Koni shocks - issue?

[MD427]

The other day I had the front end jacked up to change the tires. I (obviously) lifted it high enough to clear the tires off, and then placed the frame on jack stands.

When i got the tires back the passenger side went on fine but the driver side hub was too low. The control arm had drooped down to the point that i had to place my jack under the arm and lift it back up for enough clearance to put the wheel back on.

Upon lowering the whole car back to the ground, it still sits pretty level as it had before.

My question - Does this indicate a failing strut (seal?)? Or is there some other mechanism in the suspension that is supposed to limit down travel?

And followup question - because i believe the answer to the above is probably "Yes. the strut is going bad" - does anyone have any recommendation on the best recourse from there?

In the current Koni catalogue I do not see anything that they listed as a replacement for the car. In some reading I have done, it seems the Contemporary struts were a custom spec that may not be produced now.
Is it possible to order something from Koni that would provide an original level of damp/rebound spec?
Or can/should I have the struts rebuilt to the correct spec? I have heard Koni may provide this service, can anyone confirm?

[bobcowan]

Try this. Jack up the frame so the tire is at full extension. Get the tire about 3-4 inches off the ground. Then stand on the bottom of the rim. If it drops another couple of inches, that usually means the suspension is binding. A common problem with poly bushings.

[Thor maine]

Koni shocks have a lifetime warranty but because Contemporary had the valve tweaked they have no warranty at all! Shocks for the Jaguar XKE are physical perfect fit . As far as downward travel the limit is reached when the lower A arm the end where the torsion bar keys into and there is a 3/16 bolt that slips through and holds the torsion bar ,at full droop that will hit the main frame rail.

[Danr55]

Some years ago Koni said they would rebuild the original shocks, but the cost was too high. I wound up buying Alden shocks and they have performed perfectly.