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Classic Konis - suggestions for re-builds


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#1 doc knutsen

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Posted 04 September 2013 - 21:05

I have a set of classic alloy Koni shock-absorbers which need to be re-built. They are to go on the back of our pair of FIA Period G Imps. The light-alloy Konis were the thing to have

way back, and I would like to try them and compare them with modern-day s/absorbers. Back in the days, I got my Konis done by J.W. Banks in the UK, but I cannot find this company any more. Does anybody have any suggestions as to who might be able to re-build my shock absorbers?



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#2 Allan Lupton

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Posted 04 September 2013 - 22:10

These chaps seem to offer refurbishment

http://www.koni-shock-absorbers.co.uk/

 

Probably no connection with Banks which I think was in East Anglia and this lot are in Stockport, but you never know.



#3 Ray Bell

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Posted 05 September 2013 - 00:21

These are highly specialised units and should not be left to someone outside the official Koni sphere for repair...

 

Check this out:

 

http://www.koni.uk.com/home/index.php



#4 Lee Nicolle

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Posted 05 September 2013 - 03:17

In the past I have used Top Performance in Melbourne.
The shocks really are nothing special but getting the service parts are.
I am sure there is a few places that do race shocks could handle them, just the parts issue. That is IF they are sill available. As in most things obsolescence is not uncommon. And like most things evolve over the years both for improvement and manufacturing cost.

#5 Andrew Fellowes

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Posted 05 September 2013 - 03:54

The Banks were East Anglian farmers and Koni agents,  very familiar to many here is Warwick Banks who was driver for Ken Tyrrell and Jackie Stewarts team partner and European Saloon car champion, trying to remember but I think that was 1965. (famous also for an amazing pheasant shoot and a red London double decker bus complete with bar)

Sorry that doesn't help in the rebuild much!



#6 Ray Bell

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Posted 05 September 2013 - 06:02

Topperformance are one of the two Koni distributors in Australia...

 

they came in on top of Proven Products, who had the exclusive Australian distributorship until one of the staff at Koni Oud Beyerlandt (sp?) decided he'd like to live in Australia and could do a better job than Proven Products.

 

PP now make the Koni motorcycle range under licence, these are manufactured in Albury as Koni didn't reckon it was worth their while continuing with their production.

 

Koni are very good at supplying parts for 'obsolete' dampers, but sometimes there's a long wait. The alloy double-adjustable units (8212 prefixes) would be of a standard production style with maybe a few minor changes right through until the eighties, possibly longer.

 

But for someone in England, it's logical to send them to the local agent.



#7 D-Type

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Posted 05 September 2013 - 09:13

Topperformance are one of the two Koni distributors in Australia...

 

they came in on top of Proven Products, who had the exclusive Australian distributorship until one of the staff at Koni Oud Beyerlandt (sp?) decided he'd like to live in Australia and could do a better job than Proven Products.

 

PP now make the Koni motorcycle range under licence, these are manufactured in Albury as Koni didn't reckon it was worth their while continuing with their production.

 

Koni are very good at supplying parts for 'obsolete' dampers, but sometimes there's a long wait. The alloy double-adjustable units (8212 prefixes) would be of a standard production style with maybe a few minor changes right through until the eighties, possibly longer.

 

But for someone in England, it's logical to send them to the local agent.

A sensible suggestion, but as Doc Knutsen is in Norway, I imagine if there is a local (Norwegian) agency it is small scale, and 'local' should be extended to anywhere in Europe - even the Koni main factory in the Netherlands!



#8 Ray Bell

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Posted 05 September 2013 - 12:20

Yes, that sounds like a good idea...

 

The only set I've ever been involved with the repair of were those on Warwick Brown's M4a, we sent those back to the factory.



#9 Peter Morley

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Posted 06 September 2013 - 08:10

Koni used to provide on track support at major race meetings, if you took your dampers (e.g. when you were doing a support race - but given they didn't ask what event you were in anyone could get them done) to their caravan they would rebuild them on the spot for free.

 

I don't know if they still provide such a service, but they do have appointed rebuilders in different countries e.g. here in Belgium R.Tec are the official Koni Racing distributor and rebuild the racing shocks in house (€80 + vat each + ±€10 for pieces is what they quoted me).