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NYG500
Member
Date registered: Aug 2014
Location: NJ/NY
Vehicle(s): 2007 G500
Posts: 43
| KONI Shocks fitment - 2007 G500
Time for new shocks on my 07 G500, just turned 65k miles on the original shocks and they are tired. Time for a change form OEM, so after some research I have narrowed it down to either the Koni HT Raid or HT SPX. I checked the Koni website and it lists the SPX and HT Raid shocks as only fitting 90-06 W463. Does anyone know if there were changes to the shock mounts or shock specs for 2007? Anyone actually have a 07 or newer with either of these shocks that can verify they will fit a 2007 or newer W463? Much appreciated.
Mercedes 90-06 W461/W463 - RAID (Red)
Front Rear
90 5383 90 5384
-or-
Mercedes 90-06 W463 - Heavy Track (Red)
Front Rear
8240 1196SPX 8240 1197SPX
Link to catalogue:
http://www.koni-na.com/cat_search.cfm?mt_id=1&my_year=2006&mak_id=2... |
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H1LM002G55
Expert
Date registered: Mar 2010
Location: S Florida / Geneva / Jeddah
Vehicle(s): 500 GE, G55, LM002, H1
Posts: 1796
| Re: KONI Shocks fitment - 2007 G500
I would buy the SPX model shocks and not the RAID "Racing" shocks.
I am not able to answer the question as regards the shock mounting for 2007 trucks.
Koni has not updated the fitment on their website in a long time.
Do a search and check out my post on installing Koni SPX shocks.
I am pleased with them thus far. Other owners have been on their same set of Koni SPX shocks for 8+ years and the shocks are still going strong with no need for replacement...(as I am told by owners who are technically knowledgeable about when to change shocks, etc...)
Edited by H1LM002G55 10/14/2014 8:48 PM
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MiN
Extreme Veteran
Date registered: May 2006
Location: Alpujarras, Spain
Vehicle(s): No cars, at all.
Posts: 555
| Re: KONI Shocks fitment - 2007 G500
I have to say I'm surprised that they're dead after only 65k, unless you've been driving a lot of corrugated tracks. I fitted the Bilstein shocks, rather than the Koni and they were still going strong after 150k miles, which included a lot of desert and mountain driving. |
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H1LM002G55
Expert
Date registered: Mar 2010
Location: S Florida / Geneva / Jeddah
Vehicle(s): 500 GE, G55, LM002, H1
Posts: 1796
| Re: KONI Shocks fitment - 2007 G500
MiN - 10/15/2014 11:25 AM
I have to say I'm surprised that they're dead after only 65k, unless you've been driving a lot of corrugated tracks. I fitted the Bilstein shocks, rather than the Koni and they were still going strong after 150k miles, which included a lot of desert and mountain driving.
I disagree with you and so does Graz...
Here is a cut and paste from a conversation with one of the head G-technicians in Graz at Magna Steyr. This was discussing the Bilstein shock absorbers (dampers) on the 500 GE. These are the same dampers as on the G500. No change. See below.
"I have seen your photos from the drive shaft. It's like a new one now!
If you change the rubber bearings between the tie-rod and the axles, you should also change those between the tie-rod and the frame.
If the shock absorbers are older than 60.000 km I recommend to replace them.
It make sense to change the bushings from the panhard rod also." From "Graz"
Edited by H1LM002G55 10/15/2014 11:57 AM
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NYG500
Member
Date registered: Aug 2014
Location: NJ/NY
Vehicle(s): 2007 G500
Posts: 43
| Re: KONI Shocks fitment - 2007 G500
I disagree as well. The G doesn't ride as it did and its bouncy...I'm in NJ and NY so the roads are pot hole filled; its does a number on the shocks and alignment. I emailed Koni and they say either shock should work for me. I am leaning SPX over RAID per the above recommendations and based on what I do with my G.
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H1LM002G55
Expert
Date registered: Mar 2010
Location: S Florida / Geneva / Jeddah
Vehicle(s): 500 GE, G55, LM002, H1
Posts: 1796
| Re: KONI Shocks fitment - 2007 G500
To me, they "nose dive" when braking when shocks are needed. Coming up to a stop light, it is relatively noticeable. Just my experience. |
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MiN
Extreme Veteran
Date registered: May 2006
Location: Alpujarras, Spain
Vehicle(s): No cars, at all.
Posts: 555
| Re: KONI Shocks fitment - 2007 G500
Ooh, can I now disagree with you both? The Bilsteins were fine after a lot of hard work. i dare say someone would 'recommend' a change after 60k miles but blindly changing them, without verifying the actual need, is over egging the pudding
Edited by MiN 10/15/2014 4:32 PM
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H1LM002G55
Expert
Date registered: Mar 2010
Location: S Florida / Geneva / Jeddah
Vehicle(s): 500 GE, G55, LM002, H1
Posts: 1796
| Re: KONI Shocks fitment - 2007 G500
MiN - 10/15/2014 4:31 PM
Ooh, can I now disagree with you both? The Bilsteins were fine after a lot of hard work. i dare say someone would 'recommend' a change after 60k miles but blindly changing them, without verifying the actual need, is over egging the pudding
If Graz recommends that change interval, that is a hard argument to counter. The effort and time taken to "verify" the condition of used shocks is more trouble than it is worth compared to buying a new set and replacing them. You can remove the old shocks and chuck them up in a vise and determine how much effort it takes to move the piston...But for the cost of new shocks, it is not worth the effort in my opinion...better to just buy new shocks. Do note that Graz made that change interval measurement in KILOMETERS and *NOT* Miles.
Edited by H1LM002G55 10/15/2014 4:43 PM
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NYG500
Member
Date registered: Aug 2014
Location: NJ/NY
Vehicle(s): 2007 G500
Posts: 43
| Re: KONI Shocks fitment - 2007 G500
After much research and review of others posts and experiences on P3 I finally decided on the Koni SPX over the RAID 90's for my 2007 G500. Received them in the mail today; I paid $565 from Koni NA, first impressions are heavy duty and well made however the red paint finish isn't the best. They are easy to compress and don't extend back when compressed by hand, I had a set of Bilstein 5100's and they extended back when compressed by hand. Is this normal behavior for SPX's?
I will post a write up and photos after install. |
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NYG500
Member
Date registered: Aug 2014
Location: NJ/NY
Vehicle(s): 2007 G500
Posts: 43
| Re: KONI Shocks fitment - 2007 G500
So I attempted to install the shocks tonight but I was confused about the springs on my G500. I went under the G to determine what springs I had so I could adjust my new KONI SPX shocks to the springs for the best ride and long shock life. In the front I have green three stripe springs however in the rear I cannot find any markings at all; I crawled all over, wiped them clean and there's no stripes on them. How can I determine what rear springs I have and how to set the shocks to for both front and rear? Any assistance is much appreciated. |
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Braingears
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: St Petersburg, FL
Vehicle(s): G320 & ML320
Posts: 1450
| RE: KONI Shocks fitment - 2007 G500
Can I have the old ones? I'll pay for shipping. |
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NYG500
Member
Date registered: Aug 2014
Location: NJ/NY
Vehicle(s): 2007 G500
Posts: 43
| Re: KONI Shocks fitment - 2007 G500
Do you want the old shocks? |
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Braingears
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: St Petersburg, FL
Vehicle(s): G320 & ML320
Posts: 1450
| RE: KONI Shocks fitment - 2007 G500
Yea. I can't imagine they are worst than my 1998 G320 shocks... |
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Gilamonster
Veteran
Date registered: Sep 2013
Location: New Mexico
Vehicle(s): G #1 (mix of a 460, 461 & 463), #2 is a 2000 G500
Posts: 151
| RE: KONI Shocks fitment - 2007 G500
I have the Koni Raids. If your not sure of what setting you need I'd suggest setting them on soft initially and then firming them up as needed to achieve balanced front/rear dampening. Give each setting a bit of time to settle in as I've noticed that the settling in seems to take a week or so to get a feel for. |
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512bbi
Expert
Date registered: Jan 2007
Location: North western US and Europe
Vehicle(s): 05G55kge,Range rover classic,clk55amg,ML 430
Posts: 1313
| Re: KONI Shocks fitment - 2007 G500
NYG500 - 3/4/2015 9:57 PM
So I attempted to install the shocks tonight but I was confused about the springs on my G500. I went under the G to determine what springs I had so I could adjust my new KONI SPX shocks to the springs for the best ride and long shock life. In the front I have green three stripe springs however in the rear I cannot find any markings at all; I crawled all over, wiped them clean and there's no stripes on them. How can I determine what rear springs I have and how to set the shocks to for both front and rear? Any assistance is much appreciated.
Just install them the way they come from the factory ,do not adjust as they are set from the factory a hair of full soft but even for front and rear as pairs.
Their forces are different front and rear.
If you adjust later on you can do so at front only if you ever change springs.
Do not operate them on horizontal plane before installing and follow the instructions in the box they came with
With a mic you could measure the wire diameter of your springs at rear both at the thickest point in the middle and close to the ends with the suspension at full droop and look them up of the charts to see what you got.
You do not have to disconnect both ends of the shocks while on the vehicle to adjust in the feature except the connections at the bottom close to ground ,easy to do and adjust on the vehicle if needed.
More likely you will not need to and love the ride!
Mario |
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yetis
Member
Date registered: Jan 2014
Location: NY, NY; Sag Harbor, NY
Vehicle(s): G550 2009
Posts: 23
| Re: KONI Shocks fitment - 2007 G500
Hi,
Is there any advice or site that gives me some pointers or tips on replacing the suspension on my 2009 550. I am thinking of just going with the OEM Bilstein replacements. How much of this is just bolt on or off? Do I need something to compress the springs? Any other special tools ? Also, should I be replacing anything else? My skill set working cars goes as far as replacing brake rotors. If this is a major jump up over that, then maybe I will let someone else do it.
Thank you |
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NYG500
Member
Date registered: Aug 2014
Location: NJ/NY
Vehicle(s): 2007 G500
Posts: 43
| Re: KONI Shocks fitment - 2007 G500
Im only changing the shocks on 2007 G500 no springs or spacers for now, I also put new tires on before the winter replacing a won set of YOKO OEMS with GY all terrain adventure with kevlar, I wanted BFG KO2's but they weren't available yet. As to the shocks do a search on here for "shocks" or "koni shocks" and you'll read much about Koni SPX and Koni 90 shocks, Bilstein OEM and HEAVY DUTY and G550 shocks. I settled on Koni SPX after much research and consultation with other member on this site, the KONI 90's were more that I was not willing to spend and overkill for my usage. also check out Harald's site 4x4abc.com the "G" section. |
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DUTCH
Administrator Doppelgänger
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: US, GA, Atlanta
Vehicle(s): 2015 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI,2018 Sprinter
Posts: 9963
| Re: KONI Shocks fitment - 2007 G500
yetis - 3/11/2015 9:47 PM
Hi,
Is there any advice or site that gives me some pointers or tips on replacing the suspension on my 2009 550. I am thinking of just going with the OEM Bilstein replacements. How much of this is just bolt on or off? Do I need something to compress the springs? Any other special tools ? Also, should I be replacing anything else? My skill set working cars goes as far as replacing brake rotors. If this is a major jump up over that, then maybe I will let someone else do it.
Thank you
Bolt off and bolt on. No spring compressor or other special tools required. |
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