Range Rover P38 - KONI Replacement Shock Absorbers - Verdict

Hi,

Well, after having them fitted I thought I'd give you some feedback in case
anyone else is thinking of doing something similar.

I started looking at replacement shock absorbers after a rear one developed
a knocking and needed replacing. On investigation is soon became apparent
that the factory fitted items are not particularly good and I was keen to
minimize body roll and get a less bouncy ride whilst driving on lumpy roads.
The KONI items (that I bought from Camberley Auto Factors) seemed to offer
what I wanted and after some discussion with people at Tim Fry Land Rover in
Cheltenham (my local independent specialist) I set them on setting 1 (they
run from 0 to 3, 0 being the softest). Setting 1 produces a ride far more
like a normal car rather than the very bouncy ride.

The difference is quite amazing: the knocking is obviously gone, the ride is
far better i.e. not as bouncy, and the body roll is much reduced. I should
have done this years ago. I've no idea how this affects off-road
performance but since my RR rarely goes there it's really not a problem.

Brake hoses, discs and pads next!

Regards

AlanC

....and AC spake unto the tribes of Usenet, saying...

> The difference is quite amazing: the knocking is obviously gone, the
> ride is far better i.e. not as bouncy, and the body roll is much
> reduced. I should have done this years ago.

Some of the difference may well be Konis vs OE shocks, but I bet the
majority of the improvement is new vs knackered, old shocks.

--
Rich
==============================

Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.

> The difference is quite amazing: the knocking is obviously gone, the ride is
> far better i.e. not as bouncy, and the body roll is much reduced. I should
> have done this years ago. I've no idea how this affects off-road
> performance but since my RR rarely goes there it's really not a problem.

If you don't mind me asking, how much did it cost to change them all
round?

Matt.

On or around Wed, 8 Feb 2006 22:45:29 -0000, "Richard Brookman"
<[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:

>...and AC spake unto the tribes of Usenet, saying...
>
>> The difference is quite amazing: the knocking is obviously gone, the
>> ride is far better i.e. not as bouncy, and the body roll is much
>> reduced. I should have done this years ago.
>
>Some of the difference may well be Konis vs OE shocks, but I bet the
>majority of the improvement is new vs knackered, old shocks.

I may have to go the Koni route for the fast ford, when I get around to
sorting the suspension properly - not sure the originals are going to still
be available...
--
Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.net my opinions are just that
"You praise the firm restraint with which they write -_
I'm with you there, of course: They use the snaffle and the bit
alright, but where's the bloody horse? - Roy Campbell (1902-1957)

Matthew Maddock wrote:
>> The difference is quite amazing: the knocking is obviously gone, the
>> ride is far better i.e. not as bouncy, and the body roll is much
>> reduced. I should have done this years ago. I've no idea how this
>> affects off-road performance but since my RR rarely goes there it's
>> really not a problem.
>
> If you don't mind me asking, how much did it cost to change them all
> round?

Yeah, i have just done a very bouncy ride home from Burnley over Scartop!!!

Nige

>
> Matt.

--
--
Subaru WRX
Range Rover LSE (Bob) FOR SALE!!!
Range Rover 4.6 HSE (The Tank!)

'"I don't remember asking you a goddam thing"

Hi Richard,

I was aware that this may have artificially made the KONIs look better than
they were so I did actually go for a drive in a P38 that had had all shocks
changed some 8 months ago and they were standard parts. Whilst they were
slightly better there wasn't a marked difference between my older ones (7
years and 65k miles) and the newer ones. The difference between the old
standard items and the new KONIs is marked.

From Camberley Auto Factors in Swindon I paid £342.02 for all four. My next
free weekend is in late May so I paid Tim Fry Land Rover in Cheltenham £150
for the 3 hours it took to replace them all.

On another topic. Do not have a mild steel exhaust from a main dealer
fitted as a replacement. I was quoted almost £700 and this one lasted just
two years. For £560 you can get stainless steel ones (several options) from
places like Rimmer Brothers in Lincoln and they're guaranteed for life.

Anyone with any advice on new brake discs, pads and hoses? I'm aware of
David at Llama4x4 for braided hoses and will be paying him a visit sometime
soon. I need two new front discs and will replace all 4; I was wondering if
it's worth going for grooved discs and uprated pads.

Regards

AlanC


"Richard Brookman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> ...and AC spake unto the tribes of Usenet, saying...
>
>> The difference is quite amazing: the knocking is obviously gone, the
>> ride is far better i.e. not as bouncy, and the body roll is much
>> reduced. I should have done this years ago.
>
> Some of the difference may well be Konis vs OE shocks, but I bet the
> majority of the improvement is new vs knackered, old shocks.
>
> --
> Rich
> ==============================
>
> Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
>

Alan Hi,

it is DEFINATELY worth upgrading to slotted (and drilled if available) disks
and greenstuf EBC kevlar pads.

Drilled disks will generate a bit of noise when you brake and kevlar pads
take some time to get to 100% performance when the weather is cold but with
the drilled disks you will get immediate braking when it is raining (the
water passes through the holes and the pad touches the disk immediately) and
fat better cooling.
As for the kevlar pads they are simply EXTREMELY hard to get them to
overheat.

I use them on my almost three tonnes heavy camel trophy Discovery 200Tdi and
it is the only pad able to operate well on downslope roads during the hot
Greek summer days without overheating or generating burnt brake pad smell.

Take care
Pantelis

"AC" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi Richard,
>
> I was aware that this may have artificially made the KONIs look better
than
> they were so I did actually go for a drive in a P38 that had had all
shocks
> changed some 8 months ago and they were standard parts. Whilst they were
> slightly better there wasn't a marked difference between my older ones (7
> years and 65k miles) and the newer ones. The difference between the old
> standard items and the new KONIs is marked.
>
> From Camberley Auto Factors in Swindon I paid £342.02 for all four. My
next
> free weekend is in late May so I paid Tim Fry Land Rover in Cheltenham
£150
> for the 3 hours it took to replace them all.
>
> On another topic. Do not have a mild steel exhaust from a main dealer
> fitted as a replacement. I was quoted almost £700 and this one lasted
just
> two years. For £560 you can get stainless steel ones (several options)
from
> places like Rimmer Brothers in Lincoln and they're guaranteed for life.
>
> Anyone with any advice on new brake discs, pads and hoses? I'm aware of
> David at Llama4x4 for braided hoses and will be paying him a visit
sometime
> soon. I need two new front discs and will replace all 4; I was wondering
if
> it's worth going for grooved discs and uprated pads.
>
> Regards
>
> AlanC
>
>
> "Richard Brookman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > ...and AC spake unto the tribes of Usenet, saying...
> >
> >> The difference is quite amazing: the knocking is obviously gone, the
> >> ride is far better i.e. not as bouncy, and the body roll is much
> >> reduced. I should have done this years ago.
> >
> > Some of the difference may well be Konis vs OE shocks, but I bet the
> > majority of the improvement is new vs knackered, old shocks.
> >
> > --
> > Rich
> > ==============================
> >
> > Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
> >
>
>

Pantelis Giamarellos wrote:
> Alan Hi,
>
> it is DEFINATELY worth upgrading to slotted (and drilled if available) disks
> and greenstuf EBC kevlar pads.

I used to go through a set of pads every 10k in my Audi when I had
drilled discs (yes, I used to drive fast down local country roads).
The discs also wore very badly (they weren't cheapo jobs either) I took
them off in the end and put standards back on. No noticeable difference.
They looked cool - I wouldn't ever bother again though, but that's just
my personal experience. I've only ever had one episode of brake fade
and that was driving around Milton Keynes with all those bloody
roundabouts in a crappy Volvo!

Matt.

On or around Thu, 9 Feb 2006 18:39:27 -0000, "AC" <[email protected]>
enlightened us thusly:

>On another topic. Do not have a mild steel exhaust from a main dealer
>fitted as a replacement.

did that have cat(s)? if so, 's about normal price. if not, it was a
rip-off.
--
Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.net my opinions are just that
Confidence: Before important work meetings, boost your confidence by
reading a few pages from "The Tibetan Book of the Dead"
from the Little Book of Complete B***ocks by Alistair Beaton.

The price quoted i.e. £700 (fitted) was for everything from the cats back
for a twin tailpipe system. Needless to say I didn't go for it! I went for
the stainless twin large bore system from Rimmer Brothers and am very happy
with it. Here's hoping it lasts as long as promised.

Regards

AlanC


"Austin Shackles" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news[email protected]...
> On or around Thu, 9 Feb 2006 18:39:27 -0000, "AC"
> <[email protected]>
> enlightened us thusly:
>
>>On another topic. Do not have a mild steel exhaust from a main dealer
>>fitted as a replacement.
>
> did that have cat(s)? if so, 's about normal price. if not, it was a
> rip-off.
> --
> Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.net my opinions are just that
> Confidence: Before important work meetings, boost your confidence by
> reading a few pages from "The Tibetan Book of the Dead"
> from the Little Book of Complete B***ocks by Alistair Beaton.

On or around Thu, 9 Feb 2006 23:01:25 -0000, "AC" <[email protected]>
enlightened us thusly:

>The price quoted i.e. £700 (fitted) was for everything from the cats back
>for a twin tailpipe system. Needless to say I didn't go for it! I went for
>the stainless twin large bore system from Rimmer Brothers and am very happy
>with it. Here's hoping it lasts as long as promised.

bloody hell. Mind, the dealers probably want to sting you about 200 quid
for fitting.

300 TDi exhaust, complete, in mild steel, was only a bit over a hundred
quid.
--
Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.net my opinions are just that
"Nessun maggior dolore che ricordarsi del tempo felice nella miseria"
- Dante Alighieri (1265 - 1321) from Divina Commedia 'Inferno'

Austin Shackles mumbled something on 10/02/2006 10:01:
> On or around Thu, 9 Feb 2006 23:01:25 -0000, "AC" <[email protected]>
> enlightened us thusly:
>
>> The price quoted i.e. £700 (fitted) was for everything from the cats back
>> for a twin tailpipe system. Needless to say I didn't go for it! I went for
>> the stainless twin large bore system from Rimmer Brothers and am very happy
>> with it. Here's hoping it lasts as long as promised.
>
> bloody hell. Mind, the dealers probably want to sting you about 200 quid
> for fitting.

Err, no, that price has come down a lot. Back in 2001, it was
£1,500+VAT+fitting.

LR dropped the price because people were getting
JanSpeed/Rimmer/whatever Stainless systems to save money.

Andy

On or around Fri, 10 Feb 2006 18:39:43 +0000, Andy Cunningham
<[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:

>Austin Shackles mumbled something on 10/02/2006 10:01:
>> On or around Thu, 9 Feb 2006 23:01:25 -0000, "AC" <[email protected]>
>> enlightened us thusly:
>>
>>> The price quoted i.e. £700 (fitted) was for everything from the cats back
>>> for a twin tailpipe system. Needless to say I didn't go for it! I went for
>>> the stainless twin large bore system from Rimmer Brothers and am very happy
>>> with it. Here's hoping it lasts as long as promised.
>>
>> bloody hell. Mind, the dealers probably want to sting you about 200 quid
>> for fitting.
>
>Err, no, that price has come down a lot. Back in 2001, it was
>£1,500+VAT+fitting.
>
>LR dropped the price because people were getting
>JanSpeed/Rimmer/whatever Stainless systems to save money.

still bloody ridiculous. which motor is this again... ah, P38. Hence the
excuse for silly bills. I bet it's no more of a fitting job than any other
exhaust, though.

hmmm. what year? the Bosal thing[1] for petrol engined rangies produces 3
hits for 4.0i, 4.6i:

09/94 - 08/96, 08/96 - 09/98, 09/98 - 01/02

all of which appear to be P38 and none of which are shown as a twin-pipe
system. The only ones that have twin intermediate pipes are the classics
from 77-85.

The 3 P38 systems look simialr - late ones having different front pipe and
different front box, while the 2 early ones look identical but have a
different part number for the rear box.

Taking the middle one, 96-98, they quote 580-odd quid for the whole system
including cats and mountings.

[1] http://www.exhaustshack.co.uk/

aha. I see they still list one for my 4x4 sierra, 208 quid for a complete
system. Could be handy, that.
--
Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.net my opinions are just that
"Carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero" (sieze today, and put
as little trust as you can in tomorrow) Horace (65 - 8 BC) Odes, I.xi.8

Austin Shackles mumbled something on 11/02/2006 10:10:

> still bloody ridiculous. which motor is this again... ah, P38. Hence the
> excuse for silly bills. I bet it's no more of a fitting job than any other
> exhaust, though.
Oh agreed. Apart from having to remove the gearbox support cross
member, I don't think there's anything difficult about fitting it.

> Taking the middle one, 96-98, they quote 580-odd quid for the whole system
> including cats and mountings.

Starting to sound more reasonable. 2 1/2 hrs to fit would cover the
rest of £700 at a franchised dealer.

Andy

On or around Sat, 11 Feb 2006 10:18:46 +0000, Andy Cunningham
<[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:

>Austin Shackles mumbled something on 11/02/2006 10:10:
>
>> still bloody ridiculous. which motor is this again... ah, P38. Hence the
>> excuse for silly bills. I bet it's no more of a fitting job than any other
>> exhaust, though.
>Oh agreed. Apart from having to remove the gearbox support cross
>member, I don't think there's anything difficult about fitting it.
>
>> Taking the middle one, 96-98, they quote 580-odd quid for the whole system
>> including cats and mountings.
>
>Starting to sound more reasonable. 2 1/2 hrs to fit would cover the
>rest of £700 at a franchised dealer.

ISTR though that the 700 quid was for the system from the cats backwards,
i.e. NOT including cats.
--
Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.net my opinions are just that
"Would to God that we might spend a single day really well!"
Thomas À Kempis (1380 - 1471) Imitation of Christ, I.xxiii.