Rear shocks - where to buy?

[Anders Dinsen]

Hi Guys,

Changing over to my summer wheels, I realised why my car has been "shaky" on bumpy roads. I thought it was engine inbalance... stupid me. Look at this photo:



That's shock absorber oil...

So I need a set of new rear shocks, but I frankly was a bit shocked when I found the price for a standard set from Simon: 208,25€ A PIECE, so including shipping I'll be paying somewhere around 450 EUR! I know it's a safety thing and you shouldn't save on safety, but... (I'm not critising Simon, he's doing a good job - and currently advertises a SET of new rear springs on eBay for a little more than 50€ - that's very fair).

Is there anyone here who knows where I can get a reasonably priced set?

Thanks,
Anders

[Anders Dinsen]

I checked Politecnic, and they have A SET (la paire) listed at 171,30€ HT, that's around 200€, so maybe Simon has got them wrong in his catalogue, and the price *is* for a set? I'll ask...

[Waldo]

I'll take a set of springs if you're ordering anything from Simon... we can split the p&p

I checked Politecnic, and they have A SET (la paire) listed at 171,30€ HT, that's around 200€, so maybe Simon has got them wrong in his catalogue, and the price *is* for a set? I'll ask...

[Anders Dinsen]

I'll take a set of springs if you're ordering anything from Simon... we can split the p&p

Thanks, but I won't... I have just received a quick reply - that the price is for one
These are Koni Classic shocks, so good quality, but still.....

/Anders

[roy4matra]

These are Koni Classic shocks, so good quality, but still.....

/Anders

Not long ago when I asked Koni in the U.K. they said they can overhaul any of their shocks.  So why not find out how much it is to have them reconditioned?

Roy

[Oskar]

could you fit another damper from a different model/brand if the spec are almost the same?

Im in search for similar damper but seeking from another car

[roy4matra]

could you fit another damper from a different model/brand if the spec are almost the same?

Im in search for similar damper but seeking from another car

I doubt you would get anything that would be the same otherwise they would be listed the same as for something else.  You need not only the same ratings for bump and rebound (which can be different), for the weight at the rear, but also it has to fit physically, and give the same geometry and clearances etc.  Since there are not many other mid-engined cars most rear dampers would not be rated for the weight.  Also most Macpherson struts have a captive spring - i.e. the top is retained by a plate and bearing and you can remove them from the car compete without having to clamp the coil spring, but the Matra one has no retaining plate and the chassis forms the spring seat at the top.

Roy

[Murena IRL]

Try

Jurgen Roterberg
bagheera@freenet.de

[krede]

Most manufactures will do "one off's" If you ask them.. and its not that expensive either.

For instance.. "GAZ" made a complete set for my murena with adjustable hight struts for the rear and coil overs for the front... for less than a sparx kit would have cost me...
Given what I know now.. I'd probably have asked Bilstein first.   

[Anders Dinsen]

Not long ago when I asked Koni in the U.K. they said they can overhaul any of their shocks.  So why not find out how much it is to have them reconditioned?

That sounds like an interesting option if it was not for the fact that it would take my car off the road while the shocks were being done. With the Espace still awaiting its new engine, I can't do that now. But it might be worth considering having them recondition my old red Koni's if I can find a pair of reasonably cheap shocks to replace them now. That way I would have a set of good shocks in spare for when they are needed.

Are you considering sending something off to them yourself, Roy?

/Anders

[Bart_Maztra]

Or just overhaul the shocks yourself!  They are allready damaged, so nothing to loose!

Undo the top lid/nut with an angle-grinder-disc-release-tool-with-the-two-notches.
Pour out the oil (stroke the piston up/down) and measure the amount of oil.
Renew the seal. (this is the tricky bit. Don't know where to get it, but i'm sure it is a standard industrial item)
Fill the shocks with fresh 400cc 5w forkoil.
Give it a bit of paint

Some pictures here
http://oscar.messageboard.nl/7101/viewtopic.php?t=770

[krede]

Good idea Bart... If you can do it on a Motor bike why not on car shocks as well!
There must be a forum out there where you can get the parts numbers for the spares..

Too bad the Article is in Dutch.. I'd very much like to read it... and sadly Google translate isn't much use for it

[Anders Dinsen]

I searched the net for "koni rebuild" and found a few places in the US that could do it, but Koni UK also lists some workshops who can do the job:

http://www.koni.uk.com/home/content/view/76/33/

So I called one of them and talked to a friendly guy who would do it for 35£ per damper plus parts and p&p etc. He's away next week, but will look at them the week after. That's fast enough for me as new dampers would take 2-3 weeks to reach me anyway (at least that's the quote I've received from one of our Matra-parts suppliers), so I'm going to take the car off the road (at least the rear end ) and ship them the UK to have them done.

Now that we've got the Espace back, I can live without the car - and there's little joy anyway driving it with the failed shocks...

/Anders

[Anders Dinsen]

Just a quick update to say that so far the Koni specialist has been very helpful, and the shocks are now serviced and ready to be shipped back to me. Cost of labour and parts is 80£ plus shipping, so I expect the whole process will cost me about 1500 DKK. Despite some e-mail problems, the guy has been very helpful.

I think I'll have the shocks back before next weekend.

I the meantime, I have fixed the left front caliper which was sticking due to a broken outer seal, and I have also found that the left steering boot has failed. The inner joint seems okay, so I'll try to find one today at a local parts shop - these are "standard" Simca/Talbot parts.

Here are before and after-photo's of the caliper:

[Oskar]

nice!
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