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pannawonica



Member Since: 21 Nov 2010
Location: Clackline Western Australia
Posts: 568

Australia 
Koni heavy track raids
Well with 80K Km/s, and the heat has not helped the original shocks are past their best. My 2011 110 Puma drives like a Tojo land barge! Anyhow does anybody know where I can reasonably scource the above? Very Happy Thumbs Up
Post #460043 3rd Oct 2015 9:45am
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mikeh501



Member Since: 07 Jan 2013
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 1142

United Kingdom 
Wouldn't ome be a better choice down your way?
Post #460066 3rd Oct 2015 11:47am
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Pam W



Member Since: 25 Oct 2011
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 1169

England 1998 Defender 90 Td5 SW Auto Oslo Blue
For general travel, including normal speeds on gravel roads with corrugations, the normal Koni Heavy Track shocks are great - I travelled around Australia last year and did 23K km on them, with a heavy load in a td5 90.


These are the longer ones, great travel and adjustable. You don't need to go for the expense of the "Raid" versions (the shorter ones, built for speed across rough terrain - i.e 'Rallye Raid' type conditions).

I don't know where you would source them, but I expect they are fairly commonly stocked by off road/4x4 travel stores as I got mine after reading several reviews from people using them in Australia (several years ago now). Our blog - http://landytravels.com/

Yorkshire Off Road Club - http://www.yorkshireoffroadclub.net
Post #460196 3rd Oct 2015 11:23pm
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mikeh501



Member Since: 07 Jan 2013
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 1142

United Kingdom 
I've had the konis for a few years now you. I found them OK on rough stuff and a bit hard when cold, and once they warm up they go a bit mushy. I broke 2 of them over that time too. Recently upgraded to a full gwyn Lewis challenge kit with ome dampers so expecting good things!

One more thing. The konis are adjustable but you have to remove them from the vehicle to do it.
Post #460210 4th Oct 2015 7:19am
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Pam W



Member Since: 25 Oct 2011
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 1169

England 1998 Defender 90 Td5 SW Auto Oslo Blue
Not had that experience with mine at all, still seem just the same as new after 20K+ miles, on and off road, UK and Oz, heavy and light loads, towing and not towing. Don't notice any difference between cold and warm either. I have them paired with HD+2 Britpart springs.

I guess every vehicle is set up different, with different types of use and driving styles, so hard to make direct comparisons. Our blog - http://landytravels.com/

Yorkshire Off Road Club - http://www.yorkshireoffroadclub.net
Post #460289 4th Oct 2015 11:26am
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pannawonica



Member Since: 21 Nov 2010
Location: Clackline Western Australia
Posts: 568

Australia 
Thanks for the replies with first hand experience. Interestingly I had not considered OME (yellow Monroe,s!) what I was really after is something that would last longer and perform better than OEM. Thumbs Up
Post #460291 4th Oct 2015 11:28am
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redline



Member Since: 28 Jun 2015
Location: Mountains and Lakes
Posts: 221

Switzerland 
I've had both the OME (previously) and the Koni Heavy Track Raids (current).
You can't compare the two - the Koni Raid's are far sturdier and exude that heavy duty feel.
The normal Heavy Track (which I have on a LC) are more similar to the OME's.
On my 110 the Koni's are mated to King +40mm springs at a slightly higher spring rate that OEM.

In terms of their performance I concur that they are a bit "looser" at higher temperatures although I am on the softest setting. Generally they perform very well on corrugations and gravel trails, where the vehicle feels more composed and planted than the OEM setup. On long trips on the rough stuff there is little heat build-up. On road they are also a big improvement over OEM, but not too much different from the OME's.

As stated the damping is adjustable, but needs the shock off to do it.
Post #475665 24th Nov 2015 5:31am
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pannawonica



Member Since: 21 Nov 2010
Location: Clackline Western Australia
Posts: 568

Australia 
Yes I put the heavy track,s on and it's like new again. I have set them up at mid way on the front(130 springs) and slightly more 2/3 on the rear with normal 110 springs. Evan towing a big trailer everything is well controlled. I am well pleased but only time will tell how they last! Very Happy Thumbs Up
Post #475721 24th Nov 2015 9:53am
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tuesdayfox



Member Since: 23 Jun 2013
Location: Sydney,OZ
Posts: 129

2013 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 SW Zambezi Silver
Hi there
I have got myself a set of koni too Very Happy Cool Cool Cool (shamlessly copying your setup
They are huge!

But I just wonder how to set them up?
The shocks come with instructions designed for 3years old and I can't really put myself on that vision again.
What does this mean?


Click image to enlarge


And also in order to set the dampening, should I turn the shocks all the way to the end and start there?

Thanks
Martin
Post #559893 30th Aug 2016 7:40am
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redline



Member Since: 28 Jun 2015
Location: Mountains and Lakes
Posts: 221

Switzerland 
The shocks should be factory set on the "Softest" (least damped) setting. I personally ran them as-is, before turning up the rears to "Medium", as the back was a bit bouncy on the terrain I running on.

The so-called instructions are awful. I put together a note, based on what I read on various websites and added it to the Koni instructions, so it was a tad clearer for my mechanic when adjusting them. If its useful I can dig it out and send it to you or post it here.
Post #559940 30th Aug 2016 11:14am
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tuesdayfox



Member Since: 23 Jun 2013
Location: Sydney,OZ
Posts: 129

2013 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 SW Zambezi Silver
That would be great thanks!

So did you install the front ones upside down too?
They are too big for the factory tower on mine.....
Post #559957 30th Aug 2016 11:55am
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redline



Member Since: 28 Jun 2015
Location: Mountains and Lakes
Posts: 221

Switzerland 
@tuesdayfox - I PM'd you a link to the document via Dropbox.

I didn't read through it now, but it made sense to my mechanic, so should be foolproof Wink
If you have any questions, let me know.

BTW - I'm pretty sure that the front shocks are mounted the "right way up" but I will check when I am home in a couple of days!
Post #559975 30th Aug 2016 1:22pm
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MartinK



Member Since: 02 Mar 2011
Location: Silverdale (Lancashire/Cumbria Border)
Posts: 2665

United Kingdom 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Orkney Grey
doesn't this help?
http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic16066.html Defender "Puma" 2.4 110 County Utility (possibly the last of the 2.4's)
Post #559979 30th Aug 2016 2:02pm
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MartinK



Member Since: 02 Mar 2011
Location: Silverdale (Lancashire/Cumbria Border)
Posts: 2665

United Kingdom 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Orkney Grey
redline wrote:
The shocks should be factory set on the "Softest" (least damped) setting. I personally ran them as-is, before turning up the rears to "Medium", as the back was a bit bouncy on the terrain I running on.

The so-called instructions are awful. I put together a note, based on what I read on various websites and added it to the Koni instructions, so it was a tad clearer for my mechanic when adjusting them. If its useful I can dig it out and send it to you or post it here.


+1 Defender "Puma" 2.4 110 County Utility (possibly the last of the 2.4's)
Post #559980 30th Aug 2016 2:03pm
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redline



Member Since: 28 Jun 2015
Location: Mountains and Lakes
Posts: 221

Switzerland 
Very helpful MartinK!
I hadn't spotted this at the time unfortunately...
Post #559984 30th Aug 2016 2:23pm
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