are the stock 308 Koni shocks adjustable ?

The shocks are adjustable but they need to have the springs removed from the shock in order to set the desired stiffness. Other shocks have external valves to set the stiffness but for the 308 Koni's it is not an easy job to do because of the disassembly involved. Once the shocks are free of the springs the setting is really easy and requires no tools.

 

That's the way they are now for older Alfas. I just bought 4 for my 82 spider that adjust as you describe. I was wondering the same thing about the ones on my 308.

 

Almost all old Konis are like that push piston all the way down then:
Turn clockwise for stiffer ride
Turn counterclockwise for softer ride.

 

There is a lot of reserve in even 30 year old Konis, they can be adjusted for dampening much heavier springs. But only the outgoing stroke is affected by the adjustment, not the ingoing. A simple test is to push down a corner of the car and it should rise back to the normal level quick, but not past the original level. If the car rises back to slow the damper is set to stiff or more likely the spring is tired, if the car rises past the normal level and falls back then, the damper is set to soft. This is not a professional way of testing but I think good enough for a quick check.

 

Related question: Could a bone-jarring ride over road defects at low speed be age related? (Mine or the Konis?) Or can some of this be adjusted out? I was interested to see bert308's explanation that the rebound is what is adjustable, not the compression. I wonder how, or if, that affects the condition I am feeling.

Thanks, Jeff

 

its cheeper to just replace the shocks then mess with them. they get stiff with age and you cannot change that. forzamotorcar.com

 

Or you can send them off to Carobu and have them rebuilt with threaded sleeves in order to make them height adjustable. Also a good time to change the springs rates if interested.
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I believe that the original intent of the Koni designers was to be able to adjust the rebound of the shock to either compensate for wear or for more sporting purposes, (which includes stiffer springs).

However, this is a seriously expensive "adjustment" because the shock/spring unit must be removed from the car and the spring compressed and removed from the shock to accomplish the adjustment, then reassembled and reinstalled on the car.

I would much rather lean under the car and twist a knob a couple of clicks - DONE.

Forza's instaling a threaded collar on the shock allows lowering the car, or more iportantly, adjusting the spring load on each corner of the car for more precise handling. But, to adjust the shock, you still have to do the removal and disasembly routine, which makes them kind of old fashioned/expensive to retain just for the sake of staying stock.

I suggest going QA-1s, externally adjustable Koni's or any one of the other after market shocks, perhaps even double adjustable ones

HTH,
chris

 

Can you post some more info on this? I don't see the service mentioned on their sight. Is the price about the same as as et of QA1? I think Koni charges $750-$1000 for the rebuild.

 

This is true and important, if you want a sportier ride, get stiffer springs and adjust the Konis to the new springs, they can handle springs twice as stiff.
Tightening the Konis with standard springs only results in the "jacking down effect", you hit a bump, the spring is compressed, you hit the next bump and the spring is not fully recovered from the previous bump because of the too stiff shock, etc.

 

Bert, if you have an old stock springs that are getting soft, don't you want to stiffen the koni shock to compensate so you don't bottom out or hit bumps?

 

It's here, scroll down to the last page: http://www.carobu.com/catalog/assets/applets/308_Razzo_Rosso_suspension_and_brake_price_list_2010-6.pdf

"*rebuildable shock core required. 2 front and 2 rear shocks."

 

No that doesn´t help, as said the adjustability is only on the rebound. It will make the problem worse if you tighten them because the suspension is then too slow going back to the normal level after a bump.
For tired original spring replacement I would suggest the upgraded springs Superformance is offering, they are 25% stiffer, the Konis can easily handle them with a bit of adjustment.
By the way, I found my front suspension too soft when the car was original. I thought the shocks were worn so I ordered a new pair, but they had the same characteristics as the 25 year old ones. If shocks don´t leak I see no reason to replace or rebuild them.

 

That sounds like you do not get "your" shocks back it's a core/exchange program....

 

Only if they already have rebuilt Konis in stock and ready to go. I got my original Konis back with new Eibach springs installed. Am amazing before and after transformation.

 

Only if they already have rebuilt Konis in stock and ready to go. I got my original Konis back with new Eibach springs installed. Am amazing before and after transformation.

 

Tex, the way I read it was they needed "rebuildable" shock units because those are the units they are going to convert. Just my read.

 

Hi,

Bert308, I have just changed the shocks and springs (on 308GTS QV) with upgraded spring Superformance and original Koni (from SP as well), you mentioned that the Konis need to be adjusted when fitted with SP springs, please, could you tell more about this adjustment?
Thank you

 

Did you retain the stock anti-roll bars? Did the Eibachs lower the car?

 

Did you change your spring rates ?

 

It's difficult to give a correct answer...I suggest adjusting all four of them 1 full turn. If pushed down by hand the car should rise back to it's original height quickly put not swing past the original height and then settle back. A testdrive should tell if they are firm enough. Of course it is a lot of work if the setting is not correct the first time, as you'll need to remove the springs again to further adjust the shocks. Maybe Colin from SP has a more exact answer...

 

I have had Wilber's on my car for about 4 months now. Really enjoying it -- stiff enough but not harsh -- and it dropped the car 3/4".

 

Can you please provide a link to the Wilbers?

 

Thank you Bert308, actually, my shocks are set on neutral (as delivered) and I put the uprated spring from SP as well.
Last week,I took back my car from the workshop where they installed the new suspension/bushes and I am quite disappointed about the driving sensations. The car feels so soft that I felt a "bang" going down from a bumps !! I think the rear shocks reached the maximum compression position ! (bottom out ?)
I have been told by Ron in SP this morning to set the shocks on stiffer position in order to fix this kind of problem...