Are my rear shocks shot???

[pohm66]

Just recently I have noticed a sideways skip in the rear end when going over bumps / holes in the road.

Under normal circumstances with springs you can bounce on the corners and the rebound etc would quite soft amd wollowy?? pointing to shot shocks however I notice no difference with my airbag rebound to that of another D3.

Also passengers are not noticing it bouncy in the back either.

Have checked the anti sway bar bushed and all OK.

I have Bilsteins in and they have done quite a few Ks including towing.

Any ideas?????

Cheers...

[CaverD3]

I think the Bilsteins had oil leakage issues. Search here and UK site.

[pohm66]

Thanks Caver,

I suppose what I am asking is whether or not my skitty rear end is a possible shock issue or maybe something else?

Want to cover my bases before I start stripping down the rear airbags.

[TerryO]

Having to replace shocks twice is a bastard.

When they replaced my 7,000 k old Koni's under warranty everyone of them was blown and was leaking oil inside the bags. You could not see any oil leaks externally, only once they were pulled apart, but it was obvious something was wrong as the D3 started to handle like a dog.

They must have had a number of issues with their shocks on D3's as the next set have totally different dampening and seam to be lasting ok.

The first set transformed the D3 but did not last, the second set are lasting but they do not handle anywhere near as well.

Good luck with the Billies, when my shocks went off I noticed it more through the rear than the fronts.

Cheers,
Terry

[pohm66]

Yep, earlier this year I had to replace the fronts and replaced the corners with Delphis, (the wife was getting sea sick from the wollowing) looked like Bilstein were still having valving issues and you can only get Konis as a set of 4.

If you reckon Bilstein have sorted out their shocks now I'll have another look at them, if not another set of Delphi will have to do.

Cheers....

[TerryO]

Standard D4 OEM shocks ride completely different to standard D3 shocks. I'd be more than happy with a D3 that handled and rode like a D4.

By the way I wouldn't buy another set of Koni's given my experience with them.

Cheers,
Terry

[pohm66]

Thanks for the alternative TerryO,

I'll check it out.

We lived in Grafton St about 24 years ago and passed through again just last year.... looked real strange seeing the big merino up the road from its old stomping ground. The main street is a lot more user friendly now as well...

[Graeme]

Standard D4 OEM shocks ride completely different to standard D3 shocks. I'd be more than happy with a D3 that handled and rode like a D4.
I'm still happy with my D4 that rides like a D3, but each to their own. Maybe I just need to be on permanent holidays and carry more weight around all the time.

[pohm66]

I carry probably carry 100kgs+ permanently in the back and tow a caravan so the D4 shocks might be worth a look at.

Might have to take a D4 for a test drive to get a feel;)

[Peter]

I have a 2005 D3 with 145k on the clock and am pretty sure the shocks are tired. There is a corner on Cav Rd in Brisbane where rear always skipped and brought the traction control to life.

I recently replace the tyres from legal but worn Kumhos to Pirellis and this has stopped.

Still convinced that at 140k I have my moneys worth out of the shocks but just noting that the better tyres made a difference in my case.

Hope that helps.

Cheers