Koni FSD Shocks

[Don Bradner]

Assuming 12R22.5 tires, 105 is proper for an axle weight (single) of 13.2K,
leaving you 1K short. Recommended for 14.2K would be 115. I don't like to start
out 10% low.

You are dead-on to slightly-over on the drivers and tag.

On 4/4/2007 at 6:14 PM David Brady wrote:

>Robert,
>
>I just installed the FSD's on the rear of my LXi and the
>results are astonishing. The ride over the rough stuff is
>much smoother and the handling is more responsive. Now
>we have to put pressure on Koni to develop the FSD's
>for the front. I've been told by Justin at Koni that the fronts
>require a higher pressure rated FSD valve due to the 45 deg
>mounting angle of the shock (something like a 2:1 ratio of
>axle movement versus shock movement). Justin recommended
>adjusting the front shocks one turn from full soft. The extra
>control that the rear shocks provide helps iron out some of
>the porpoising up front. I found that if the front shocks are too
>stiff, the front end seems to fall into road when hitting bumps,
>adjusting one turn from full soft lets the tires follow the roadway.
>
>I also installed Crossfires and Centramatics. The Centramatics
>provide a noticeable improvement in smoothness - highly
>recommended (NFI). I run 105, 90, 85 tire psi front to back. My
>tag airbag pressure is 65 to 67psi. My weight is steer: 14.2K,
>drive: 22K, and tag: 11K.

Don Bradner
90 PT40 "Blue Thunder"
Eureka, CA

[david brady]

Don,

Thanks for checking this; however, the LXi is equipped with
315/80/22.5 tires on all axles.

105 supports 14880 (single wheel)
90 supports 24280 (duals)
85 supports 12830 (single wheel)

David B
'02 LXi, Smokey
NC

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Don Bradner"
wrote:
>
> Assuming 12R22.5 tires, 105 is proper for an axle weight (single) of
13.2K, leaving you 1K short. Recommended for 14.2K would be 115. I
don't like to start out 10% low.
>
> You are dead-on to slightly-over on the drivers and tag.
>
> On 4/4/2007 at 6:14 PM David Brady wrote:
>
> >Robert,
> >
> >I just installed the FSD's on the rear of my LXi and the
> >results are astonishing. The ride over the rough stuff is
> >much smoother and the handling is more responsive. Now
> >we have to put pressure on Koni to develop the FSD's
> >for the front. I've been told by Justin at Koni that the fronts
> >require a higher pressure rated FSD valve due to the 45 deg
> >mounting angle of the shock (something like a 2:1 ratio of
> >axle movement versus shock movement). Justin recommended
> >adjusting the front shocks one turn from full soft. The extra
> >control that the rear shocks provide helps iron out some of
> >the porpoising up front. I found that if the front shocks are too
> >stiff, the front end seems to fall into road when hitting bumps,
> >adjusting one turn from full soft lets the tires follow the roadway.
> >
> >I also installed Crossfires and Centramatics. The Centramatics
> >provide a noticeable improvement in smoothness - highly
> >recommended (NFI). I run 105, 90, 85 tire psi front to back. My
> >tag airbag pressure is 65 to 67psi. My weight is steer: 14.2K,
> >drive: 22K, and tag: 11K.
>
> Don Bradner
> 90 PT40 "Blue Thunder"
> Eureka, CA
>

[david brady]

I forgot to mention Load Range L (315/80/22.5)

David B
'02 LXi, Smokey
NC

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Don Bradner"
wrote:
>
> Assuming 12R22.5 tires, 105 is proper for an axle weight (single) of
13.2K, leaving you 1K short. Recommended for 14.2K would be 115. I
don't like to start out 10% low.
>
> You are dead-on to slightly-over on the drivers and tag.
>
> On 4/4/2007 at 6:14 PM David Brady wrote:
>
> >Robert,
> >
> >I just installed the FSD's on the rear of my LXi and the
> >results are astonishing. The ride over the rough stuff is
> >much smoother and the handling is more responsive. Now
> >we have to put pressure on Koni to develop the FSD's
> >for the front. I've been told by Justin at Koni that the fronts
> >require a higher pressure rated FSD valve due to the 45 deg
> >mounting angle of the shock (something like a 2:1 ratio of
> >axle movement versus shock movement). Justin recommended
> >adjusting the front shocks one turn from full soft. The extra
> >control that the rear shocks provide helps iron out some of
> >the porpoising up front. I found that if the front shocks are too
> >stiff, the front end seems to fall into road when hitting bumps,
> >adjusting one turn from full soft lets the tires follow the roadway.
> >
> >I also installed Crossfires and Centramatics. The Centramatics
> >provide a noticeable improvement in smoothness - highly
> >recommended (NFI). I run 105, 90, 85 tire psi front to back. My
> >tag airbag pressure is 65 to 67psi. My weight is steer: 14.2K,
> >drive: 22K, and tag: 11K.
>
> Don Bradner
> 90 PT40 "Blue Thunder"
> Eureka, CA
>

[Don Bradner]

Ah. Those are some beefy tires for those loads! Forces you to run high on
drivers and tags, doesn't it?

On 4/4/2007 at 11:17 PM david brady wrote:

>Don,
>
>Thanks for checking this; however, the LXi is equipped with
>315/80/22.5 tires on all axles.
>
>105 supports 14880 (single wheel)
>90 supports 24280 (duals)
>85 supports 12830 (single wheel)

Don Bradner
90 PT40 "Blue Thunder"
Eureka, CA

[david brady]

Brad,

Welcome to the Blue Bird community. What is your tag axle
airbag pressure? Your tire pressures sound a bit high. The
shocks on all axles should be Koni adjustables (even on the
tag). Ride height is critical. When I got my coach it was
riding 1.5 inches low in the rear and .75 inches low in the
front. Drive axle and steer axle airbags should be 8 inches
in height (give or take a few 16ths). The goodyear site
explains in detail how to measure the height. I think the trick
to getting the front of the bus behaving correctly is to get
the back of the bus setup right. The rear of the bus supports
almost 70% of the bus's weight, if it hits the bump stops, you
get huge weight tranfer to the front. My advice is to check the
ride height, get the FSD's, lower your tire pressures (after
first weighing the bus), check to make sure that the tag axle
is supporting it's fair share of the weight, and maybe stiffen
the front shocks a bit. I think you'll find that too stiff makes
the ride very rough as the steer axle seems to fall into the
road. And finally, BB's bob a bit, that's part of their character.

David Brady
'02 LXi, Smokey
NC

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "brad barton" <bbartonwx@...>
wrote:
>
> David,
> I just got my LXi a few weeks ago and noticed the porpoising was
severe.
> After driving a Newell the past five years, I had forgotten about
> porpoising. And with the ISRI air seat, the vertical movement was
even more
> magnified. With less then 37k miles, I'm sure I still have the
original
> shocks, whatever they are. BB recommended tightening the front
shocks a
> quarter turn at a time. I'm assuming the FSDs in the rear are
firmer as
> well. I do run higher tire pressures..120, 110, 105. Is it your
experience
> that simiply tightening the shocks does no good?
>
>
>
> Brad Barton 00LXiDFW
> bbartonwx@...
>
>
>
>
> >From: David Brady
> >Reply-To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> >To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> >Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Koni FSD Shocks
> >Date: Wed, 04 Apr 2007 18:14:26 -0400
> >
> >Robert,
> >
> >I just installed the FSD's on the rear of my LXi and the
> >results are astonishing. The ride over the rough stuff is
> >much smoother and the handling is more responsive. Now
> >we have to put pressure on Koni to develop the FSD's
> >for the front. I've been told by Justin at Koni that the fronts
> >require a higher pressure rated FSD valve due to the 45 deg
> >mounting angle of the shock (something like a 2:1 ratio of
> >axle movement versus shock movement). Justin recommended
> >adjusting the front shocks one turn from full soft. The extra
> >control that the rear shocks provide helps iron out some of
> >the porpoising up front. I found that if the front shocks are too
> >stiff, the front end seems to fall into road when hitting bumps,
> >adjusting one turn from full soft lets the tires follow the roadway.
> >
> >I also installed Crossfires and Centramatics. The Centramatics
> >provide a noticeable improvement in smoothness - highly
> >recommended (NFI). I run 105, 90, 85 tire psi front to back. My
> >tag airbag pressure is 65 to 67psi. My weight is steer: 14.2K,
> >drive: 22K, and tag: 11K.
> >
> >David Brady
> >'02 LXi, Smokey
> >NC
> >
> >
> >Robert Britton wrote:
> > >
> > > BlueBird is now using the new Koni FSD shocks on their new motor
homes
> > > (self adjusting), they are now available for older BlueBirds.
> > >
> > > Is there anyone that has installed these on an older coach and if so
> > > how do you like them? Are they available for both front and rear?
> > >
> > > I'm getting ready to replace the air bags and shocks on my
coach, not
> > > sure if I want to do the job myself, thinking of taking it to
Holland
> > > Motor Homes in San Diego and let them have at it.
> > >
> > > They will install the shocks and all air bags for $1062 plus parts.
> > >
> > > Robert Britton
> > > 87FC
> > > Hollister, California
> > >
> > >
> > >
------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > >
> > > Internal Virus Database is out-of-date.
> > > Checked by AVG Free Edition.
> > > Version: 7.1.413 / Virus Database: 268.18.11/723 - Release Date:
> >3/15/2007
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> >[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> The average US Credit Score is 675. The cost to see yours: $0 by
Experian.
>
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>

[david brady]

That's right. The load/inflation charts provided by
Michelin spec psi's from 85 through 130. I'm assuming
that these are the only pressures recommended - so you
are right. At 85psi, singles support 12830lb, well above
what I need.

At 130psi the 315 supports 18180 lb on a single.
But even this isn't enough for late model Prevost' where
they spec the 365/80/22.5 on the steer!

David Brady
'02 LXi, Smokey
NC

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Don Bradner"
wrote:
>
> Ah. Those are some beefy tires for those loads! Forces you to run
high on drivers and tags, doesn't it?
>
> On 4/4/2007 at 11:17 PM david brady wrote:
>
> >Don,
> >
> >Thanks for checking this; however, the LXi is equipped with
> >315/80/22.5 tires on all axles.
> >
> >105 supports 14880 (single wheel)
> >90 supports 24280 (duals)
> >85 supports 12830 (single wheel)
>
> Don Bradner
> 90 PT40 "Blue Thunder"
> Eureka, CA
>

[Don Bradner]

What are the GAWR on your LXI? In other words, how much do you have to spare on
that 14200/22000/11000?

On 4/4/2007 at 11:41 PM david brady wrote:

>That's right. The load/inflation charts provided by
>Michelin spec psi's from 85 through 130. I'm assuming
>that these are the only pressures recommended - so you
>are right. At 85psi, singles support 12830lb, well above
>what I need.
>
>At 130psi the 315 supports 18180 lb on a single.
>But even this isn't enough for late model Prevost' where
>they spec the 365/80/22.5 on the steer!

Don Bradner
90 PT40 "Blue Thunder"
Eureka, CA

[david brady]

steer: 16000lb
drive: 25000lb (as reported to me by a Ridewell engineer)
tag: 13200lb

David Brady
'02 LXi, Smokey
NC

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Don Bradner"
wrote:
>
> What are the GAWR on your LXI? In other words, how much do you have
to spare on that 14200/22000/11000?
>
> On 4/4/2007 at 11:41 PM david brady wrote:
>
> >That's right. The load/inflation charts provided by
> >Michelin spec psi's from 85 through 130. I'm assuming
> >that these are the only pressures recommended - so you
> >are right. At 85psi, singles support 12830lb, well above
> >what I need.
> >
> >At 130psi the 315 supports 18180 lb on a single.
> >But even this isn't enough for late model Prevost' where
> >they spec the 365/80/22.5 on the steer!
>
> Don Bradner
> 90 PT40 "Blue Thunder"
> Eureka, CA
>

[Dan]

Hi, several states have a maximum single axle weight of 20,000 lbs. You are
over that already.

Dan
88PT38
Jackson, MS

----- Original Message -----
From: david brady
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, April 04, 2007 9:01 PM
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Koni FSD Shocks


steer: 16000lb
drive: 25000lb (as reported to me by a Ridewell engineer)
tag: 13200lb

David Brady
'02 LXi, Smokey
NC

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Don Bradner"
wrote:
>
> What are the GAWR on your LXI? In other words, how much do you have
to spare on that 14200/22000/11000?
>
> On 4/4/2007 at 11:41 PM david brady wrote:
>
> >That's right. The load/inflation charts provided by
> >Michelin spec psi's from 85 through 130. I'm assuming
> >that these are the only pressures recommended - so you
> >are right. At 85psi, singles support 12830lb, well above
> >what I need.
> >
> >At 130psi the 315 supports 18180 lb on a single.
> >But even this isn't enough for late model Prevost' where
> >they spec the 365/80/22.5 on the steer!
>
> Don Bradner
> 90 PT40 "Blue Thunder"
> Eureka, CA
>






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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Don Bradner]

Actually, federal law on interstates. 20,000 for single, 34,000 for tandem.
Probably a reason the Prevost shifts weight to the steer.

A lot of big bus/motorhomes are lucky they don't have to cross the scales. My
drivers have a GAWR of 23,000, with actual weight of 19,300 when weighed with
about a half-tank of fuel; I figure another 900 there, and we just added a
Washer/Dryer over the drivers so I'm likely near 20,500 fully loaded.

Tickets normally start (for commercial rigs) at 5% over the limit.

On 4/4/2007 at 9:28 PM Dan wrote:

>Hi, several states have a maximum single axle weight of 20,000 lbs. You
>are over that already.
>
>Dan
>88PT38
>Jackson, MS
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: david brady
> To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Wednesday, April 04, 2007 9:01 PM
> Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Koni FSD Shocks
>
>
> steer: 16000lb
> drive: 25000lb (as reported to me by a Ridewell engineer)
> tag: 13200lb
>
> David Brady
> '02 LXi, Smokey
> NC
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Don Bradner"
> wrote:
> >
> > What are the GAWR on your LXI? In other words, how much do you have
> to spare on that 14200/22000/11000?

Don Bradner
90 PT40 "Blue Thunder"
Eureka, CA