rear shocks

[kerryblu]

Hi all,
someone on flea bay is selling koni rear shocks for a +2, will they also fit a S4?
don't wont to bid for them if they don't fit. thanks.

Gerald.
S4 70 DHC OEW

[kerryblu]

[alexblack13]

I am sure they will Gerald. The only difference really 'tween the Elan and +2 is the body and a slightly longer chassis.

I would buy them! If they are what you want.

Good luck.

Alex B....

[ardee_selby]

Gerald,

In case you missed it...something to be aware of: The interface with your Lotocones.

This thread gives the info ref top nut location/spacer issue.

post148923.html

Cheers - Richard

[512BB]

Be careful with second hand shocks Gerald. Ask a few questions. You would not replace Konis with anything else as they are the best, so why were they removed?

I had a set of them on one of my Elans for 25 years. They were on the car when I bought it. But 2 years ago, one side sprang a leak from the top seal, leaked oil, so just replaced with a set of new ones. Point is, they still worked fine.

You would not be able to tell from the sellers pics or description if they are any good. He does not show the rods extended to see if there are any wear marks on them. Also, a good test is to leave the rods pulled out from the body for 24 hours. If they stay put, then all is well, if they drop back into the body, they are knacked, imho.

Leslie

[alexblack13]

''Knacked'' Great word Leslie.... says it all..

Good advice bud..

Al '.....

[kerryblu]

Hi again,
thanks for the info, I'am assuming that they are very weak, cause when i'm driving she very noisy at the rear, and when i push down on the two rear corners theres a clunk as she hits the bottom of the downward thrust. The shocks look as if they have been on her from new, so 41 yrs old. All bushes are o k and all nuts are tight.
thanks again for your help.
Gerald.

S4 70 DHC OEW.

[alan.barker]

Gerald are you sure the clunk is the shock hitting the bottom!! It could be the special threaded nut in the tube, which secures the shock in the chapman strut not tightened enough!!!!!! Just a thought
Alan B

[kerryblu]

Hi Alan,
but it seams unlikly that both nuts would be loose, don't you think?
Also the back suspension is very noisy, like a bag of loose nails.
I put in nearly new springs resently.

thanks Gerald.

[alan.barker]

Surely both shocks would not be "knacked" at the same time. The shock on the nearside gets the most hamering, near the pavement and drainholes
Alan B

[MickG]

Check and see if the strut has gone through the top abutment plate?
Mick G

[mikealdren]

Gerald,
they should fit but I doubt they would work for an S4. The damping rates are set to match the weight and spring settings (and geometry and wheel/tyre weight etc. etc.) and the +2 and S4 are very different. They will probably be far too stiff for the S4..

Koni dampers are quality items and can be rebuilt (refurbished) so they may be a good buy for someone with a +2.

Mike

[kerryblu]

Hi,

thanks for the info, it looks best to give them a miss and wait for the right ones.

Gerald.

[ardee_selby]

Gerald, they should fit but I doubt they would work for an S4. The damping rates are set to match the weight and spring settings (and geometry and wheel/tyre weight etc. etc.) and the +2 and S4 are very different. They will probably be far too stiff for the S4..Mike

Does that equally apply to the early adjustable versions? (I've always thought that because they were adjustable they could suit either vehicle )

But, originally, my S3 had Koni inserts and were far too stiff, IMO, even on softest setting. The ears had taken a real hammering as a result and looked very much like this, only worse, and I blamed the dampers:

Maybe +2 rated ones had been fitted...?

Cheers - Richard

[mikealdren]

Not sure whether the Elan Konis cover both, mine were not adjustable.

There is quite a big weight difference between the S4 and the +2 and I would have thought it would be outside the range of adjustables but I may well be wrong.

Mike