Just got back from hols in France (boy do they have nice roads!). However...I'm beginning to think my KONI FSDs (well the fronts at least) are shot. On low frequency undulations (e.g. motorways) the amonunt of 'bounce' is far more than I recall when they were first fitted (now done 25,000 miles). Anyone else had this problem? I've picked up similar gripes on one of the Golf GTi Mk5 forums.

I know KONIs have a lifetime warranty, but I think quality disputes involve the suspect dampers being sent to Holland for testing, which presumably means I would have to buy a new set in the meantime...

I have notice the same to a degree, but would describe the movement as 'float' rather than 'bounce'. My FSDs are 37,000 miles young and fitted with OE springs.

Doing some objective testing on some particular roads I use daily;-

1) on a piece of badly corrugated and uneven dual carriageway where, travelling at around 70mph, I can sense the wheels being allowed to move up/down but the body of the car stays (relatively) stable and certainly the same road in new Fabia I got bounced around quite a lot; and

2) on hard cornering the car settles steadily and is held firmly without any unexpected movement or wallowing,

This would lead to suggest that all is in order and my FSDs are working well.

Objectively if you feel there is an issue with your FSDs I'd suggest you contact your original supplier/fitter and invite their comments.

Thanks for the feedback. Yes on cornering and on roads with random unevenness, the FSDs do thier stuff. It's on high speed undulations (gently curving dips and rises) that the car seems to float (your word is the right one) and wallow and not settle quickly.

Yep, I think I shall have a chat with the suppliers. Will let you know what transpires.

your warranty is with who ever supplied them not the manufacturer.

your warranty is with who ever supplied them not the manufacturer.

unless the supplier is a **** and washes their hands of the issue...like our friends north of the border

indeed. *****.

your warranty is with who ever supplied them not the manufacturer.

Agreed. But it is not unknown with vehicle parts for the manufacturer to demand return of the goods for inspection and testing before agreeing to refund or replace. Same applies to tyres as I recall...

unless the supplier is a **** and washes their hands of the issue...like our friends north of the border

Of course it's totally illegal to do that, which makes them doubly as so addressed.

Just resurrecting this thread to give the end of the story. Yes, my Koni FSDs were knackered (well, the fronts to be precise). Changed f.o.c. by JKM who said this was only the second case they'd come across. They've fitted loads without trouble, so believed this was probably a manufacturing defect in the valving.

I hope the replacements will last longer (previous set had only done 26,000 mainly M'way miles). In case you think yours might be similarly afflicted, the symptoms are in the first post in this thread.

Edited 4 August, 200916 yr by rsbspt

I seem to have this problem. It's a definate float from the fronts. Was thinknig it was me as the handling seems ok in corners, jsut takes the car a bit longer to settle.

Thankd for this thread!

I seem to have this problem. It's a definate float from the fronts. Was thinknig it was me as the handling seems ok in corners, jsut takes the car a bit longer to settle.

Thankd for this thread!

You'll be amazed at the trasnformation when you get them repalced. Because they degrade over time, it's easy to get used to the declining performance.

I seem to have this problem. It's a definate float from the fronts. Was thinknig it was me as the handling seems ok in corners, jsut takes the car a bit longer to settle.

Thankd for this thread!

Try doing a 'bounce' test.

Open the bonnet and, pushing on the slam panel by the headlights, try pushing the car down and up. If shocks are good, you will push down and it will come up to initial position and that's it. If shocks are 'shot' you will be able to bounce the car down, up, down, up until you stop!

If they appear to be shot; contact the dealer/supplier you bought them from.

So, all things considered, would you still recommend getting them? They were top of my upgrade wish list until people started talking about them degrading over time.

So, all things considered, would you still recommend getting them? They were top of my upgrade wish list until people started talking about them degrading over time.

YES - because the alternative (that gives the same combination of sharper handling and improved ride) are electro-magnetic Bilsteins at about £1,200 a set; as fitted to the Audi TT as OEM and also new Golf GTi IIRC.

Also Koni FSDs are used by McLaren F1, Lamborghini and others as OEM and Peugeot have started fitting an equivalent shock on the Clio Cup.

Can't all be bad.

I thought Reno made the Clio lol but your right they are using a similar design to the fsd's.

I've heard most of the mono-tube bilsteins have a similar valve system in them anyway.

They cost no more and I know they have a reputation for good life.

Try doing a 'bounce' test.

Open the bonnet and, pushing on the slam panel by the headlights, try pushing the car down and up. If shocks are good, you will push down and it will come up to initial position and that's it. If shocks are 'shot' you will be able to bounce the car down, up, down, up until you stop!

If they appear to be shot; contact the dealer/supplier you bought them from.

Had provisionally booked it into JKM who seem pretty useful on the aftersales. Will try the bounce test, but pretty sure its going to be a failure!

Cheers.

Aye, Monotube Bilsteins are exactly the same technology, but they actually work properly.

ive heard about this from alot of people who have FSDs saying that they have degraded and or leaked

ive heard about this from alot of people who have FSDs saying that they have degraded and or leaked

Strangely it seems to be only the fronts. I've aslo read that KONI may have tweaked the design in recent months, but I can't confirm that...

My front shocks are f*cked too

My front shocks are f*cked too

get some bilsteins and a quaife harry, youknow you want to:P

Guys can I ask why you'd use FSD's with standard springs? Why not take advantage of the enhanced control to fit some Eibachs or something at the same time?

Just curious

I was lead to believe that the FSD's floated a little anyway on motorway driving and when fitted in conjunction with Eibachs. Were they not designed to be fitted with OE springs?

I was lead to believe that the FSD's floated a little anyway on motorway driving and when fitted in conjunction with Eibachs. Were they not designed to be fitted with OE springs?

Yes they were, but they're also compatible with lowering springs up to -30mm. My replacement FSDs deffo don't 'float' at all by the way...