Tough Dog Vs ARB (OME?)

[Disco Muppet]

Evening all
So im looking at upgraded suspension, post bar installation
I've been to both ARB and OL, who have quoted me the same price
Question is, which to go with?
OL wrote me up a quote, which is as follows
2X Tough Dog Foam Cell Shock Absorber
2X Foam Cell Shock Absorber
2X Tough Dog Coil Spring
2X R/Rover & Discovery Rear Raised HD Coil Spring
Not entirely sure the ratings, i mentioned i didn't want less than 220 (Cheers Slunnie) but the values for the front escape me, pretty sure the rear was 300.
ARB Didn't give me a quote, however i DO have the values for those,
With 225 front and 290 rear.
I'm assuming being ARB they'll use OME suspension
Any thoughts? Or is more info needed? :angel:
Cheers
Muppet

[Vern]

niether.
Try Les Ricmond, or Suspension Stuff.

[uninformed]

if you can afford it go Koni or Bilstein for shocks.....

[Disco Muppet]

I am on quite a budget.
Im not looking for anything really flash, more into touring than hardcore offroading.

[Vern]

And the prices they gave you?? Les Ricmond springs are around $400odd a full set, bilstiens or koni's can be bought cheap from overseas.

[Slunnie]

Of Tough Dog and OME I would go OME every time. I really don't like the design of foam cell shocks in relation to longevity for touring.

[Disco Muppet]

Fitted, with wheel alignment from OL is $1425
ARB didn't quote, just said "around $1400"

[Vern]

buy the other gear and fit it yourself, you'll save $400 and get better springs/shocks.

[Disco Muppet]

buy the other gear and fit it yourself, you'll save $400 and get better springs/shocks.

I'm not too bad with a spanner, but suspension fittings might be a bit beyond me. And i was under the impression that fitting suspension is rather dangerous? what with springs under high compression, etc?
Cheers
Muppet

[JayBoRover]

Hiya Muppet.
Doing it yourself isn't a big issue (I've done a couple of times on Nissans) but you'll need a few bits and pieces to make it easy/safe (spring compressors are handy although I've managed without thus far, trolley jack and axle stands are required).

I'll be heading to Orange on the 23'rd and fly back to Perth on 4'th June. I won't have time to help with doing it (Newcrest slave drivers:D) but might be able to talk you through it, to some extent, with the car in front of us while I'm there.

Cheers
John B

[newhue]

Disco Muppet, as a comparison but you would be fitting yourself.

4 x coils from Les Richmond $440 plus postage. 50 to 70 bucks.
4 x Koni Raids from SHOX.com $899 plus $200 postage.

You can buy Koni Heavy Tracks or Bilstiens for half the price of Raids if you like.

[spudboy]

If you're on a budget, then the RAIDS will be overkill.

Grab some Bilsteins from one of the online shock shops in the US. There are a number of threads here on the various online options....

[frantic]

Just a suggestion have a look at gwyn lewis who (terrafirma copied) for raised shock mounts(to fit longer shocks ome 60070L 11.7in travel to standard 8in) , cranked trailing arms, dislocation cones/hooks etc so when you raise the suspension you get better travel instead of less down-travel as with arb's OME lr kit, tough dog,tjm etc, your using the same length shock with a raised spring. suspension stuff or dobinsons are good for springs.

[Disco Muppet]

LOL that sounds a tad expensive/complex..... :D
Does anybody know out of curiosity how long it will take for my springs to start sagging badly?
I'm fitting an ARB steel winch bar to my D2, just wondering how long i have to get them replaced before it starts being a real problem?
Cheers
Muppet

[isuzurover]

...
Does anybody know out of curiosity how long it will take for my springs to start sagging badly?
I'm fitting an ARB steel winch bar to my D2, just wondering how long i have to get them replaced before it starts being a real problem?
...

The springs won't sag any more than they have by fitting the bar. So if the ride height is OK now, it will stay the same for several years most likely.

So - if the ride height is currently OK there is no rush.

Personally - I wouldn't touch either of those brand of shocks (though I have had a reasonable run out of OMEs), and would stay away from ARB springs after we saw a pajero that had snapped both rear coils in several places in the middle of the canning.

Suspension stuff is probably the cheapest option. Fitting coils and shocks is very easy and not dangerouus.

[goldey]

Not sure of your vehicle, but we have a 98 D1 (tdi, heavy steel winch bar, Warn XD9000, dual batteries at the front) with:

2" heavy duty King Springs all round (from memory $400 for the set); and
Koni +2" Heavy Track shocks from Paddocks in the UK (from memory these were a bit over $500 to my door and took about 10 days?).

This combination has been excellent (incl 17000k's touring with heavy camper trailer attached along Oodnadatta track, in and out of Dalhousie Springs and up to the Alice via Finke) over the past 12 months. However, the springs are starting to sag, so I'll be more than likely tracking down a set of Les Richmond coils myself. I would never buy any other shocks apart from Koni's now. Though I could be tempted into Bilsteins?

Regards

[Jeff]

I bought 4 shocks and coils from Suspension Stuff for my 98 Defender for $770 delivered. I fitted it myself in a day with nothing but spanners, a trolley jack and some blocks of wood. There are numerous you tube clips showing how to, I watched about five before I did it. The hardest bit was holding the front shock and undoing the nut on the bottom over the rusty thread.

If you took it to a workshop they would probably take a lot less time and I nearly did this as we had lots of wet weather at the time, but did it myself.

Jeff

:rocket:

[crash]

I had original suspension with ARB bullbar and winch for about 7 years before finally upgrading to a suspension stuff 2" lift. Standard suspension will be okay for general touring, and mild off road with steel bar.
If you have a V8 the front springs from a TD5 can be used as they are rated higher.
Fitting the suspension is easy. I am a shade tree mechanic at best. Took me the best part of a day from start to finish, and spring compressors come in handy. There are a couple of things to remember 1) you will have to lower your front crossmember 2) will have to make a small bracket to lower / extend your abs and brake lines. Search the forum and you should come across either a tutorial or threads outlining the procedure.
If you can spin a spanner i would do it.