Koni adjustable shocks - What adjustment?

Just installing some new Koni Heavy Track shocks that are adjustable. The question is - what adjustment to use? I am particularly interested in the front, since adjusting it later will be hard with standard towers...

The usage is expedition and it will in the front be fitted with winch and winch bumper, steering and track rod protection, so an additional 100 kg from stock I would guess. Usage is mixed on and off road.

Any input is appreciated as the fronts are going in this week-end if the weather gods permit

No one? No Koni wiz' online?

fredrikarnell said:

Just installing some new Koni Heavy Track shocks that are adjustable. The question is - what adjustment to use? I am particularly interested in the front, since adjusting it later will be hard with standard towers...

The usage is expedition and it will in the front be fitted with winch and winch bumper, steering and track rod protection, so an additional 100 kg from stock I would guess. Usage is mixed on and off road.

Any input is appreciated as the fronts are going in this week-end if the weather gods permit

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Trouble is, it's going to be personal for the most part. There is no right or wrong. I'd probably ask who sold them to you for a good place to start.

Might be worth buying some open shock towers (not much from somewhere like Llama4x4.com) as that way you can easily change them on the vehicle and experiment until you get something you like.

weight is not really a factor for setting as thats dealt with by the springs. Its more a personal thing how soft (bouncy) you like it on front end. I have konis on rear of my 110 and I took two or three goes to get it right for my tastes. I started of IIRC at about 1/2 range , and then increased twice , but its a while ago now so not certain on final setting . But they work well , on corrugated outback tracks !

I have just bought some Heavy track shocks for a Defender. Couldn't find any satisfying answer to setting them up, so I contacted Koni. I got a pretty hopeless answer by 'phone but the following very helpful reply to my email:

The raid shocks in this case are already a little firmer than the Heavy Track shocks and the OE shocks. On the Koni each half turn of adjustment equates to around 15% increase in force, so if for example your springs were 30% stiffer then I would recommend 2 half turns, giving a matching 30% increase. It is not an exact science as people like different things from their suspension and it is always subjective, but it would be a good start point.
Much more than one full turn and I think it would start to effect your ride comfort a bit, so I would suggest half a turn or one full turn. This should limit the roll, give good handling and still retain ride comfort.

I was going to go for Raid shocks as the suspension is beefed up to 3.5 ton rating with Wolf springs and wheels and permanently fitted equipment means that it's always heavily laden. However, since most driving is on road the shock absorbers will not be working all that hard. It was also significant that the non Raid units are about half the price. Time will tell if I got it right.