68-69 front shocks

Moderators: Sluggo, Amskeptic

User avatar
skin daddio
IAC Addict!
Location: love canal
Contact:
Status: Offline

68-69 front shocks

Post by skin daddio » Mon Aug 03, 2009 12:23 am

what are you using on the fronts, recommendations?

User avatar
bretski
Ellipsis-Meister
Ellipsis-Meister
Location: out of hibernation...for now
Status: Offline

Post by bretski » Mon Aug 03, 2009 6:59 am

I run the German-made Boge shocks that Bus Depot sells. No complaints.

I'm sure some Koni folks will chime in... :D
1978 Deluxe Westfalia - "Klaus"

"transcripts are overrated. hardware store receipts: those are useful." --skin daddio

User avatar
hambone
Post-Industrial Non-Secular Mennonite
Location: Portland, Ore.
Status: Offline

Post by hambone » Mon Aug 03, 2009 7:27 am

KYB all around.
http://greencascadia.blogspot.com
http://pdxvolksfolks.blogspot.com
it balances on your head just like a mattress balances on a bottle of wine
your brand new leopard skin pillbox hat

User avatar
Manfred
Old School!
Location: Chicago
Status: Offline

Post by Manfred » Mon Aug 03, 2009 7:38 am

I went off roading with Chitwvw with weekend and my Boges shocks worked great. 78 Westy.

User avatar
skin daddio
IAC Addict!
Location: love canal
Contact:
Status: Offline

Post by skin daddio » Mon Aug 03, 2009 7:43 am

bretski wrote:I run the German-made Boge shocks that Bus Depot sells. No complaints.

I'm sure some Koni folks will chime in... :D
seems like koni shocks will never be available for the earliest of bays, unless i can do something with mrs. koni. not too sure about the german boge either.. if they got a fit, they got a customer.
hambone wrote:KYB all around.
may might hafta go that route..

User avatar
bretski
Ellipsis-Meister
Ellipsis-Meister
Location: out of hibernation...for now
Status: Offline

Post by bretski » Mon Aug 03, 2009 7:56 am

skin daddio wrote:seems like koni shocks will never be available for the earliest of bays, unless i can do something with mrs. koni. not too sure about the german boge either.. if they got a fit, they got a customer.
AFAIK, they'll fit early and late bays.
1978 Deluxe Westfalia - "Klaus"

"transcripts are overrated. hardware store receipts: those are useful." --skin daddio

User avatar
Amskeptic
IAC "Help Desk"
IAC "Help Desk"
Status: Offline

Post by Amskeptic » Mon Aug 03, 2009 6:47 pm

bretski wrote:
skin daddio wrote:seems like koni shocks will never be available for the earliest of bays, unless i can do something with mrs. koni. not too sure about the german boge either.. if they got a fit, they got a customer.
AFAIK, they'll fit early and late bays.
'68-'69 are different . . . the front beams and shock towers were changed in 1970 to fit the new sooper dooper frame rails.
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles

User avatar
bretski
Ellipsis-Meister
Ellipsis-Meister
Location: out of hibernation...for now
Status: Offline

Post by bretski » Mon Aug 03, 2009 7:31 pm

Yes, I probably should have been more specific in that there are separate Boge part numbers for 68-69 bays...says applicable for late model splits, too:

http://busdepot.com/details.jsp?partnumber=211413031F

I have a feeling these are not German-made, given the price Ron lists.
1978 Deluxe Westfalia - "Klaus"

"transcripts are overrated. hardware store receipts: those are useful." --skin daddio

User avatar
skin daddio
IAC Addict!
Location: love canal
Contact:
Status: Offline

Post by skin daddio » Mon Aug 03, 2009 10:17 pm

bretski wrote:I have a feeling these are not German-made, given the price Ron lists.
:-s

User avatar
static
IAC Addict!
Location: Somewhere on I-5
Status: Offline

Post by static » Tue Aug 04, 2009 7:48 am

After a couple of decades of KYB Gas-adjusts all around, I switched to GR2's up front. Much happier.
And yes, I go on Jeep roads with 'em.

User avatar
hambone
Post-Industrial Non-Secular Mennonite
Location: Portland, Ore.
Status: Offline

Post by hambone » Tue Aug 04, 2009 8:27 am

I don't understand the unhappiness with KYBs offroad, I find them to be perfectly suited for even the most horrendous potholed washboard.
http://greencascadia.blogspot.com
http://pdxvolksfolks.blogspot.com
it balances on your head just like a mattress balances on a bottle of wine
your brand new leopard skin pillbox hat

User avatar
skin daddio
IAC Addict!
Location: love canal
Contact:
Status: Offline

Post by skin daddio » Tue Aug 04, 2009 9:12 pm

bret, i read in a samba thread that ron likes to advertise things as german if the company has orifices in germany; if they're actually made in another place, that's not his problem. could or not be one of those fine-print cases..

gotta get sssomething for the fronts. nearly obsolete is downright.. not so cool!

User avatar
bretski
Ellipsis-Meister
Ellipsis-Meister
Location: out of hibernation...for now
Status: Offline

Post by bretski » Wed Aug 05, 2009 7:25 am

skin daddio wrote:bret, i read in a samba thread that ron likes to advertise things as german if the company has orifices in germany; if they're actually made in another place, that's not his problem. could or not be one of those fine-print cases..

gotta get sssomething for the fronts. nearly obsolete is downright.. not so cool!
Yup, I've experienced the same thing. Always call and specifically ask the country of manufacture.

Curiousity killed the cat, so I started hunting around...I'd be inclined to give the Bilstein or KYB GR2 a try:

http://www.bilsteinus.com/cart/index.ph ... 693&zenid=

Couldn't find a direct part number link on KYB's website, but the major vendors all stock them...Hambone, do you have the gas-adjusts all around? When searching around, I found a lot of early bay folks running gas-adjusts in rear and GR2s in front (our buddy Static included!).

Good luck, Steve!
1978 Deluxe Westfalia - "Klaus"

"transcripts are overrated. hardware store receipts: those are useful." --skin daddio

User avatar
vistacruzer
IAC Addict!
Location: portland
Status: Offline

Post by vistacruzer » Mon Aug 17, 2009 9:02 am

bus depo has lots of koni's made every once in a while i got some $109 each sold in sets only front and rear $436 dam they are nice love the ride and even the crosswind are easier to handle... the kyb's give a solid ride... no complaints :pirate:
71 bench 1915
70 wide lowered body rag top 2056 type4 DTM nothing stock if I could touch it.
Growing old is mandatory. Growing up is optional.

User avatar
skin daddio
IAC Addict!
Location: love canal
Contact:
Status: Offline

Post by skin daddio » Mon Aug 17, 2009 11:16 am

brah, you get salmon or anybody on the planet to ship me two sets of 68-69 front konis and i'll make sure you have a half keg of your favorite porter. anywhere you want it in western oregon.

Post Reply