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Thread: Shock Horror! (or which brand)

  1. #1
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    Shock Horror! (or which brand)

    Well I could spend half a lifetime searching this place for advice....but I'm too old for that.

    Mine is a simple question (about to get complicated by the responses).

    My 2009 MY 110 Defender is set up for loaded touring. The most demanding of which involves 80 km/h driving on corrugated unsealed roads with tyre pressures adjusted according to the conditions.

    The stock shocks are losing their oomph so it is time for a refresh: Should I replace with OEM, Dobinsons or Bilsteins? What are the pros and cons?

    Thanks for listening!
    Mahn England

    DEFENDER 110 D300 SE '23 (the S M E G)

    DEFENDER 110 wagon '08 (the Kelvinator)
    http://www.aulro.com/afvb/members-ri...elvinator.html

    Ex 300Tdi Disco:


  2. #2
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    Koni's if you plan on keeping the vehicle for a while.
    MY08 TDV6 SE D3- permagrin ooh yeah
    2004 Jayco Freedom tin tent
    1998 Triumph Daytona T595
    1974 VW Kombi bus
    1958 Holden FC special sedan

  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by loanrangie View Post
    Koni's if you plan on keeping the vehicle for a while.
    I plan to be buried in it viking like...so why Koni's?
    Mahn England

    DEFENDER 110 D300 SE '23 (the S M E G)

    DEFENDER 110 wagon '08 (the Kelvinator)
    http://www.aulro.com/afvb/members-ri...elvinator.html

    Ex 300Tdi Disco:


  4. #4
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    Hi,
    I've just had rear Airbagman springs and some big, red Konis installed, but have only driven home on them so not much to report as yet.
    Cheers

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by austastar View Post
    Hi,
    I've just had rear Airbagman springs and some big, red Konis installed, but have only driven home on them so not much to report as yet.
    Cheers
    Thanks my good fellow!. Maybe I need to be thinking about the coils as well? You carry a camper on the back of your 110.
    Mahn England

    DEFENDER 110 D300 SE '23 (the S M E G)

    DEFENDER 110 wagon '08 (the Kelvinator)
    http://www.aulro.com/afvb/members-ri...elvinator.html

    Ex 300Tdi Disco:


  6. #6
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    Hi,
    Yep, an Innovan slide on. The airbags must be 9.5" to 11" inflated, which works out to 30 psi unladen and 60 psi loaded.
    The airbags will make it easier to load/unload having control of the spring height rather than relying on windup leg.
    The short distance I drove it back home seemed much smoother than with the double coils that came with the 130.
    Cheers

  7. #7
    DiscoMick Guest
    I also have a 2009 Defender 110 with 130,000 kms on it and am having the same debate about the original shocks. However I installed rear Airbag Man airbags and it all seems nice and controlled without being harsh, so I'm leaving it all alone at this stage. I have not altered the front shocks despite having a bullbar and winch. I run the airbags at 15 psi which works well for towing our camper trailer, which has a 150kg ball weight, but also firms up the rear a bit in normal driving. So I recommend you fit rear airbags first and then decide if you need to do anything else.

  8. #8
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    Mahn
    Nice vintage of vehicle
    I also have a 2009

    In any case - if you have had 10 years with good service from what the factory supplied
    There is nothing wrong to replace like for like

    If you get to 2029 and still driving the fender then maybe think about spending big bucks on upgrades!!!

    I’ve been suitable impressed with factory supplied dampers
    They just do the job no fuss no muss

    S

  9. #9
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    I was leaning in that direction!

    A lot of rough roads have been travelled without issue on the tubes that LR decided to put on her in the first place.

    The service man tells me that the fronts are not doing what they should and we have a plan to take the Gibb River Road later this year

    I wonder if the OEM is the same quality now as was fitted in 2008 (the year of build).

    Quote Originally Posted by roverrescue View Post
    Mahn
    Nice vintage of vehicle
    I also have a 2009

    In any case - if you have had 10 years with good service from what the factory supplied
    There is nothing wrong to replace like for like

    If you get to 2029 and still driving the fender then maybe think about spending big bucks on upgrades!!!

    I’ve been suitable impressed with factory supplied dampers
    They just do the job no fuss no muss

    S
    Mahn England

    DEFENDER 110 D300 SE '23 (the S M E G)

    DEFENDER 110 wagon '08 (the Kelvinator)
    http://www.aulro.com/afvb/members-ri...elvinator.html

    Ex 300Tdi Disco:


  10. #10
    DiscoMick Guest
    I must admit I quite like the look of the Dobinson ones.

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