I must still be dizzy from actually working on the bus yesterday. I was looking at the shocks on my bus and thinking about painting them when it dawned on me they could very well be 27 years old! I believe there was an earlier post about someone's bus rocking excessfully going down the road. What brand of shocks have some of you tried and how were the results? I've run serveral searches both here and the other bus site plus several googles searches. I'm not coming up with the results that i expected!...Any help would be appreciated plus where to actually price and purchase. I've replaced all of the air bags one more step to improve the ride while things are easy to get to.
Try Mohawk...... (part # 12b-5-1).......In a few days, I can tell you how good they are. Just ordered two. Cost $40 a piece.
EDIT: OPPS..... never mind ....thought you had a MCI.
Pat,I would call Prevost most of the time a original shock from the dealer will not cost any more than a aftermarket shock and you will have the right shock.At least I find this to be true on Eagles FWIW $299.00 for a set of 8 from Eagle
I replaced the shocks all around in our Prevost last fall & I went with Prevost parts because we couldn't exactly match the shocks at NAPA. As it turned out we might as well have gone with the NAPA parts although as I recall they weren't a whole lot less money, but they definitely would have been less. The problem we had crossing them to a NAPA part was that my shocks had 3/4 mountings and all the NAPA shocks were 1" when you got to that heavy of a shock. As it turned out, the Prevost units also were 1" mounts and we had to cut bushings for them anyway.
My advice? If you can match a NAPA or other aftermarket shock, go for it. Prevost doesn't build the shocks so there has to be somebody out there who is building the shock for them & chances are you can buy it aftermarket for less money. We never found any way to cross reference the part numbers - you just have to go through the catalog looking for the same size, same retracted and extended lengths. It takes a while and you need a co-operative partsman.
muddog Koni makes a great shock for air ride buses but if it were me I would check and make sure of what kind of shock it calls for from Prevo, double action or single action and some are different on each axle and your bus being 27 years old they could have and probably have been changed have a good day Koni shocks are about $100.00 each fwiw
I put hte adjustabale Koni's on my front and tags, the stock prevost shock on teh duals. If I had it to do over, I'd only put the Koni's on the front. Sure made a big difference, although I had one of the front ones start leaking and it had to be replaced (under warrantee).
Jim,
Had Konis on a few sports cars and they were great. The shock that has never left anything to bedesired for me was Bilstein. Sports cars, sedans, 4X4 Land "Crusher", pick up and my S&S. So very impressive I go with the brand without reservation.
John
john I have never been able to find Bilstein for a bus
When at Prevost, I asked for Bilstein shocks, and they said they didn't have any. I got the impression that B didn't make any, but they didn't say it directly. Let us know if you find some.
H3Jim you are right I checked and Bilstein does not make shocks for coaches
Big yellow Monroe Magumn 60's designed for a Crown Super Coach 10 wheeler. Six (6) total. I do NOT know the $price$, but hang onto your hat. :) :) :)
The adjustable Koni's from Prevost were $125 each. Not bad really.
I "Shocked" my new Wife by Mooning her at the end of our Drivway ;D
I have used Gabriel Fleetline shocks - gas shock, fine results.
Just another suggestion. Good luck with your coach.
I put a set of adjustable Konis on the front of my 4104 and they did wonders for reducing the repetitive bouncing. Much nicer ride now.
I couldn't find anything on Bilsteins either and I searched long and hard......the Koni's may be the way to go on the front.......and the OEM shocks on the drive and tag.......I'll keep searching, I appreciate the information keep it coming! I'm wondering just how heavy this beast will be when finished, I know that the new conversions are extremely heavy...those 3, 20 cubic yard dumpsters I filled should have lightened this up....probably the heaviest rebuild material has been the alum siding, I'm putting this (non professionally converted) animal on a diet!
muddog16,
You mention "non professional conversion".
From what I've seen you are a Professional!
You will have a new coach when finished. What's your next project? ;)
Happy Trails,
Paul
I put NAPA on our Eagle about 9 years ago never had a problem, still rides good.
Pete & Jean
FANTASY
Paul thanks for the compliment! My next project is running as much diesel through this bus as I can.............I want to make the tree huggers happy! ;)
muddog16,
We're in agreement on this one!
I want to use as much diesel as I can before someone else does! ;D
That's the positive attitude that I aspire too, use it or loose it.
Paul