ARB says D4s don't have shocks.

[minibloodhound]

I don't usually make comments on Facebook, but ARB posted a very nice picture of a D4 today so I thought I would comment that because one of ARBs bosses have a D4 that they might want to start making shocks for them. They then said that D4s don't have shocks. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/02/96.jpg
Scott

[FeatherWeightDriver]

Similar picture, and definitely the same car, as one of my old ARB / HEMA Australian road atlas books from around 2007.

So it is not the first time someone at ARB has tipped their hat at Land Rover :)

[DI5CO]

Maybe he got confused with springs 😝

[vnx205]

He doesn't actually say they have no shocks.

Saying they don't plan to develop them might just mean that the air suspension is so clever that designing shocks to suit is beyond their capabilities.

Or he might mean springs. :D

[MR LR]

At ARB St Peters in Sydney there are more photos of LR's on the walls than anything else, I don't think they've ditched LR at all, although the Toyota owners would seem to think so...

How many failures of stock shocks have there been? The other issue is that I believe OME are charged shocks, which depending on what D4's already have, they may not suit.

Cheers
Will

[BigJon]

How many failures of stock shocks have there been?

They all fail sooner or later. I recently replaced all four in my Dad's '05 Sport (less than 130 000km). One front and one rear were leaking (left them sitting upside down for a few days and oil ran out the airline fitting). New ones transformed the ride and handling back to what it should be.

[ADMIRAL]

Seeing that both Bilstein and Koni have issues with their shocks for the D3/4, it is obviously no simple thing to develop a shock that will work with the air suspension, let alone improve on the OE setup. I doubt ARB would be willing to dedicate anywhere near the dollars that Bilstein and Koni would, particularly when they would have little prospect of recovering their R & D from sales to Disco owners that may want OME on their vehicles.

[minibloodhound]

ARB have already developed a full suspension system including shocks for the New Nissan Patrol. One would think there would be fewer of them heading bush or towing than D4s.

Or you could spend almost 6 grand on these.
http://www.landrovertuning.com.au/discovery/discovery-4/selective-control-shock-absorber-system-for-discovery.html

[ARB 4X4 Accessories]

Hi guys, we're fully aware that D4s have shocks in conjunction with airbags ;)

My comment on Facebook was simply to suggest that because OME suspension is generally designed as a complete package for each vehicle (springs, shocks and other hardware) there are no plans to develop shocks in isolation at this stage.

Apologies if my initial comment wasn't clear enough.

It sure was Disco heaven at HQ yesterday with a fully kitted D3 and 2 very nice D4s in the car park last night.

Cheers, Sam.

[Redback]

Hi Sam, always good to here from you, it would be nice to have a choice in regards to replacement shocks and airbags, although the standard gear is very good and reasonably priced for what they are, an alternative would be good.

Koni and Bilstein tried but the shocks failed after a short period, I have had a look close up at the airbag shock on the D4, it takes a lot of force to compress that shock:eek:

Maybe now that the boss and a few others have Discos, there could be something in the future maybe;)

Baz.

[minibloodhound]

Thanks for replying Sam. If I can poke, cajole or stir the pot to get someone to do something beneficial I'll keep doing it. ;-)
I had Old Man Emu suspension on my old Holden Colorado and transformed the way it rode and handled. Now that my D4 is starting to wallow I would love to be able have more confidence in my suspension (original suspension has only done 45k). And given that I'm doing a major trip up to Lorella Springs and back down to Alice Springs and across the Simpson I would love to have suspension I can trust.
Scott

[BobD]

I have OME springs and Nitrocharger Sport shocks on my GQ Patrol, also my son's D1, my son in law's GU, my other son in law's GU and 80 series and so the list goes on. We obviously love them and I for one would be interested in Nitrocharger Sports for the D4. I just put new rear shocks on the car, which seem to be after market Delphi for a D3, and they are not much better than the worn D4 ones I took off. Next time I will get OE Delphi for D4 and pay the extra money but an alternative from ARB would great.

[Redback]

I have OME springs and Nitrocharger Sport shocks on my GQ Patrol, also my son's D1, my son in law's GU, my other son in law's GU and 80 series and so the list goes on. We obviously love them and I for one would be interested in Nitrocharger Sports for the D4. I just put new rear shocks on the car, which seem to be after market Delphi for a D3, and they are not much better than the worn D4 ones I took off. Next time I will get OE Delphi for D4 and pay the extra money but an alternative from ARB would great.

D3 shocks are softer than the D4, there is no aftermarket airbag/shock for the D3/D4/RRS.

Baz.

[Graeme]

Now that my D4 is starting to wallow I would love to be able have more confidence in my suspension (original suspension has only done 45k).Is your D4 an early build? Apart from some early vehicles where some shocks failed rather than wore-out, most people seem to be happy with the ride until at least 80K and mostly well past 100K.

I replaced mine with D3 shocks at 30K because they were still too firm for my liking when combined with the D4 stiffer arbs and 19" tyres then got 60K out of the D3 set before they allowed too much wallowing. I refitted the D4s as a stop-gap waiting for Konis to find all 4 failed abruptly 5K later - perhaps something to do with them being stored horizontally for 18 months though.

[BobD]

D3 shocks are softer than the D4, there is no aftermarket airbag/shock for the D3/D4/RRS.

Baz.

Baz,

They are Delphi shocks and air bags for a D3 (I did ask for shocks for a D4 but the suppliers sent D3 shocks and they were fitted before I could query it). Looking at the shocks, box and part numbers, they don't look like OEM to me but I could be wrong on this.

Unlike Graeme, I much prefer a better controlled shock (especially off road) and the D3 version that I have is too soft, as I said, only slightly better than the worn out D4 shocks that had done 130,000 km.

Bob

[vnx205]

So in fairness to ARB, is there going to be a request to the mods to change the title of this thread?

I suggest something like:
"ARB know very well that D4s have shocks and have a perfectly valid reason for not developing a shock for the D4, but because brief comments on anti-social media sites are so easily misinterpreted, I thought their statement meant that they believed that D4s had no shocks, but I was wrong."

[Tombie]

I read their post on FB and didn't read it as "didn't have shocks"..
I read it as "because it has airbags we aren't looking at a shock option at this time"

[vnx205]

I read their post on FB and didn't read it as "didn't have shocks"..
I read it as "because it has airbags we aren't looking at a shock option at this time"
Me too.
When I read the Facebook comment in post #1, I took it the same way. That's why I said what I did in post #4.

[Redback]

Baz,

They are Delphi shocks and air bags for a D3 (I did ask for shocks for a D4 but the suppliers sent D3 shocks and they were fitted before I could query it). Looking at the shocks, box and part numbers, they don't look like OEM to me but I could be wrong on this.

Unlike Graeme, I much prefer a better controlled shock (especially off road) and the D3 version that I have is too soft, as I said, only slightly better than the worn out D4 shocks that had done 130,000 km.

Bob

Yeah I like a firmer ride myself for better control, offroad in slow condition a softer shock does work a bit better though.

Baz.

[Canaussie]

D3 shocks are softer than the D4, there is no aftermarket airbag/shock for the D3/D4/RRS.

Baz.



Arnott industries offers after market suspension for D3/lr3 but nothing for D4 as of yet.

[Redback]

Arnott industries offers after market suspension for D3/lr3 but nothing for D4 as of yet.

The only difference between the D3 & D4 is the D4 has a firmer ride, so the shock should fit the D4, and from memory this set up is the one that has been failing, the Bilstein shock fails.

Just like the Koni, it's the shock that fails, the rest is fine.

I am hoping I'm wrong though, because that is a good price.

Baz.

[DI5CO]

This is the result of me using an Arnott product last time. Never again!!
73484
Then
73485
73486

They then sent me a new pair but I still have them sitting in the garage. I then got some OEM bags.

[Graeme]

I'd like to have a set of the RRS "active damper" shocks that are firm by default but have a bypass valve that can be electronically opened by varying degrees. However I don't know if their open and closed lengths and spring seat location are near enough to the D4 to allow them to fit. I would build my own control module to vary them from soft to firm or anywhere in between as needed. They're likely to be rather expensive though and not last any longer either.

[oradba69]

On a similar but not completely related note, wont it be awesome to have a third function for an ARB installed compressor in the engine bay?
1. Inflating tyres
2. Used with front locker
and third
3. Have the capability to use it as a backup when the LR air suspension compressor bonks out?
I realise you will loose out on the different ride heights etc. but in an emergency to get the car off its bump stops will be an awesome emergency backup.

[BobD]

3. Have the capability to use it as a backup when the LR air suspension compressor bonks out?
I realise you will loose out on the different ride heights etc. but in an emergency to get the car off its bump stops will be an awesome emergency backup.

You just need one of Gordon's (GOE) emegency inflation kits which can be used with any compressor. The only issue is that the ARB compressor's don't provide enough pressure due to their auto cut off valve and other lesser compressors that go to 150 psi work better. With ARB you need to get some load off the air bags to get enough inflation height from the lower pressure that is available.

Bob

[discotwinturbo]

You just need one of Gordon's (GOE) emegency inflation kits which can be used with any compressor. The only issue is that the ARB compressor's don't provide enough pressure due to their auto cut off valve and other lesser compressors that go to 150 psi work better. With ARB you need to get some load off the air bags to get enough inflation height from the lower pressure that is available. Bob

X2

I have lifted the front of my D4 with my arb compressor after fitting it, to test....but rear is certainly heavier.

Brett.....

[Celtoid]

X2

I have lifted the front of my D4 with my arb compressor after fitting it, to test....but rear is certainly heavier.

Brett.....





Really, I thought the front of a D4 is way heavier ..... feels that way when I've changes wheels.

[Celtoid]

Thanks for replying Sam. If I can poke, cajole or stir the pot to get someone to do something beneficial I'll keep doing it. ;-)
I had Old Man Emu suspension on my old Holden Colorado and transformed the way it rode and handled. Now that my D4 is starting to wallow I would love to be able have more confidence in my suspension (original suspension has only done 45k). And given that I'm doing a major trip up to Lorella Springs and back down to Alice Springs and across the Simpson I would love to have suspension I can trust.
Scott


Warranty .... that's all I can say.


90K in mine and it's a 2009 build. Lots of different types of driving including frequent acceleration and stopping. Fair bit of off-road too.


Still seems to drive the same as new. I've had quite a few loaners from LR when mine has been serviced and I haven't felt any difference that would concern me.

[discotwinturbo]

Really, I thought the front of a D4 is way heavier ..... feels that way when I've changes wheels.

I change my wheels several times a year and sometimes a couple of times a month, and using my trolley jack the front is significantly lighter than the rear.....much easier to lift the front.

I do have a long range tank, wheel carrier, and fridge in rear....might make a bit of a difference, but then again have bull bar upfront.

My rear requires a heap more effort to lift.

Brett....

[BobD]

Rear is definitely heavier on mine, especially with rear bar and long range tanks etc as mine has. Hence the rear has higher tyre pressures on the placard. With tyres at 18 the rears look flat and the front tyres are much less flattened.

[Celtoid]

The tyre placard does suggest that I suppose .... but it does also show 4 people in the car .... so there is another 100+KG pushed towards the rear. I'm not sure if it would be considered a scientific or proportionate guide. I'm thinking it's suggesting that there is a possibility that the middle row (7 seater) may get used and the big empty cavern in the back may get filled (commensurate to the amount of people in the car), thus needing the extra pressure at some stage.


It's also noteworthy according to many tyre places that if you follow the placard pressures, you'll get less wear out of your tyres (outside edges wear first). This certainly happened to my first set of Scorpions. You just can't trust the OEM ... LOL!!!

Of course the position of the jacking points (front Vs rear) or where you would use a trolley jack could make a massive difference in the feel, when you are lifting the car.

So....nobody in the car, no accessories fitted, jacking position variables aside, is it heavier in the front or the back? I figured with the engine and gearbox being orientated FWD, that the weight would be there. It was also suggested on this site that this is why D4's wear the front tyres first.


Anyway, not really that important, it just felt that way when I was using the OEM Jack ..... I was probably just tired.... :-)