Re:Initial setting for Koni sports

["Leslie J. Singh" <Les.Singh@domain.elided>]

Hi All

I agree with Chris regarding the common-type road shocks produced by Koni. 
I speak from experience because I have 4 types of Konis -  reds, Sports 
(yellow), externally adjustable 80's alloy F1 type (currently fitted to a 
105, and a special (alloy)  type used for the monoshock setup in our Van 
Diemen RF92. The real competition types (as distinct from the "Sport") do 
wear, and the monoshock unit is overdue for service (approx $150NZ or $80US 
approx). Its externally adjustable, but it  definitely is not the easiest 
unit in the world to fiddle with where it is fitted horizontally lengthwise 
under the pull-rods so we disconnect the front link before mucking with 
it.  The alloy one on the 105 (also a competition type) can be adjusted 
with a screwdriver and the settings are immediately visible.

The Koni reds I've had for longer than I care to remember and I always 
thought they were not adequate for the GTV so I took them off and put them 
on a Berlina. The Koni Sports have been on the GTV for more than 15 years 
and have been trouble-free. Initial settings I used were 1 click off 
full-hard at the front and  full-soft in the rear but after removing the 
rear bar, I set them 2 clicks harder. Now that the GTV is used mainly on 
the road, the fronts are 2 clicks off full-hard. The car is lowered and the 
shocks should be shortened to suit but the cost is not trivial so this 
modification is on the back burner.

As far as the Milano/75 is concerned, I have no experience with different 
shocks: the only change I made to the supension was fitting Eibach Group A 
springs to the rear and that was because the springs were lying around 
begging to be used. Improvement was noticeable with that awful body roll 
reducing to acceptable levels, but then the V6 75 is just another saloon 
and not much fun to drive, so who cares.....  :-).  heh, heh.... :-)

Les Singh in Wellington, New Zealand on a calm, overcast, warm Alfa day


At 09:37 AM 6/20/02 -0400, you wrote:

> From: Chris Sweetapple <Highwood@domain.elided>
>
> It simply isn't correct that Konis are adjustable to take up wear, the
> whole point of them being adjustable is so that the driver can make changes
> to achieve a better ride/handling compromise.  Wear has nothing to do with
> it, in fact in my experience Konis pretty much last forever.  Forgive my
> ignorance but I think a Verde is some form of Milano or 75 as we call them,
> in which case I have little experience of these, but if I was selling a set
> of Koni Sports to someone with a 105/115-Series road car, I'd advise him to
> start with the Konis screwed up about 2/3 of the way (quite hard) on the
> front and about 1/3, maybe even less (in other words quite soft) on the
> rear.
>
> Chris Sweetapple
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