Koni Active Dampers and H&R -40mm Springs

[CRS Performance]

In Reality the springs are not that important , Brand to brand they all do the same job , HOWEVER , it doesnt cost much more to buy a quality spring over the rubbish that is available . So buy the best ! The important thing with the spring is to make sure its fit for purpose .
Most camper conversion companies take an off the shelf 30 or 40 mm spring kit that is suited to the axle weight of the stock van . Problem is the minute the conversion is finished the stock static weight of the van has suddenly shot up by 3 to 400 kilos The springs cant cope and the back sags approx 30 mm ,

There hasn't been a solution to this up till now . ( apart from binning the springs and upgrading to a coil over kit which isn't for everyone ! Many of the coil over kits cant cope with the weight either and that is why so many rear springs are breaking )

CRS have commissioned a new range of springs this year , "Evo Technik" , we have 8 different springs for transporters and we can do the heavier vans campers California's etc and cope with the weight . Our new wholesale division will be contacting all the Camper convertors and offering them different stages of suspension upgrades to solve all their problems .

 

[onlytheone]

I have Koni special front and rear dampers with -40mm h&r kit D springs sitting on 17" Devonports but I still seek for a smoother ride, would changing out for actives give me noticeable difference, and will the actives work with the 40mm drop.

 

[CRS Performance]

I have Koni special front and rear dampers with -40mm h&r kit D springs sitting on 17" Devonports but I still seek for a smoother ride, would changing out for actives give me noticeable difference, and will the actives work with the 40mm drop.

It is a difficult call because what I have learnt over the last 2 years and working on over a 1000 vans which I personally test drive is that ride comfort is impossible to quantify and every customer has a different opinion .

the special active is definitely more comfortable by definition due to the type of technology ,
is it justifiable to do cost wise.? also we need to check the 40 mm height because lower than 40 the #Special actives don’t like it and can’t work correctly.
maybe give me a call and we can discuss it ,

 

[howler1975]

I'm in the same boat , I have been watching this thread for a while and have decided that I would like to go either the KONI/ H&R coil over or just a Koni damper setup as I'm already lowered on 40mm Cobra springs. Would like to take it to Steve at CRS But its a 3 hour trip from sunny Teesside! Might have to bite the bullet and get booked in soon as i've now got knocking coming from the front suspension when going over bumps and hitting roundabouts hard!

Hi NorthernT6, I know this post was a couple of years back but do you mind me asking if you found someone local to Teesside to carry out any suspension modifications. Having done a bit of research and listening to @CRS Performance, I am seriously looking at the Koni Special Active with -40mm springs which should be perfect for a set of 20" wheels running 275/35.

 

[CRS Performance]

Hi NorthernT6, I know this post was a couple of years back but do you mind me asking if you found someone local to Teesside to carry out any suspension modifications. Having done a bit of research and listening to @CRS Performance, I am seriously looking at the Koni Special Active with -40mm springs which should be perfect for a set of 20" wheels running 275/35.

You need to be very careful ,because suppliers who don’t have the necessary experience might supply the wrong stuff and this will have disaster written all over it. For example many 30 and 40 mm springs can’t cope with some van weights. This results in vans dropping too low . This will stop special active working correctly and can damage the shocks

 

[awillyfootball]

So which would be the best springs to use with the Koni actives and 17" wheels with AT tyres on a T28 kombi, Standard, 30mm eibach or 40mm H&R for comfort? Thanks

 

[CRS Performance]

So which would be the best springs to use with the Koni actives and 17" wheels with AT tyres on a T28 kombi, Standard, 30mm eibach or 40mm H&R for comfort? Thanks

Standard height works really well. Any spring that lowers the van up to 40 mm. , what it says on the spring box. Rarely is achieved Because the springs generally don’t take into account what weight the van is
our Evo technik springs can do it. But we need the full spec of the van to supply the correct ones

 

[onlytheone]

So which would be the best springs to use with the Koni actives and 17" wheels with AT tyres on a T28 kombi, Standard, 30mm eibach or 40mm H&R for comfort? Thanks

I have a t28 converted camper with koni shocks, the front I have 40mm h&r and the rear I have the oem standard t28 springs, ( I did originally have 40mm h&r on rear but it was total shit the springs was that compressed it might as well not had any suspension at all) now with oem on rear it sits about 10mm higher on rear which is what i wanted as when i have it loaded up with camping gear and bikes on rear its perfectly level, I tried all different setups but thats perfect for me and comfort is amazing

 

[Martin Peter]

@CRS Performance I'm after some shocks for my 2019 Caravelle exec which is on standard -20mm springs. Koni Special active the most comfortable way to go? If so how much including delivery?
Thanks

 

[CRS Performance]

@CRS Performance I'm after some shocks for my 2019 Caravelle exec which is on standard -20mm springs. Koni Special active the most comfortable way to go? If so how much including delivery?
Thanks

Hi there

Special active is the way to go , we have just finished one in the shop today

£745.00 incl vat and freight to you

steve

 

[GazC1980]

Ever since I have had my 2017 T30 Kombi I have found the ride to be quite harsh.

I fitted -40 Cobra springs to the standard dampers more to just reduce the arch gap above the wheels than for comfort.

Like me, many people over the years have asked, "how do I make my Transporters suspension smoother", and it seems that the most common answer is, "fit bilstein adjustable sports suspension".

Now this is ok if you want to try to make you're van handle like a track day car, but no good if you actually just want it to give a smoother ride.

Fortunately, as a result of this forum, I have found Steve at CRS Performance, who is a specialist suspension supplier, and EXACTLY the right kind of person to talk to about suspension.

As a result, he has fitted for me a set of Koni Active dampers, (FSD), and -40 H&R springs.

The results have transformed the driving experience of my van.

You can still feel the road beneath the wheels, but it's as if you are driving on foam matting.

Everything is just
smoother.

Bumps are still bumps, and potholes are still potholes, but this suspension just takes the edge off everything.

The van seem to track the road surface better giving a feeling of greater stability.

Nose dive under braking is reduced as is body roll under cornering.

The 40mm drop the springs give, to me, is perfect and really suits my 19" alloys.

Steve also has the ability to mix and match spring rates to accommodate increased vehicle weight thus giving you the ride height you want.

I really have been impressed by CRS and the equipment they have fitted to my van.

View attachment 54541 View attachment 54542

Have you any pictures of the van with the wheels?

 

[Catsplums]

@CRS Performance I see this is an old thread so guessing the prices will have changed, could you ping me a price for the Koni active shocks and recommend a spring for 40mm drop (I’ve an average load - no pop top, but a thick plywood floor built up for the California rails and a rib bed plus fridge and bags and awning) I’ve a t30 but upgrading to t32 arbs

 

[CRS Performance]

@CRS Performance I see this is an old thread so guessing the prices will have changed, could you ping me a price for the Koni active shocks and recommend a spring for 40mm drop (I’ve an average load - no pop top, but a thick plywood floor built up for the California rails and a rib bed plus fridge and bags and awning) I’ve a t30 but upgrading to t32 arbs

Hi there we don’t recommend active shocks at 40 plus lowering they can’t function perfectly and the functionality is restricted.
We do however have the perfect sister shock called the Special Short and this is amazing at -40 plus mm

Not much more money @ £950 a set including VAT.

 

[Trekster]

As a result, he has fitted for me a set of Koni Active dampers, (FSD), and -40 H&R springs.



View attachment 54541 View attachment 54542

I was told 35mm is the lowest recommended drop for the Koni FSD shocks?