110 rear shockers

[goingbush]

One of the Bilsteins on the rear of my 04 110 is Leaking Oil,

They haven't had a hard life & obviously are not bulletproof.

I hear that Koni Raid are supposed to be the bees knees, at $750 a pair locally or $650 from UK they would want to be, Hard to justify when I can get new Bilsteins for $150 a pair ex GBR, Utah.

Can anyone report that the Koni Raid is significantly better enough than the Bilstein to justify the huge cost.

I also noticed Rimmer Bros have the DeCarbon Uprated shocks for $170 a pair, anyone tried these ???

thanks Don

[uninformed]

Bilstein are good, but like everything can have a problem here and there. I run normal Konis in mine. Your bilstein should be rebuildable. One problem for all shocks is the horrible LR upper chassis mount. Its on a bad angle, which you can tell even when just removing replacing them at static ride height. It binds the shock bush and puts pressure on the shaft....:(

[dfendr]

I have a full set of these on my defender
Purchased from U.S a year ago for about $1000 but took months to get
They are a much more robust shock and on corrugations only get to luke warm to the finger test
:):):)

[isuzurover]

The Bilsteins on my 110 were already fitted when I bought the car in 2000. No problems (and no leaks) in ~200k km, including the CSR, etc etc... The rears are only now starting to feel worn out, which I think is mainly due to the CSR and the fitment of rear air springs which they obviously weren't designed for.

As mentioned they can be rebuilt, but cheaper to buy new.

[DEFENDERZOOK]

I've got some terrafirma big bores on the back of mine......

I can describe them in one word......fantastic.....

[ted44]

hey old bushie, did you have to put wheel spacers on to fit the big bores?
Cheers ted

[blue_mini]

Ive got the terrafirma big bores as well and no there's no spacers to fit. Just bolt them straight on.

[Brad110]

I used de carbon on a jeep previously and they were very robust.

They come from the 'ultimate Suspension" in Sydney who I have noticed others recommending. The important thing to me is with their warranty was 3 years for shocks alone and seven with matching springs.

I have had Raids previously and they were very good but the expense. They were on a County that I took around Aus for 13 months and then transferred to my Defender where they were still going strong 8 years and 250km later when I sold it.

The irony is that I purchased them on the basis that I could get them rebuilt....Not that there was a need.

Theres a big choice.

I think Andrew at les Richmond uses them in his kits built to his specs.

[uninformed]

Brad, were yours actually koni " raid" as I didn't think they had been about for 8 years???

[dullbird]

I had Terra's on mine and they were great but then after a few thou failed I'm not sure what failed in them. Possibly the valving or something because they felt fine off the car but they car would bounce around horrifically when on the car,,, however I had some of the first ones out and I believe they have changed since then. I also have Terra's on the disco not big bores but one of them failed and terra were brilliant with me even though it was out of the warranty period. I still Ike Terra's I think the big bores I had we new to market and teething issues.

I do now have koni's raids all round on the defender and even though we haven't finished out trip the corrugations have been punishing here and they have performed brilliantly pulling the ton of camper behind the car they have also been brilliant off road on the telegraph track the only thing I will say is they Extended enough on a couple of occasions to allow the spring to dislocate but this also happened with the Terra's, though that was to be expected as the Terra's we had were +2s

[Barra1]

Somewhere, someplace, someone is having a problem with their Koni's.

Somewhere, someplace, someone is having a problem with their Terra Firma's.

Somewhere, someplace, someone is having a problem with their U-Beaut Best Shockies Ever units.

I've found Bilsteins do the job. But I am also open to something better if available. I do have to wonder though - $150 per pair versus $650 per pair - can someone (0ther than Derek) confirm the Koni's are 4 times better than the Billies?

I've got 160,000k's out of the Billies - heavy towing, high country and the Anne Beadell, Gulf trips etc.

I know Derek swears by the Koni's because of the absolute thrashing he gives them and I reckon in his case the Koni's are 4 times better but for the rest of us mere mortals............:eek:

[uninformed]

retain your springs, very simple to do..;)

[uninformed]

look at shaft size, shaft material. Actual pistons size and how much oil they hold. You can by very good Fox or Bilstein off road racing shocks for the same money as the Koni Raids, but they will not be bolt in.

[dullbird]

retain your springs, very simple to do..;)

Yep would love to but not worked out no to o it as we have Firestone airbags in back and an internal plate to centre airline hole.

I believe cal415 has done it but I don't think he had pic on it to show how it was done and I don't know whether he did it with firestones or polyairs the poly air plates fit externally not internally.

Our raids cost 900bux for the lot however we had to get them sent to a mate in the states as this particular place would not post out to oz.

[uninformed]

sorry, did not realise you had air bags. I know nothing about them except I dont want them :D

I think Konis are great
I think Koni raids are great and fill a need
I think Bilstein are great

I think both are worth the money and inturn doing all the shopping around you can, locally and overseas.

[DEFENDERZOOK]

hey old bushie, did you have to put wheel spacers on to fit the big bores?
Cheers ted

no spacers......just fitted them straight in......and I'm running 33x12.5x15 muddies without any problems.......
ive got the +2s as well.....which allowed me to pop out a spring off road....so i just fitted some dislocating cones.......

[123rover50]

No ones mentioned Monroes, Ironman, OME etc. Or what about these witha 3 year warranty.
eBay Australia: Buy new & used fashion, electronics & home d (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/130709890885'ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649)

Didiman

[isuzurover]

No ones mentioned Monroes, Ironman, OME etc. Or what about these witha 3 year warranty.
eBay Australia: Buy new & used fashion, electronics & home d (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/130709890885'ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649)

Didiman

Not in the same league IMHO.

Monroe make OMEs (to OME specs apparently). I have 110 rear OMEs on the rear of the IIA. One has been weeping oil since new.

[goingbush]

I once got sucked into buying a set of OME Nitrochargers for my 40 Series Cruiser, The fronts were OK but frankly noticed no difference over original equipment the Rears were bloody horrible, soon put the standard shockers back on.

The Left rear Bilstein is now leaking more oil than all the rest of the Defender , it must be almost empty & will stop leaking soon. the 110 is now very bouncy in the rear when I'm towing the van & a bit of bump steer so I'd say only one shocker is stuffed.

Thanks for all the FB, Im picking up some TerraFirma 130 Big Bores tomorrow, can't complain about the price, if they don't work out I'll go for some Koni Heavy Track SPX's .

[wmd]

Yep got the koni heavy track raids on my 110 tray back.
they are a very good shock ,( big and heavy )
i have spent hours on bad dirt roads with a full tray and they don't fade.
money well spent imho.

[uninformed]

just a note.....My Koni's came in a box marked "heavy track raids" these are the standard konis for LR, toyotas etc....Not the larger bore "Raids" that are more $$$$

[goingbush]

Fitted my TF BigBore 130's today,
Immediate improvement. Very Happy & for around $100 each you can't go wrong. So much nicer around town & over speed bumps I don't have to slow down at all. The Bilsteins were awful on speed bumps, everything in the back used to bounce.

Will see how it goes towing the Van but I think they'll be just fine.

Oh and they really are Massive like it says on the box

http://goingbush.com/landy/massive.jpg

[Drover]

I have had TF big bores for about 10 months now and they are great. They soak up the bumps, provides a smooth ride and maintains road holding.

I tow a off road Coromal van with them no prob's. I also have "PolyBags" to help with towing.

How long will they last ??? Only time will tell, but at the price I'll give them a go.

Oh, and they really are massive :)

[DEFENDERZOOK]

well......they are called big bores...........

i don't think you'll ever break the shaft.........as i said......ive been really happy with mine as well.......