got some 2nd hand Koni shocks - seem too stiff?

[Mark2]

I picked up some 2nd hand Koni shocks from the wreckers on the weekend to fit to the front of my V8 110. The part number is 30-1311.

Now they seem a lot stiffer to compress by hand than the Monroes I have at the moment. I havent fitted them yet but dont want to if the ride is going to get harsher. The adjustment is only for the rebound setting so it doesnt make any difference to how they compress by hand.
I keep hearing how wonderful Konis are, durability is one thing but if they make the ride harsher, I'll probably put them on ebay. I also got a set of 14mm wire coils with the shocks, my current springs are 15mm wire. So changing to the softer springs might help but bouncing the car in the wreckers when it was fitted with the 14mm springs and the Konis, it felt stiffer than just about all the other coil sprung rovers there (didnt have an engine it however). Maybe a static bounce test is not a good indication of ride quality on rough roads?

[cloughy]

Koni's will be fine, just put them in

[KiwiBacon]

What you feel when compressing them by hand is the low speed valving. This controls the body roll and brake dive when they're in the truck.

The high speed valving is what determines bump response and you can't test that by hand.

I have a set of twintube konis in the front of my rangie and someone screwed up when the previous owner ordered them. They're rally specific and valved to catch a vehicle in a nose heavy landing.

Thankfully you can pull apart and revalve them quite easily.

[red90]

That is the correct direct replacement part number.

[Loanrangie]

They feel stiff as all hell and there is no way you can compress them by hand which makes it bloody hard to compress when replacing shocks, once in though they feel great

[Aquarangie]

I also got a set of 2nd hand Koni's off this site for a good price. I also had the same opinion of them being too stiff but on the vehicle they're great. I adjusted mine to the softest setting and on and off-road they handle anyhting i throw at them.

The Bilsteins I had in the Rangie when I bought it were too stiff with the King springs the suspension was stiff as a bloody ironing board

Trav

[Michele]

I had Konis (84 1124 SPF8 front and 1125 rear),tuned in the mid position,and always felt them harsh but firm ride.

Fitted Bilsteins 10" travel and the valving is wrong,way toooo soft and make the truck scary to drive beyond the 70/80 Kmph barrier...

Now I gotta search for other shocks...

[LukeV]

I have Bilsteins fitted but they seem too stiff. I've got a set of Koni adjustibles on the wreck which I shall be fitting one of these days to see if that improved the ride and especially corrugated road handling...cause it is bloody scary at the moment

LukeV

[Michele]

I realized yesterday I mounted the shocks upside down...