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TR2/3/3A Adjusting Koni shocks [TR3]

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Moseso

Moseso

Jedi Knight
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My parts shipment arrived today. Shackle assy. for the rear spring, to replace the one that had to be cut off the car -- and a pair of spiffy, red, new Koni front shocks. They <span style="font-style: italic">are</span> difficult to adjust on the car, so I seek advice from anyone who has done it.

They go two full turns of the adjuster, from soft to full stiff. Anyone have any advice where to start -- and, hopefully, get lucky and leave 'em? I bought 'em because, I felt the stock shocks weren't doing a good enough job, anymore -- so I do want <span style="font-style: italic">some</span> more stiffness -- but the full stiff setting seems a bit over the top.

'59 TR3 with:
Front: stock springs -- Addco sway bar.
Rear: "competition" springs (one extra leaf) -- stock shocks.
Stock size tires on Panasport rims. Original steering box.
Any more info, deemed pertinent, on request...
 
Unless it's completely worn out, the "full stiff" setting on the average Koni will save your dentist a lot of work by removing old fillings! Yes, they're a pain to adjust, but I wouldn't suggest more than a half-turn from "full soft" to start with, based on my own experience (albeit with Spitfires and GT6s, not with the TRs).
 
I think I would take the best of the old shocks and compare to the Koni on the bench to get in the ballpark.
 
Not familiar with the TR3, but Konis have to be compressed to adjust, which usually requires the shock top or bottom to be unbolted. For most street applications +1/4 to +1/2 turn from full soft is a good starting point.
 
Koni used to recommend leaving the setting on street shocks at full soft to begin with.
The shock has been designed specifically for that application and the adjustments are as much to compensate for wear as anything else.

Jim
 
I'm running them on my 3A at full soft with an Addco bar. Big change from old stock setup.
 
FWIW (not much) when I changed shocks on my TR3A back around 1990, I was really surprised at how much softer the new shocks were than the old ones. I have not found any specifications for shock rate (anyone else find that tidbit of information?) but I am guessing that the shock manufacturers consolidated the solid-axle TRs with some other car (along with all the different shocks that the factory fitted to TR2-4).

I expected the handling to be noticeably worse, but honestly I couldn't tell all that much difference. The front end would deflect more, but it also stayed better planted on really rough roads.
 
Thanks for the advice, everyone. I'll see what +1/4 to +1/2 turn feels like as a good starting place -- this weekend, time permitting.
 
I would be inclined to leave them on full soft and try them for a couple of months. I put Konis on the front of the 4A last year. They come adjusted to full soft and initially, I thought that I had made a big mistake in fitting them because they were so HARD! However, they have softened with use and now give a very good controlled ride although they are still firmer than the Monroes that they replaced. As an aside, I have Konis on my 95 Holden Commodore 6 litre V8. They have been on the car for 210,000km. I have had the springs and bushes replaced but the Konis still test up fine and they are still on the softest setting. They make a great shock.
 
My "feeling" that I needed shocks was right on the mark. The left one was completely dead, and the right one was half dead. I put the Konis on yesterday. The test drive was MUCH nicer than what I had been experiencing. They do feel a little stiff, but that's what I recall from when I put Konis on my BMW cycle many years ago. Very stiff at first, but they get right after a while.
 
Ran a bunch of errands around town, today. What a difference!

The degradation of my suspension happened slowly -- it's not like throwing a rod. It just gradually gets a little more rattley and a little less sure until, finally, one says, "I gotta do something about this."

Oiled the rear springs
Lubed all the bronze spring shackle bushes
replaced the (non-existent, really) front shocks

Result: Solid, quiet -- holds the road like it oughta!
 
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