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Hi Weeds.
Thanks for the info, but suspension is one area I’m not experienced in mucking around with.
Ill talk with Justin when I get my Defender serviced here in Tassie soon (just caught up buying a home at present) and will post back here.
It seems that the best option is to source the prop start from non ARB supplier, use my own HD springs if suitable and go with the BP51 shocks.
That will keep it to under $4K.
Bestwishes fellas.
Ken
Quote:
Originally Posted by weeds
Totally understand Ken......I’d say Justin will have some good advice as well.....
After my latest work on my defer I’m convinced it way better to take actual measurements (closed/open) between shock mounts than select the correct shock to suit....hence why ARB provide bump stop spacers.....just thinking they could be reducing the bump stop height.
Some will say the shock needs valving to suit a defer but I would question how many off the shelf kits have valving specific.
Even with the adjustable superior engineering shocks I’m bigger if I can notice much difference between the settings.
Either way ARB suspension is pretty good quality and they will there or abouts in setup.
Weeds revalve your superior shocks like I have, then you will notice the difference, they are way under valved on the rebound side.
Anyway, back on topic. I looked at the bp51 a few years ago, but unfortunately weren't available for landrovers, could have used 80 series cruiser ones but calving wasn't adequate
They were re valved by Ben, no matter what the valving is I thought I would notice a difference.Quote:
Originally Posted by Vern
Either way the riding nice on 2
Sorry, I thought you referring to using 80 series superior shocks in a landy with cruiser valving, that you wouldn't know the difference between their valving and landy valving.Quote:
Originally Posted by weeds
I read a bit about the bypass shocks. They offer multiple stages of dampening
I think these will be most beneficial in racing, ie flying in the dunes (80km/h) or multiple speed bumps in the city (at ,say, more than 60
In my defender never get that kind of rapid and long suspension travel....
You answered part of the questions in my head, one being "oh is he is some sort of nut job and wants a mega awesome suspension and has run out of things to spend money on his Defender, then sure, $8K, you could buy another Defender"Quote:
Originally Posted by Baytown
*BUT above you sort of point away from both wanting a "mega awesome" and having endless funds available.
*So you mentioned you had Terrafirma before and was happy with that, so go again?
*Plenty of members here also swear by Koni.
*If your use isnt extreme bluh bluh, then I'd be looking for a suspension kit or part of that is $2500 or under, I think is a reasonable budget.
*If the suspension is going to be your next "project baby" then sure, but I suspect you could go a lot better than ARB, a lot more extreme than ARB and still do it cheaper than ARB. Fox shocks are popular with some of the Jeep nutters.
I mention Koni, possibly ment Bilstein, but both have a good rep.
I said suspension as "project baby", one such example is member here Slunnie
www.slunnie.com - Aussie Built Rovers
Clearly has spent a lot of time, effort and a reasonable amount of money (but I'm guessing way less than $8K).
There must be a "slunnie" type driving a Defender here somewhere.....
Pretty much nailed it.Quote:
Originally Posted by martnH
Most people don't drive in a way to exploit the characteristic of the damper, and generally speaking a linear valved damper is enough for most as the damping forces increase with increasing shaft velocity anyway. ie. the bigger the hit the faster the shaft is moving.
I never really understood the desire for a by-pass shock until I experienced them first hand. I've spent a fair bit of time in US Raptors, and was involved in locally-engineering its little brother as well. The improvement to ride comfort is extraordinary. Even on crappy cart spring rear ends (US one). Try holding two cups of hot coffee and getting the driver to punch up a set of extreme moguls at maximum attack - ask me how I know this... (crested at over 100km/hr, no spills). Now that's the Fox internal by-pass Shocks we are talking specifically there but a quality by-pass is quite comparable irrespective of brand or internal or external. The BP-51s have a ridiculous amount adjustability for for both rebound and jounce, and the 'softness' and compliance in the middle of the shock travel makes the vehicle so much less fatiguing to drive big distances. That, and you still have the ultimate control for big-hits with a progressive stop and no crash-through. And, of course, great body control. Due to cost they really aren't for everyone and either the value equation is there for you or it isn't. Personally I got a heads-up mid year that ARB were developing these for the Defo and immediately cancelled my Koni Raid order to wait for them. The Koni Raids will do the job, day-in and day-out no matter what you throw at them and are industrial quality. Bypass shocks means you get that and a level of comfort and plushness you'd think was impossible to achieve. Plus they have some really nice innovation and engineering in their design (have a look at one in bits or a cut-away) and are entirely Australian engineered and manufactured. Ridiculous price for what it costs to make them, but that's driven by market forces and they are comparable to other products so why not? A couple of years ago if you asked me if I'd throw $2.5k at a set of shocks for the D1 I would have scoffed at you (at best), and yet here I am likely to do just that. I guess I'm saying that you should experience them before writing them off. My 2c.