View Full Version : Possible Koni shock failure
lastdime
02-03-2021, 12:31 PM
My MK4 has the Koni coil-over IRS shocks. Lately the right rear has been bottoming out quite frequently. I have made the height adjustment thinking that may have been the problem, but it still persists. It only has 12,000 miles on it so it shouldn't have failed. Is there a way I can test the shock to see if it is bad? Unless there is another reason to bottom out, that's all that I can think of.
Gumball
02-03-2021, 01:15 PM
One of mine (2009 produced by Koni) failed in the form of a fluid leak when it had around 6-8k miles on it. Unfortunately, the Koni reds on our cars aren't rebuildable, so I called FFR and ordered a new shock - problem solved.
David Hodgkins
02-03-2021, 01:33 PM
Are they adjustable? Perhaps they are not set the same side to side?
:)
lastdime
02-03-2021, 01:53 PM
Are they adjustable? Perhaps they are not set the same side to side?
:)
They are the standard FFR Koni shocks that can be adjusted for height only. And yes, both sides are set the same.
lastdime
02-03-2021, 01:54 PM
One of mine (2009 produced by Koni) failed in the form of a fluid leak when it had around 6-8k miles on it. Unfortunately, the Koni reds on our cars aren't rebuildable, so I called FFR and ordered a new shock - problem solved.
How much did the solution cost you?
Avalanche325
02-03-2021, 02:31 PM
Rebound is adjustable. But that won't come into play for bottoming out.
Are you actually bottoming out? Or is something binding, causing it to stop short of full travel?
Look for leaks around the shaft. You can do the old bounce each corner of the car test. Not sure how well that would do on our cars.
lastdime
02-03-2021, 03:20 PM
Rebound is adjustable. But that won't come into play for bottoming out.
Are you actually bottoming out? Or is something binding, causing it to stop short of full travel?
Look for leaks around the shaft. You can do the old bounce each corner of the car test. Not sure how well that would do on our cars.
No obstructions. Don't see any leaks either. The only thing I have done is adjust the height.
Caddy Dad
02-03-2021, 04:25 PM
No obstructions. Don't see any leaks either. The only thing I have done is adjust the height.
The red Koni coil over shocks have a lifetime warranty. Just contact FFR and you might have to send your old one back.
Good luck!
lastdime
02-04-2021, 12:10 PM
The red Koni coil over shocks have a lifetime warranty. Just contact FFR and you might have to send your old one back.
Good luck!
Thanks, I will.
lastdime
05-07-2021, 04:30 PM
After all this time trying to figure out what my bottoming out problem was, it is finally solved. It was so simple, but hard to spot. One of the ears on the rear upper control arm was hitting the frame. I guess after 12,000 miles the springs had settled just enough to allow this to happen. After cutting off the ears, no more bottoming out issues.
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