Shock recommendations for corrugations

[peter51]

I have Disco 1 With 2 inch Dobinson springs. I bought the vehicle last year and the previous owner cannot be contacted to find out if the rear springs are the heavy duty Variable rate models. The shocks have no branding whatsoever. The front rides like a classic RR but the rear setup s pretty bad. We carry about 120kg inthe rear and have a 120 litre long range tank.

The problem is the car skates badly across corrugations and the feedback into the cabin is very rough. It makes for slow going in the Cape.
I have searched the forums and found some recommendations for BOSS adjustable shocks but nothing else in regard to shocks to control heavy duty rear springs.

I have emailed Dobinson, but expect them to just recommend their shocks. I'd rather get the good oil from people on this forum as well.

Btw both front and rear shocks are held top and bottom with retaining plates. Should they be removed or left there.

Can someone give me some advice on rear shocks to make this car ride corrugations well.
I have driven 81 RR and 88 RR models over miles of deep corrugations and they are like riding on air. This Disco 1 chatters,skates and vibrates over the smallest stuff.
Many thanks.

[isuzurover]

You can measure the wire diameter, number of coils and uniformity of coil spacing to determine what springs you have fitted.

What sort of load have you had so far while driving over corrugations?

My bilsteins have performed excelently on corrugations for many years. However if you want the best possible ride both with and without a load, then remove the coils and fit firestone air springs instead.

[disco 3 door]

Hi Peter, give booftdi a pm. Regards Shane.

[scarry]

My bilsteins have performed excelently on corrugations for many years.

As did mine in the last D2 i had.Better than the OEM shocks that were not that bad either,but the corrugations wrecked them.
Springs were standard Kings though.

[discoverybob]

What tyre pressures are you running. Reduce the pressures slightly when driving on rough (dirt/gravel) roads.AND reduce your speed. Progressive rate coils give soft ride with light loads, then stiffen up with extra weight on board. Ideally, shocks should be matched to the spring rates, ie. ARB shocks are correctly valved to suit the particular spring for a certain vehicle ensuring the best dampening of that spring. Sometimes it isn't a good outcome to mix and match shocks and coils.:)

[isuzurover]

...ie. ARB shocks are correctly valved to suit the particular spring for a certain vehicle ensuring the best dampening of that spring. Sometimes it isn't a good outcome to mix and match shocks and coils.:)

Sorry but it sounds like you have been listening to too much advertising guff...

[Reads90]

I have OME springs and shocks on my 90 and they have been great bought them and ARB put them on and them did 45,000 is around Australia loaded up and towing a trailer. Did all the major tracks with their corrugations. Did the Tamini, Savanah Way. Great central track , Gib River road up to the cape and many others.

When I got back I took it back to ARB to check the shocks and springs. When you buy OME they measure the height and record it in a book. After 500ks you take it back and they check the height again. After my trip I got them to check and the back were the same but the front had dropped by 5mm which I considered very good after the amount of k's on rough tracks.

So I would recommend OME as I have had them on my trucks for years. But on my Disco I have Dobinsons have used them off road but not on corrugations. My 110 has King Springs seem ok at the moment but again have not really given them a good going over on corrugations.

[peter51]

Thanks for your help everyone.

i have found great info from this site and from a 4WD magazine which tested quite thoroughly the various models on the market. Their verdict for overall best control but less comfort was Bistein.

Anyone have any strong opinions on spring retainers versus dislocation cones?

I will report back in July when I get back from Lakefield. Thanks again.

[rover-56]

Don't laugh:) - what about genuine O/E?

Terry

[isuzurover]

...a 4WD magazine which tested quite thoroughly the various models on the market. Their verdict for overall best control but less comfort was Bistein.

Anyone have any strong opinions on spring retainers versus dislocation cones?

....

That is why you shuldn't believe magazines either... shocks like bilstein, koni, etc are fully rebuildable so can be valved to watever valving you want.

[Slunnie]

The great thing about monotube shocks, like all high performance shocks is that the gas is separated from the oil, so no matter how much of a flogging you give it, you won't fade the shock through aeration of the oil. Bilstein was my choice of shock also.

[Landie333]

That is why you shuldn't believe magazines either... shocks like bilstein, koni, etc are fully rebuildable so can be valved to watever valving you want.



When custom rate revalving is $250 per shock, or rebuilding is the same again, that ability becomes redundant.

[flagg]

When custom rate revalving is $250 per shock, or rebuilding is the same again, that ability becomes redundant.

I can rebuild all 4 of my Billy's for less than that. It isn't that hard to do, and the gas and oil isn't expensive. I had custom valves done up for my 7100s that we're 16 USD a corner.

[isuzurover]

When custom rate revalving is $250 per shock, or rebuilding is the same again, that ability becomes redundant.

If buying from OS you can get just about any valving option for no difference in price.

[Slunnie]

250pr or ea? Im sure I only paid that for a pair, but it was a long time ago.

[Dougal]

That is why you shuldn't believe magazines either... shocks like bilstein, koni, etc are fully rebuildable so can be valved to watever valving you want.

Do you know your valving Ben?

[steelo]

Bilstien shocks & EFS mild comfort coils on mine, only had the coils for a short time (about 1000k's) & mainly on road for now but have had them off-road. Not extreme stuff mind you just club trips & also towing a van & so far I've been pleasantly surprised. :D