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Post by djm16 on Feb 25, 2016 23:01:00 GMT
I need a set of 4 for a 3 litre.
Any suggestions on manufacturer and model, in particular from others in the Antipodes?
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Post by djm16 on Mar 3, 2016 12:55:27 GMT
Not getting very far with finding any shocks!
I did find a reference on eBay in Canada for a pair of Koni rear shocks part number 80-1399. Sold already.
The shocks in Wearings are a very reasonable price, in fact quite a lot less than direct from Spax. However the shipping cost is prohibitive.
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Post by guidedog on Mar 3, 2016 14:05:18 GMT
See February issue of Take Five. Page 12
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Post by Roy of the Rovers on Mar 3, 2016 14:28:52 GMT
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Post by djm16 on Mar 16, 2016 3:36:56 GMT
Update.
First, I managed to get some Koni's. The local (helpful) 4WD specialist Wilkinsons of Perth rang Koni who were able to give them nearest equivalent part numbers and supply them within a few days.
The fronts are: 80-2056
Rears are: 80-2233SP1
I believe the fronts fit some Peugot and the rears a Commodore.
Anyway the rears are near enough a drop in replacement with an alternative bottom bush. The fronts needed a 1/4" trimming off each end of the steel tube that goes through the bottom bush, then it is a drop-in replacement. Took just a few minutes with a cutting disk on an angle grinder.
These are adjustable shocks. Bearing in mind that no current car is as heavy at the front end as the 3 litre, I adjusted the front shocks in 1/4 turn from fully soft. I had the rears fully hard at first, but it was like driving an empty truck - miserably hard, so I then slackened them off to fully soft using one of the old shocks as a guide.
The Koni's also have a differential rebound rate. The compress quickly and expand slowly. I can't say I can really tell any difference in the handling, but then I did not think it was that bad in the first place. But one rear and one front were defective.
One sour point. I had read on the internet that these "classic" style shocks are prone to damaging the adjustment mechanism if they bottom out. Well there is no way I could have bottomed out on the first test run as the rubber bump stops for the diff and axles prevent full excursion of the shock. However, one of the two rears became very hard to adjust and I thought I was looking at pulling it out again and getting a replacement. However it eventually did adjust, and I am not changing it again!
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Post by djm16 on Apr 8, 2016 22:13:27 GMT
Final update.
I am going to refrain from superlatives. However, the front end feels much more like a modern car, for example my old Honda Accord. The front is a little more firm, transmitting more higher frequency road noise. But, the front wheels feel as though they are glued to the road.
Speed bumps are quite impressive too. Making relatively little impact even when taken at speed.
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