etc. | ||
| Richelson (Richelson)
Member Username: Richelson Post Number: 423 Registered: 12-2001 |
Thanks for the info. How do you tell when shocks are in need of replacement? Push a corner of the car down and see if it comes back up and stops? | ||
| Steve Magnusson (91tr)
Member Username: 91tr Post Number: 515 Registered: 1-2001 |
BretM -- a shot of one of the "deeper" fixed lower spring perches that the group on the FList had fabricated:  | ||
| Steve Magnusson (91tr)
Member Username: 91tr Post Number: 514 Registered: 1-2001 |
Skip, Richelson -- http://www.truechoice.com http://www.truechoice.com/products/koni.html | ||
| Richelson (Richelson)
Member Username: Richelson Post Number: 422 Registered: 12-2001 |
Thanks Steve. So, if I remove the shock and spring together and send them off for a rebuild I will not need any special tools? How much is a rebuild? (approx.) Thanks. | ||
| Skip VanDenBerg (Skipgt4)
New member Username: Skipgt4 Post Number: 14 Registered: 6-2001 |
Does someone have a phone number or a website for Truechoice | ||
| Steve Magnusson (91tr)
Member Username: 91tr Post Number: 513 Registered: 1-2001 |
BretM -- I designed/fabricated "deeper" lower Koni spring perches for my ex-'78 308 to drop the front end 25mm (as measured at the top of the front wheel arch). The depth of the design can be selected to give any amount of drop up to 25 mm from stock -- but once selected (i.e., once the part is fabricated), it is, of course, fixed (the drop at the wheel arch is actually greater than the change in the spring mount length due to the magnification of the A-arm geometry). Let me know if you'd like a copy of the design -- I'm fairly sure that they'd also fit your QV (I know they'd also work on my TR, but it's low enough already). Another option is again Truechoice who indicated to me that they could modify the case of the shock to have an adjustable lower spring perch, but this requires complete disassembly of the shock itself so the cost is similar to rebuilding (and the turnaround time is 3-5 weeks depending on their workload). | ||
| Steve Magnusson (91tr)
Member Username: 91tr Post Number: 512 Registered: 1-2001 |
Richelson -- yes, I replaced the shocks (and end bushings) on my ex-308 with new ones during my ownership, but I (now) think it's way more cost-effective to send them to Truechoice for rebuilding (and that way you don't need to disassemble the shock/spring assembly plus Truechoice can also check the load/deflection behavior of the springs themselves as well as install new end bushings). Two special tools required if you want to DIY new ones in yourself: 1. some form of spring compressor tooling (I used some small Porsche ones and a MacPherson strut compression sort of together -- it's not that easy), and 2. an appropriate press (and "donut") to press the end bushings in and out. IMHO the best DIY approach to this project would be to remove (and reinstall) the shock/spring assemblies yourself, but to send the whole shock/spring assembly to a rebuilding shop. | ||
| BretM (Bretm)
Intermediate Member Username: Bretm Post Number: 1618 Registered: 2-2001 |
Sorry, don't want to highjack the thread but maybe someone knows. Is it possible to lower the stock Koni's like 3/4-1"? | ||
| Richelson (Richelson)
Member Username: Richelson Post Number: 421 Registered: 12-2001 |
Steve did you replace/rebuild your shocks before? How difficult was it? Are there any special tools needed to compress the spring or is it not neccessary? | ||
| Steve Magnusson (91tr)
Member Username: 91tr Post Number: 511 Registered: 1-2001 |
bill v. -- "dismantle" is too strong a description, but my recollection is that the upper inboard a-arms do need to be unbolted from their mounts (in order to be able to "flop" the suspension open to get the shock/spring assembly out physically). However, this bolted connection has a decent location repeatability on reassembly (and any adjustment shims remain between the U-mounts and the chassis so it's not a big hassle/effort) and realignment is not necessarily an absolute requirement. Are you trying to get a feel for the $s a shop would charge for the total project or are you planning on doing some/all of it yourself? | ||
| BretM (Bretm)
Intermediate Member Username: Bretm Post Number: 1606 Registered: 2-2001 |
I don't think the wheel alignment would be related, and if so wouldn't be expensive (might as well do). A couple guys here have done suspension mods and will know the ins and outs. The last I heard it was about $1000 for a set of new Konis on the 308. I don't think it would be all that big a job, but you would need to have the springs compressed and all to install. It's not like changing the oil, but it's nowhere near pulling the engine, etc. | ||
| bill v. (Doc)
New member Username: Doc Post Number: 19 Registered: 9-2001 |
How much of a job is it to replace the front and rear shocks on a 308? I'm looking at a 308 for possible purchase and it requires shocks all around. Does one need to dismantle the A-arms for this procedure and, if so, is a wheel realignment necessary as well? |