Konis SUCK! High performance, but junk Quality
06-01-2012, 10:07 AM
#1
TECH Apprentice
Thread Starter
iTrader: (6)
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Fairfax County, VA (You know you're here when you see the bad roads)
Posts: 377
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Konis SUCK! High performance, but junk Quality That's right, I said it.
I bought and installed a set of SA konis on my 2002 Camaro about 5 years ago. Since then I have put on maybe 30,000 miles. During the last week I decided to swap out my lowering springs.
Well my Konis were so rusted and corroded that there was no chance of salvaging them. They were almost turning to dust at some parts. See the pics below. This is NOT what I would expect from almost $1000 dollars worth of shocks.
Now before any of you chime in with "Normal wear and tear" Ive attached some pics of 2002 decarbons that are twice as old, and a few more pics dug up of factory shocks as far back as 97.
VERDICT: Konis are great performing shocks, made with substandard low quality components that will rust and rot away underneath your ride. If you buy, plan to use once and discard.
Note on the third pic.....See the koni strut bolt all rusted while the twice-as-old upper shock mount bolt seems to be doing just fine.
(Edit: MORE PICS IN POST #53)
I bought and installed a set of SA konis on my 2002 Camaro about 5 years ago. Since then I have put on maybe 30,000 miles. During the last week I decided to swap out my lowering springs.
Well my Konis were so rusted and corroded that there was no chance of salvaging them. They were almost turning to dust at some parts. See the pics below. This is NOT what I would expect from almost $1000 dollars worth of shocks.
Now before any of you chime in with "Normal wear and tear" Ive attached some pics of 2002 decarbons that are twice as old, and a few more pics dug up of factory shocks as far back as 97.
VERDICT: Konis are great performing shocks, made with substandard low quality components that will rust and rot away underneath your ride. If you buy, plan to use once and discard.
Note on the third pic.....See the koni strut bolt all rusted while the twice-as-old upper shock mount bolt seems to be doing just fine.
(Edit: MORE PICS IN POST #53)
Last edited by UMD_Jesse; 06-15-2012 at 08:59 AM. Reason: pics added
06-01-2012, 11:51 AM
#2
my struts looked like this as well when i removed them on my 99 T/A. it is cause of a GM shitty design and not making a drain for the residue and water the collects up there. metal and sitting water just create rust, there is no way around that. just put some grease on the bolt and you should be fine.
this has nothing to do with koni's as they are great shocks. please dont bash a company for something that mother nature causes.
this has nothing to do with koni's as they are great shocks. please dont bash a company for something that mother nature causes.
06-01-2012, 11:56 AM
#3
TECH Apprentice
Thread Starter
iTrader: (6)
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Fairfax County, VA (You know you're here when you see the bad roads)
Posts: 377
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yeah, I guess the design should be better, but the GM shock fared MUCH better than the konis did. Also, that doesnt explain why the rest of the shock is falling apart either.
06-01-2012, 12:26 PM
#5
TECH Junkie
iTrader: (7)
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: MA
Posts: 3,934
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
LOL!
Whoa.. .my swaybars got a little dirty, so therefore they completely suck
Maybe that thing you posted in your avatar window might have something to do with it? "You know you're here when you see the bad roads"
Whoa.. .my swaybars got a little dirty, so therefore they completely suck
Maybe that thing you posted in your avatar window might have something to do with it? "You know you're here when you see the bad roads"
06-01-2012, 12:32 PM
#6
I will admit that states that lay salt during winter certainly don't help. I had a set of KYB coilovers in Minnesota and New Jersey but they never rusted either. The stock shock did though.
Trending Topics
06-01-2012, 12:57 PM
#8
TECH Apprentice
Thread Starter
iTrader: (6)
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Fairfax County, VA (You know you're here when you see the bad roads)
Posts: 377
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I suspect a lot of folks here think holy crap these are expensive, but I can run them for a few years then rebuild them, then run them again. Not so, these are pretty much one time only use as you will have to destroy them to get that parts off.
Maybe Im also hoping some one might get these pics to Koni, other users will chime in, and maybe a better constructed shock will be the result. Its a shame cause they do ride nice.
06-01-2012, 01:03 PM
#9
TECH Apprentice
Thread Starter
iTrader: (6)
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Fairfax County, VA (You know you're here when you see the bad roads)
Posts: 377
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I guess youd have to check an almanac for fairfax county to see if it rained or snowed anymore in the last 4-5 years when I had konis than it did in the 5 years where I drove with the OEM shocks.
FWIW, I daily drive a jeep which is what sees most of the rain and snow salt. Out of curiosity, what amount of shitty weather is acceptable?
Out of further curiosity, has any one else on here seen these things corrode like this? Am I a unique example of this? Chime in please.
FWIW, I daily drive a jeep which is what sees most of the rain and snow salt. Out of curiosity, what amount of shitty weather is acceptable?
Out of further curiosity, has any one else on here seen these things corrode like this? Am I a unique example of this? Chime in please.
06-01-2012, 01:10 PM
#10
TECH Junkie
iTrader: (7)
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: MA
Posts: 3,934
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You shouldn't ever have to rebuild them if that makes you feel better. Do you garage your car? I'm not really suprised.. stuff under the car gets nasty, rusted, corroded... I don't care personally, but then again my car isn't a garage queen.
06-01-2012, 01:32 PM
#12
TECH Apprentice
Thread Starter
iTrader: (6)
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Fairfax County, VA (You know you're here when you see the bad roads)
Posts: 377
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Actually my swaybars are very dirty...but not rusted. Also notice the Strano spring installed with the shock in pic 3...NO rust. Also take a look at the spring cup and other suspension parts in the pic that are twice as old as the konis....hey guess what? ...NO rust! In fact the only thing in all the pics that are falling apart are these junk konis. Let the pic speak for itself.
06-01-2012, 01:33 PM
#13
TECH Apprentice
iTrader: (7)
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Nashville, TN
Posts: 343
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
That looks worse than my stock shock and mine was a lease in Indiana. The impact could still bite it and that's how I got it off. After a can of PB blaster and a day of course. That doesn't even look like a socket would bite on it. I hope my Bilsteins don't get that bad before I do the springs.
06-01-2012, 01:55 PM
#14
As far as the rust in the upper mount I coat mine completely with some Prothane clear water proof grease now. I'd at a minimum coat all the exposed metal surfaces in the upper mount with Anti-Seize, including the all of the shock shaft that goes through the upper mount; give it all a good coat! This will eliminate most if not all rust issued in the UM area. As for the rest, get under your car at least every 4-6 months and spray these rust prone areas with a spray dry lube, or other dry rust preventive product.
I will have to agree that the build quality of the Koni's could be better, it at least should be inline with Bilsteins.
I will have to agree that the build quality of the Koni's could be better, it at least should be inline with Bilsteins.
06-01-2012, 01:59 PM
#15
TECH Apprentice
Thread Starter
iTrader: (6)
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Fairfax County, VA (You know you're here when you see the bad roads)
Posts: 377
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
As far as the rust in the upper mount I coat mine completely with some Prothane clear water proof grease now. I'd at a minimum coat all the exposed metal surfaces in the upper mount with Anti-Seize, including the all of the shock shaft that goes through the upper mount; give it all a good coat! This will eliminate most if not all rust issued in the UM area. As for the rest, get under your car at least every 4-6 months and spray these rust prone areas with a spray dry lube, or other dry rust preventive product.
I will have to agree that the build quality could be better, it at least should be inline with Bilsteins.
I will have to agree that the build quality could be better, it at least should be inline with Bilsteins.
Im not sure Im willing to give koni another shot.
Right now Im leaning towards any future shock purchases being aluminum bodied since it cant rust.
06-01-2012, 03:26 PM
#18
TECH Senior Member
They warrant defects in materials and workmanship. But the point of this thread wasnt for me to try and get a free set of shock....I just want users here to know what they're getting when they buy this stuff.
I suspect a lot of folks here think holy crap these are expensive, but I can run them for a few years then rebuild them, then run them again. Not so, these are pretty much one time only use as you will have to destroy them to get that parts off.
Maybe Im also hoping some one might get these pics to Koni, other users will chime in, and maybe a better constructed shock will be the result. Its a shame cause they do ride nice.
I suspect a lot of folks here think holy crap these are expensive, but I can run them for a few years then rebuild them, then run them again. Not so, these are pretty much one time only use as you will have to destroy them to get that parts off.
Maybe Im also hoping some one might get these pics to Koni, other users will chime in, and maybe a better constructed shock will be the result. Its a shame cause they do ride nice.
Ok, let me get this strait. You are mad because your shocks have paint flaking, causing surface rust? In what way does this effect how they perform?
As far as lasting a few years then rebuilding, there is no need to unless you rack up some serious miles in those few years (100,000+).
As noted the upper mound rusting is a GM design and has nothing to do with the shock, if you bother to look probably 90%+ members have to cut the top nut of the original shocks off because they are rusted so bad.
And if you think the stock decarbons or bilstiens (or any other shock for that matter) don't get surface rust you are sadly mistaken.
http://media.photobucket.com/image/b...f/100_1844.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3340/...f0785170c8.jpg
06-01-2012, 03:38 PM
#19
TECH Apprentice
Thread Starter
iTrader: (6)
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Fairfax County, VA (You know you're here when you see the bad roads)
Posts: 377
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Are you being serious or are you just trying to mess with us?
Ok, let me get this strait. You are mad because your shocks have paint flaking, causing surface rust? In what way does this effect how they perform?
As far as lasting a few years then rebuilding, there is no need to unless you rack up some serious miles in those few years (100,000+).
As noted the upper mound rusting is a GM design and has nothing to do with the shock, if you bother to look probably 90%+ members have to cut the top nut of the original shocks off because they are rusted so bad.
And if you think the stock decarbons or bilstiens (or any other shock for that matter) don't get surface rust you are sadly mistaken.
http://media.photobucket.com/image/b...f/100_1844.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3340/...f0785170c8.jpg
Ok, let me get this strait. You are mad because your shocks have paint flaking, causing surface rust? In what way does this effect how they perform?
As far as lasting a few years then rebuilding, there is no need to unless you rack up some serious miles in those few years (100,000+).
As noted the upper mound rusting is a GM design and has nothing to do with the shock, if you bother to look probably 90%+ members have to cut the top nut of the original shocks off because they are rusted so bad.
And if you think the stock decarbons or bilstiens (or any other shock for that matter) don't get surface rust you are sadly mistaken.
http://media.photobucket.com/image/b...f/100_1844.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3340/...f0785170c8.jpg
The rust does not affect how they perform nor did I claim this(Read the posts...heck read the title of the thread)
Most metals will eventually oxidize...yeah I get it. Its how fast that concerns me. Its a matter of time. Im not saying other shocks dont rust, but I am saying Konis rust and deteriorate faster than my old stock shocks. Since you posted pics, but I have no idea how long it took to get like that then the pics arent very helpful.
But I appreciate your insight.
And if you think that I think other shocks dont get surface rust than youre sadly mistaken....but I never made that claim, so what would you think that?
Or why would I think that you think or anybody thinks, for that matter, that either of us think that?Or while we're at it lets not worry about trying to read other peoples mind and guess what they think. They know what they think? dont they?
Last edited by UMD_Jesse; 06-01-2012 at 04:11 PM.
06-01-2012, 04:50 PM
#20
You stated in your first post that Konica are made with substandard low quality components. I believe that is far from the truth. I have Koni SA and from what I have experienced and researched, they are made of very high quality components. I know I have seen bilsteins do this as well on several vehicles I've worked on. If anything, you should only complain about the finish/paint. I do believe that most people will install suspension items and never clean them after install. It seems most don't realize that you need to clean the underside of your car by hand just like the the paint job on the body if you want the paint stay nice.
