Thread: Shock Horror! (or which brand)

Originally Posted by one_iota

My service man reckons they are not as harsh as the Bilsteins....

I've just changed my OEM's for Bilsteins, well about a year ago, and I can't say that I notice that they are rough. Well compared to the rest of the car.
My OEMs lasted a little less than 100K and not much of that was off road, fronts went so did the lot. Can't say I was overly impressed, thought I'd get at least 150K or so.
Had Bilsteins on my D2 and they did at least 200K without problems, a fair bit of that was fast dirt or rough tarmac, while working around Wee Waa, St George Dalby for the cotton gins. Changed the OEM's out at 170K.
Having said that if I get 200K out of this set of bilsteins it's probably works out to be the same $/Km as the OEM's

Cheers Glen

Originally Posted by Dorian

I've just changed my OEM's for Bilsteins, well about a year ago, and I can't say that I notice that they are rough. Well compared to the rest of the car.
My OEMs lasted a little less than 100K and not much of that was off road, fronts went so did the lot. Can't say I was overly impressed, thought I'd get at least 150K or so.
Had Bilsteins on my D2 and they did at least 200K without problems, a fair bit of that was fast dirt or rough tarmac, while working around Wee Waa, St George Dalby for the cotton gins. Changed the OEM's out at 170K.
Having said that if I get 200K out of this set of bilsteins it's probably works out to be the same $/Km as the OEM's

Cheers Glen

Thanks Glen! Excellent feedback. My originals have done 120k so are feeling as tired as I do in my old age... I groan when I get up.

i run Dobinson Toy 80 series fronts on 4 corners. Larger bore than OEM. Given me good service for 70,000 kms including multiple outback trips on some rough roads, 2 Simpson crossings and used to lug up to a tonne on the tray for business use. Knocked the last of life out of them in the Simpson trip last year loaded to 3500kg in some brutal conditions (for shocks). About to go remote res shocks for the extra oil capacity. I considered all the fancy brands like fox, King, Icon etc and will stick with Dobinsons remote res. I will fit 50mm bore to the front and 60mm bore to the rear. Should give me enough oil capacity to remain cool and control a 3500kg defender driven spiritedly. I'm happy with 70,000 to 100,000 from shocks that are, frankly, given a hard time each time i load up to go touring.

While i like Koni Raids i think that the current crop of remote res shocks from ARB, Dobinson etc (mid spec) are equally good at controlling heat and suspension dynamics and are cheaper.

my 2 cents.

Originally Posted by MLD

i run Dobinson Toy 80 series fronts on 4 corners. Larger bore than OEM. Given me good service for 70,000 kms including multiple outback trips on some rough roads, 2 Simpson crossings and used to lug up to a tonne on the tray for business use. Knocked the last of life out of them in the Simpson trip last year loaded to 3500kg in some brutal conditions (for shocks). About to go remote res shocks for the extra oil capacity. I considered all the fancy brands like fox, King, Icon etc and will stick with Dobinsons remote res. I will fit 50mm bore to the front and 60mm bore to the rear. Should give me enough oil capacity to remain cool and control a 3500kg defender driven spiritedly. I'm happy with 70,000 to 100,000 from shocks that are, frankly, given a hard time each time i load up to go touring.

While i like Koni Raids i think that the current crop of remote res shocks from ARB, Dobinson etc (mid spec) are equally good at controlling heat and suspension dynamics and are cheaper.

my 2 cents.

Interesting about the dobinson remote res shocks... have read others have had issues with them but that was in a different vehicle....

The '09 Puma I bought last year came with Tough Dog adjustables.... We just completed a double crossing of the simpson and the conditions were really bad. The Tough Dogs seem to handle it ok but I don't have anything to compare them too. Had to have them adjusted to the max setting due to the load we were carrying and the track conditions. Will be getting them tested to see how they are now but I did have to replace the top rear shocky mounts...

Originally Posted by Robmacca

The '09 Puma I bought last year came with Tough Dog adjustables.... We just completed a double crossing of the simpson and the conditions were really bad. The Tough Dogs seem to handle it ok but I don't have anything to compare them too. Had to have them adjusted to the max setting due to the load we were carrying and the track conditions. Will be getting them tested to see how they are now but I did have to replace the top rear shocky mounts...

I had Tough Dog foam cell on a 110. I killed them on a Cape York trip and the conditions were a fraction of the brutality of the Simpson and surrounds on shocks. Got less than 40,000 kms out of them. I don't rate TD but that's my experience based on 1 encounter so take it with a grain of salt.

Originally Posted by MLD

I had Tough Dog foam cell on a 110. I killed them on a Cape York trip and the conditions were a fraction of the brutality of the Simpson and surrounds on shocks. Got less than 40,000 kms out of them. I don't rate TD but that's my experience based on 1 encounter so take it with a grain of salt.

Foam cell is crap technology!!!

I have a 110 MY15 - mostly driven locally in the Hawkesbury on rural roads - but have done tracks out at Newnes / Lithgow

@42k / 5 Yrs the shocks were stuffed - replaced all 4 with Dobinsons - along with the steering damper.

Initial thoughts are good - they are better than stock.

Cheers,
Col.

Been a while, so I was wondering how u have found the Dobinson Remote Res Shocks ?? Also, how did u go fitting the Remote Res to the front? I gather u also had to replace the OEM Shock Towers to enable u to install the Remote Res Shocks ??

Keen to hear your feedback on Dobinsons as time is drawing near for me to look at mine and I was also wondering about the Superior Remote Res ones as well...

Originally Posted by MLD

i run Dobinson Toy 80 series fronts on 4 corners. Larger bore than OEM. Given me good service for 70,000 kms including multiple outback trips on some rough roads, 2 Simpson crossings and used to lug up to a tonne on the tray for business use. Knocked the last of life out of them in the Simpson trip last year loaded to 3500kg in some brutal conditions (for shocks). About to go remote res shocks for the extra oil capacity. I considered all the fancy brands like fox, King, Icon etc and will stick with Dobinsons remote res. I will fit 50mm bore to the front and 60mm bore to the rear. Should give me enough oil capacity to remain cool and control a 3500kg defender driven spiritedly. I'm happy with 70,000 to 100,000 from shocks that are, frankly, given a hard time each time i load up to go touring.

While i like Koni Raids i think that the current crop of remote res shocks from ARB, Dobinson etc (mid spec) are equally good at controlling heat and suspension dynamics and are cheaper.

my 2 cents.