After the Honda-Tech event at Englishtown (didn't compete, worked and instructed, but took 8 runs overall) I was changing my tires and noticed what appeared to be brake fluid spots spoardically about the right front fender liner. I check the brake lines, but they're dry and intact... I turn my attention to the shock and notice a lot of clearish, yellowish oil at the top of the shock body where the plastic wafer sits.

I know some seepage is normal, but I seriously think I have a problem here.

Will Truechoice repair it gratis, or am I paying for the job all over again? Because if that's the case, I just want a new set of OTS Koni Sports instead... theyt lasted over 2+ seasons w/o any trouble.

Now this. Why me?

Anthony "Mario" Crea

 

I would bet Truechoice will fix any problem you have with the shocks. I have never ordered through them but they have come highly recomended from several experienced racers.

 

I feel you Mario!!
Same thing happened to one of tokico's after 3 years, and 2 good seasons of autox. Be happy you don't have a myriad of problems.

John

 

John,

Keep in mind that I just had them rebuilt and revalved in NOVEMBER! I had 2 autocrosses on them... Less than 16 runs. That's why I am upset.

Mario

 

Call truechoice and talk to them

 

Never crossed my mind genius. Could it possibly be that they're closed on weekends and I plan on calling them Monday morning?!?

 

I was just poking at you

 

How much seepage do you have? I have revalved Konis with only one event on them and the front shocks have a small amount of oil leaking out from the top. I was told this is normal for them, but I did not expect it to happen after one event.

 

There was enough that the top of the shock body itself was wet. I also noticed that when the front end is up in the air, the left side drops further than the right side (the problem side) so it appears that the shock isn't rebounding properly, even when unloaded. After my conversation with them tomorrow I'll determine my next course of action.

Anthony "Mario" Crea

 

Don't be to sure about this. My friend blew out one of his front shocks after only a week of street driving. After calling Truechoice (they did the work) a number of times to complain, they told him they would meet him 1/2 way on the cost of the parts. This guy has spent over $3,000 with them, and they won't even warranty their work!

Ironically, I too have the ots Koni Sports and have run about 16 track events over 3 years on them and they still work great. Is anybody else seeing a trend with Truechoices work?

Brian.

 

Well... I live about 20 minutes away from them and I wouldn't send my shocks there. Go direct to Koni IMO.

 

D'oh!!


Well, I'll see what transpires from my initial phone call... If not, do you think I'd have any trouble sending them to Koni considering they have already been opened by Truechoice once?

Mr. Lee Grimes, are you there?


Anthony "Mario" Crea

 

Right here, was ah the track this weekend so I missed the early bits of the conversation. Call Jerry at Truechoice and he should take care of you, don't recall the phone number off the top of my head on Sunday night.

The bit about one side drooping further than the other has nothing in the least bit to do with shock function, I think something else must be making it look that way. When a shock is not moving, it does not make any force so at droop it is just sitting there. If the droop is truly different side to side then you have a physical situation with your springs, perches, bushings, etc. Only shock max length can be involved with max droop issues. If you take both off and they extend to the same length, it wasn't a shock issue.

If your are unable to get resolution with Truechoice, let me know. Give them a chance to inspect and repair it.

 

Thanks Mr. Grimes and everybody else.

I called Truechoice this morning and the rebuild manager was very polite and helpful. He simply asked for me to send the shocks... I asked if I could send both so they could be dyno matched if something does need to be done.

I'll take them off Tuesday and prepare them for an overnight to Ohio on Wednesday.

Anthony "Mario" Crea

 

Hate to tell you RJ, that is like poking a sleeping bear. You are bound to get eaten. I don't call Tony my "North Jersey Leg Breaker" For nuttin.

Good luck Tony, Hope you get it worked out.


[Modified by Crosser, 6:37 AM 3/31/2003]

 

Thanks Eric,

I'm even contemplating the whole FSP thing anyhow. I'll contact you later this week.

Tony

 

funny thing, I just got off the phone with Truechoice this morning after having my rears revalved to handle up to 1000 lbs spring rates

I have mixed feelings about them but will say Jerry is a nice guy, when I drove to Ohio from VA to pick up my suspension they were very curteous as well

just a question, when your shocks messed up where were they set and what spring rate was on the car?

 

They are custom valved Konis for 400-450# springs. They were fully soft on the day the problem occurred.

Anthony "Mario" Crea

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by George Knighton &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Was researching a problem of my own and ran across this.

Do you really have to custom valve Koni for spring rates that low?

My own problem is we're thinking we might've blown Koni at the Expo while using them with 500# springs. I'd never considered that spring rates this low would require revalving Koni.</TD></TR></TABLE>

no, you don't _have_ to. as lee likes to put it, having something built specifically for what you do will be better then a "mass produced" component. however, koni's are good enough out of the box that they can handle a tremendous range of spring rates. i have revalved shocks as well, but i didn't have mine done because i was unsatisfied with the damping curves. i did it because i needed the shocks shortened and figured i might as well have them revalved whilst i'm at it.

fwiw, i ran my car with 600lb springs, daily driven, for a year and had no issues whatsoever.

nate