Koni STR.T - Huge disappointment

[hunker7]

Hi guys. I recently replaced my 20 year old Bodge shocks with str.t Koni, and to say I'm disappointed is an understatement. I don't even know if there is an improvement over the 20 year old Bodge shocks. Coming off speed bumps car just bounces around too much, my dad's Octavia bounces around less on knackered shocks. Car is on 1BE sports suspension too, honestly doesn't see anything sport about it.

Is this something people have experienced with these shocks, or I just happened to get bad pair?

[macspring]

As another grumpy old man in addition to Dave.

Do what the forum says from it's collective experience !

Bilstein, Bilstein, Bilstein.






HTH.

[hunker7]

Bilstein was the plan, but my financial situation changed drastically therefore I went for Koni. Did all work on front suspension, and some rear suspension work for the price of only B6's. Probably doesn't make a difference to some, but it did to me.

Either way, I expected them to be better. My brother did his A80 with sachs gas shocks and his car handles better than mine.

[Error404]

Dampers need tuning to spring rates. If it bouncy they you probably need more rebound. Obviously not much help if they are fixed rate.

[hunker7]

Dampers need tuning to spring rates. If it bouncy they you probably need more rebound. Obviously not much help if they are fixed rate.

They indeed are fixed rate.

[RichLV]

I'm still on my KYB Ultra SR, going strong for 2+ years. For the money they are brilliant. B6's in the future though.

What about B8's? I see them in the catalogue at one of the local shops for my UrS.

[macspring]

Bilstein was the plan, but my financial situation changed drastically

Agreed, it's happened to me too.

It seems too high at the rear in the recent photo of the car posted in the "showcase photo of your car" thread. Not much help I know, but just sayin....

Best wishes.

[hunker7]

I like the way it sits. Rear is a tad higher than front, but front is just bouncy, feels like oil shocks on standard springs. On the rear I have B6's done before my ownership, and isn't as bouncy, but it is much lighter too. Sometimes coming down from sharper speedbumps cats hit the ground.

I'm sure I can't return them now.

[macspring]

This is not what you want to hear especially now, but "measure twice and cut once"

I know it is not always possible to follow this advice, especially as a student and its 's a daily, but what I'm inferring is that if Bilsteins are the right way to go, (or whatever the C4 issue is), wait for longer until the budget stretches to Bilsteins, as buying cheaper, and then having to buy Bilsteins in the long run is obviously much dearer.

As I said no help this time, but maybe for the next time(s).

I've used Bilsteins with H&R 29800 on my UrS6 saloon with 255/35/18 on Mk1 S8 rims and the tyres set at 35/40psi. And the ride is not too hard, is comfortable can 'handle' pot holes as well as any car can deal with them Is lower, but not so low that it can't clear speed ramps and speed pillows. Also works in multi storey car parks, cresting the top of the ramp with the centre exhaust pipe, and the bottom of the front bumper on the way down the ramps onto the lower floor level.

All oem rubber bushes except Albert's camber are mounts.

I think the H&R springs are actually for the older Audi 200, but they work nicely on a C4 UrS6.

[hunker7]

I know what you mean, but I knew I won't be in a position to buy Bilstein in near future so that's what I decided on. As for clearing speed bumps, being on standard height it should clear them no issue, but mine scrapes some pretty badly sometimes, and recently changed rubber exhaust mounts to ones with chain inside them.

I remember when I had my Audi 100, it was much stiffer than this one and it looked like allroad.

[hunker7]

Shocks did have a manual with them that showed how to adjust them, but I am pretty sure STR.T isn't adjustable, only yellows are.

[hunker7]

You tell me guys, is this normal? 2nd car is my dad's octy on vrs suspension and 150k old shocks.

[hunker7]

I've contacted the company and they can send them to be tested, but most likely if there are no leaks they're not faulty.

[hunker7]

[hunker7]

I'm not expert but I think this not how gas shock should be.