Koni shocks finally bombed. What to do next?

[rumatt]

My TC Kline Koni DA are many years old. I just noticed the rear shocks are oily at the top and the rubber shock mount looks melted too. :speechle:

What should I do? I don't really race any more, although there's the remote possibility of an occasional autocross or track day.

I think it's like $800 for TC Kline to rebulid them but I'm not sure I see the point in DA shocks for street driving.

Maybe I'll just use the stock shocks. Many of the other bushings need refreshing too. I struggle to put any money into this car. I'm tempted to just dump it and buy a Cayman instead. If only a Cayman could fit a bicycle in the trunk.

[equ]

With either e46 or cayman, you should be using the roof rack. Unlike audis (grump), bmw & porsche actually provide mount points for screws. I used the thule echelon on my e90 and wouldn't hesitate to put it on the croc (somehow rigging it to OEM base rack).

You are really asking two questions at once. Do you want to replace the bmw with a cayman or something? Shouldn't you start carrying your cycle on the roof?

[Terry Kennedy]

I think it's like $800 for TC Kline to rebulid them but I'm not sure I see the point in DA shocks for street driving.
Koni offers a lifetime warranty (http://www.koni-na.com/warranty.cfm) on their shocks, but a number of people have had them weasel out of repairing shocks under that warranty.

[FC]

Time for a new car. Get an early Cayman ('07) or even an early S ('06). They have to be around 30K and they are pretty reliable.

[Plaz]

Duh. Cayman.

Should have done so when you scratched your bumper in Westchester. :lol:

[rumatt]

You are really asking two questions at once. Do you want to replace the bmw with a cayman or something?


Yeah I know, and I completely ruined any chance of a serious poll by adding that one in. But it was fun. :)

Shouldn't you start carrying your cycle on the roof?

This is a religious issue for some. I actually have a roof rack for the E46 but rarely use it, except when carrying two bikes at once, or for my dirty mountain bike. I think the bicycle is significantly safer inside the car, where it's protected from flying rocks, rain, and when I forget it's on the roof and pull into the garage.

But the more important point is that the Cayman has a solid roof rack. I hadn't thought of that.

[rumatt]

Koni offers a lifetime warranty (http://www.koni-na.com/warranty.cfm) on their shocks, but a number of people have had them weasel out of repairing shocks under that warranty.

I think it's for the original owner only. I bought them used so I think no warranty for me.

[zcasavant]

Definitely get a Cayman.

[JST]

Yeah I know, and I completely ruined any chance of a serious poll by adding that one in. But it was fun. :)



This is a religious issue for some. I actually have a roof rack for the E46 but rarely use it, except when carrying two bikes at once, or for my dirty mountain bike. I think the bicycle is significantly safer inside the car, where it's protected from flying rocks, rain, and when I forget it's on the roof and pull into the garage.

But the more important point is that the Cayman has a solid roof rack. I hadn't thought of that.

This thread from Planet 9, entitled "A Bicycle Does Fit Inside a Cayman," may be of some interest.

http://www.planet-9.com/cayman-boxster-chat/35560-bicycle-does-fit-inside-cayman.html

[rumatt]

What an utterly useless poll I created. :lol:

[Terry Kennedy]

I think it's for the original owner only. I bought them used so I think no warranty for me.
True.

[bren]

Koni FSD. Why they don't have these for the M3 I just can't understand.

[Plaz]

What an utterly useless poll I created. :lol:

:lol:

[Rob]

This is a religious issue for some. I actually have a roof rack for the E46 but rarely use it, except when carrying two bikes at once, or for my dirty mountain bike. I think the bicycle is significantly safer inside the car, where it's protected from flying rocks, rain, and when I forget it's on the roof and pull into the garage.

Fwiw, I have put my bike on the roof of the car for countless miles and I am nearly as psychotic about bike appearance as I am about car appearance. Use a bike bra and everything is good to go. Put it in the trunk and you can bend things. :eeps:

Just food for thought.

[Biggins]

I said get single-adjustables, but I guess I'm the only one who thinks that.

If you want the Cayman and it makes sense, I don't see what's holding you back!

[BahnBaum]

Ignore the problem.

Works for me.

Alex

[bren]

Ignore the problem.

Works for me.

Alex
Yeah, that's the best answer.

Realistically, a little weeping from the shock isn't a big deal. The mount thing is harder to tell by a vague description.

[Pinecone]

Did you talk to TCK about the rebuild?

I just had my rear shocks off the E46 M3 rebuilt for $76 each. The primary reason was the noise that they make after a while, but it was a full rebuild.

[rumatt]

Did you talk to TCK about the rebuild?

I just had my rear shocks off the E46 M3 rebuilt for $76 each. The primary reason was the noise that they make after a while, but it was a full rebuild.

Good to know, thanks.

I called twice and got their machine but didn't leave a message. I'll keep trying.

[rumatt]

Realistically, a little weeping from the shock isn't a big deal. The mount thing is harder to tell by a vague description.

What's with the black goo?

http://forums.carmudgeons.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=5248&stc=1&d=1271344491

[lupinsea]

I can only think that if something is leaking then it's getting contaminated with whatever on the outside of the shock, turning that stuff dark.

Or maybe it's something else, such as your shocks were too happy to see you.

[bren]

Is the rubber mount deteriorating? That looks awfully thick to be coming out of the shock.

edit: now I see what you meant by it looking melted.

[zcasavant]

Is the rubber mount deteriorating? That looks awfully thick to be coming out of the shock.

edit: now I see what you meant by it looking melted.

Yeah, it does look more like deteriorating rubber than shock juice.

[rumatt]

Ignore the problem.

Works for me.

BUMP

This was obviously the best advice in the thread, so I went with it. It solved my problem for over 1 year!

However.. does anyone care to guess what happened on my commute this morning? :eeps:

[JST]

You bought a Porsche?

[rumatt]

You bought a Porsche?

:bustingup

Not yet.

[bren]

http://i36.tinypic.com/2rx6sy0.jpg

[rumatt]

OUCH, no it wasn't that bad. There was just enough play to create a pretty bad banging any time I hit a bump the size of a quarter. I checked the shock and it wasn't pushed through like that, and I was half way to work... so I just continued on at about 25 mph, trying my best to avoid bumps.

I made it without any major damage. I'll hitch a ride home and swap on the stock shocks next week in my work parking lot. :lol:

[bren]

...swap on the stock shocks next week in my work parking lot.
Or - order a new mount and just swap that....

[Plaz]

I'll hitch a ride home and swap on the stock shocks next week in my work parking lot. :lol:

:lol: Convenient.

[rumatt]

Or - order a new mount and just swap that....

Hmmm. You still need it off the car though... but yeah.

Anyone know if the TCK DA koni's use the stock or custom mounts?

[bren]

Hmmm. You still need it off the car though... but yeah.

Anyone know if the TCK DA koni's use the stock or custom mounts?
IIRC, the stock mounts would need to be drilled out.

I'd call TCK and see if you can just buy the rubber part.

[ZBB]

You bought a Porsche?

:lol:

[FC]

I made it without any major damage. I'll hitch a ride home and swap on the stock shocks next week in my work parking lot. :lol:

"Stay classy San Diego."

[John V]

The TCK Konis are top-adjustable, right? So they need the larger diameter shock mounts.

[rumatt]

The TCK Konis are top-adjustable, right? So they need the larger diameter shock mounts.

Yep.

[kognito]

:bustingup

Not yet.

Drive it over to Rogue Engineering in Bergen county and hand them your credit card?? :dunno:

[Plaz]

Drive it over to Rogue Engineering in Bergen county and hand them your credit card?? :dunno:

onramp to GWB + screwed up shock = extra extra $$ :lol:

I'd say tow it to Ho-Ho-Kus instead.

[Pinecone]

I had my rear Koni DAs rebuilt through TCK. $71 per shock. Plus shipping.

It does take a while though, so I was glad I kept the stock shocks.

The M3 rears have an issue with a conical washer that gets flattened and causes a thunk noise. There are 3 solutions. Rebuild, they use a heavier washer that should last longer, but eventually will happen again. Use a different shock that is a bit shorter. Or TCK was working on a new rear shock that would solve the probelm entirely.

[bren]

I need to send mine in desperately - the right rear sounds downright broken.

[rumatt]

I changed the shock in the work parking lot last Thursday. No problem. Took 10 minutes. I didn't even jack up the car.

My plan was to change the other shock this weekend at my parents, but my dad didn't have an 18mm socket. :?

Does anyone want to guess what happened on my commute home tonight from work? :lol:

[FC]

The complementary shock went bust?

[rumatt]

The complementary shock went bust?

Yep. I drove the car a total of 4 hours, and the second RSM broke. I could not believe it went so close to the first.

I thought to myself, no problem. I have the shock and all the tools in my trunk!!!! But my cordless impact gun couldn't break the bottom bold free. :ack: I'm going to get some PB Blaster and try again on Wednesday.

For now the car is resting comfortably in my manhattan garage. Where I'm going to do this, I don't know. :ack:

[bren]

:lol:

I still can't understand exactly what happened to your shock mounts to cause this. Last time I looked at mine they still looked new - and I got them from Nick!

[rumatt]

I still can't understand exactly what happened to your shock mounts to cause this. Last time I looked at mine they still looked new - and I got them from Nick!

I'll take pictures of them, once I get the other off the car. The rubber completely deteriorated for some reason.

So I'm thinking through the idea of doing this in the street... or a parking lot. If I manage to get the shock off, and for some reason can't get the other one on... (a cop comes and yells at me, etc).. How bad is it to drive the car around the block without a rear shock? :speechle: If you hit a big enough bump the spring will fall out and you're completely fucked right?

Does anyone know a place near midtown manhattan where I can work on my car for 20 minutes? :lol: :banghead:

[bren]

It would have to be a pretty big bump to allow the spring to completely fall out at parking lot speeds. Just zip tie it in place if it comes to that.

[JST]

I'll take pictures of them, once I get the other off the car. The rubber completely deteriorated for some reason.

So I'm thinking through the idea of doing this in the street... or a parking lot. If I manage to get the shock off, and for some reason can't get the other one on... (a cop comes and yells at me, etc).. How bad is it to drive the car around the block without a rear shock? :speechle: If you hit a big enough bump the spring will fall out and you're completely fucked right?

Does anyone know a place near midtown manhattan where I can work on my car for 20 minutes? :lol: :banghead:

I would think any of those shady private parking lots, if you slip the guy a couple of twenties.

[Terry Kennedy]

For now the car is resting comfortably in my manhattan garage. Where I'm going to do this, I don't know. :ack:
Do you want to do it over at my place? Plenty of tools, compressed air, and beer... :D

[rumatt]

Do you want to do it over at my place? Plenty of tools, compressed air, and beer... :D

I was going to PM you earlier today, and decided to postpone until tomorrow... but since you rang. PM sent. :D

[equ]

Someone said beer? :eeps:

Zeppelin Hall is pretty nice too. One of these days we should meet up.

[rumatt]

Someone said beer? :eeps:

Zeppelin Hall is pretty nice too. One of these days we should meet up.

I haven't heard from Terry... Terry, you out there?

Equ, do you have a driveway? :eeps:

[equ]

No driveway, but welcome to use my garage.

[Plaz]

You're welcome to use my driveway, but I'm 35 miles away.

[rumatt]

OK, this time I showed ready to fight... I had some PB blaster, a fresh battery for the impact gun, and a jack handle to use as a breaker bar.

I was surprised the gun still couldn't do break it free, but the breaker bar did the trick. Done in about 10 mins.

Now.. Terry / Equ.. if you want to live on the edge we could always attempt to swap my control arm bushings some day when we're bored. They are horrible.

[lupinsea]

Sound like you need a ZHP with freshly replaced control arm bushings.