searching - for Koni shocks

[Titus]

I am at 50,000 miles and am planning to replace the front shocks after our upcoming trip to AK. Still rides fine, but I know the AK trip will stress things. So I plan on a post-trip tire rotation, new shocks, and alignment check.

I know the search feature of this forum is not great, but perhaps better than what I am able to do. I did a search for Koni shocks in the Sprinter and B-van forum and it returned threads that were 50+ pages long. Does anybody know of a way to determine where the subject is within the 50+ pages?

[InterBlog]

Funny you should ask... in the Interstate Maintenance and Upkeep thread, permalink here, just last night I posted a pic of our Koni front shocks (which I think are more accurately called struts??) which finally arrived late yesterday.

They were back-ordered for months, but I don't know if the T1N version is the same as the NCV3 (I doubt it). Mark (Lotus) also asked about them, and as soon as LB_3 gets out of bed, I'll ask him and I'll post the source.

[Titus]

It wasn't coincidental. It was your post that prompted my attempted search - I am pretty sure that my 2012 differs from your 2006. I recall reading that there is an adjustment on them (Koni, Bilstein, both?).

[LB_3]

I've only seen bilstein and some euro brands I don't recognize for your 2012.

[rowiebowie]

My experience on the Chevy chassis may not translate, but I replaced all four OEM shocks last year with Koni FSD's (again, this is on a Chevy Express 3500). Ordered from shockwarehouse.com. They sell all brands.

I went with Koni's from the recommendations and the fact they are NOT gas-charged. My thinking was they would dampen initial impacts better by being more compliant. I wondered, however, how they would control secondary motions.

They ride great and after a 5,000 mile trip up and down twisty mountains and some very bad roads, they do a great job controlling all ride motions and initial impacts. Would just any new shock have done the same, maybe? But I went a little spendy on these Koni's and don't think I could have done any better.

You need others on the Mercedes chassis to chime in, though.

[Boxster1971]

Originally Posted by Titus

I am at 50,000 miles and am planning to replace the front shocks after our upcoming trip to AK. Still rides fine, but I know the AK trip will stress things. So I plan on a post-trip tire rotation, new shocks, and alignment check.



I know the search feature of this forum is not great, but perhaps better than what I am able to do. I did a search for Koni shocks in the Sprinter and B-van forum and it returned threads that were 50+ pages long. Does anybody know of a way to determine where the subject is within the 50+ pages?

What exactly are you looking for? Are you looking for info to DIY?

The Koni Shocks are available from many sources. I had the Sprinter Store in Oregon replace my shocks with Koni's as part of 40,000 mile scheduled maintenance a few years ago.
Here is link to front struts for your van.
https://www.sprinterstore.com/produc...sprinter-3500/

[Titus]

I recall a thread discussing how firm to set the shocks. I have found several you-tubes on how to install them.

[Boxster1971]

Originally Posted by Titus

I recall a thread discussing how firm to set the shocks. I have found several you-tubes on how to install them.

The Sprinter Store set mine to max firm and recommended that for our heavy B-vans that run near GVWR all the time.