New shocks- Koni or Bilstein?
It's time to change out my shocks and I'd like some feedback on folks' experience with Koni vs Bilstein shocks. What have you noticed about ride quality? How have they held up? Some older revi...
Forum Discussion
The reduction of ride harshness in the rear of our E450 motorhome chassis is why I had Koni FSD shocks installed in the rear and the results are subtle, but that's just the way it should be. I would suspect any claims of "dramatic ride stiffness reduction" from any solution other than removing of rear spring leafs or installation of a full air suspension system.
We've had FSD shocks in the rear of our E450 based small Class C for over two years ... and they do, in general, make the ride less harsh on roadway cracks and potholes. However I have just about absolute proof - regardless of what we feel up in the cab - of what the FSD shocks are doing to take the pounding sting out of cracks and potholes: We have a latch back in the shower that holds the folding accordian shower curtain open. That latch used to ALWAYS come unlatched after traveling a few miles on todays poorly maintained highways and freeways. After adding the FSD shocks, that latch now NEVER has come unlatched.
Regarding roll control on curves, when going into parking lots, when big-rigs pass us, and when traveling in strong cross-winds: Any affects are subtle in these situations because our small Class C underloads our E450 chassis ... which of course came stock with front and rear sway bars and a front steering shock. However, the sway contol with the FSD shocks only in the rear is certainly no less than it was before. If anything it's a more gently, rounded-off, less "jerky" control of roll in our 11,800 lb. E450 RV.
The reason I didn't go with any other rear shock is because I didn't think that what was needed was a rear shock that was stiffer all the time or softer all the time. I was happy with the roll control stiffness of the stock shocks, but I was tired of their stiffness being added to the leaf spring's stiffness on roadway cracks and potholes. I'm looking forward to completing the picture by adding FSD shocks in the front.
We've had FSD shocks in the rear of our E450 based small Class C for over two years ... and they do, in general, make the ride less harsh on roadway cracks and potholes. However I have just about absolute proof - regardless of what we feel up in the cab - of what the FSD shocks are doing to take the pounding sting out of cracks and potholes: We have a latch back in the shower that holds the folding accordian shower curtain open. That latch used to ALWAYS come unlatched after traveling a few miles on todays poorly maintained highways and freeways. After adding the FSD shocks, that latch now NEVER has come unlatched.
Regarding roll control on curves, when going into parking lots, when big-rigs pass us, and when traveling in strong cross-winds: Any affects are subtle in these situations because our small Class C underloads our E450 chassis ... which of course came stock with front and rear sway bars and a front steering shock. However, the sway contol with the FSD shocks only in the rear is certainly no less than it was before. If anything it's a more gently, rounded-off, less "jerky" control of roll in our 11,800 lb. E450 RV.
The reason I didn't go with any other rear shock is because I didn't think that what was needed was a rear shock that was stiffer all the time or softer all the time. I was happy with the roll control stiffness of the stock shocks, but I was tired of their stiffness being added to the leaf spring's stiffness on roadway cracks and potholes. I'm looking forward to completing the picture by adding FSD shocks in the front.
