Peoples thoughts on Terrafirma Shocks

[Pete38]

Just curious what people think of the Terrafirma shocks, well TF144 and TF145 in particular.

I came from the standard equivalent Bilsteins that were in the car when I got it. Looking at the outside of the rear shocks it appears the rears may have had some oil leakage but they still felt like they were gassed up so maybe it was just road grime (that wasn't on the fronts).

These shocks appear to damp the low frequency vibrations/bumps much better and appear softer on the harsh bumps. On country roads there is far less axle tramp or funny behaviour due to high frequency bumps/corrugations.

So overall I am happy, but they do seem to make the ride a little more of a rubbery feel over the Bilsteins in both highway and standard. Nothing uncomfortable, just a different feeling. Maybe they don't hide the airbags natural rubbery feel, which was felt on high mode with the standard shocks.

I'm assuming how tight the bottom nuts could change how they damp, but once they are firmly done up the change would be minimal. Did anyone actually torque them or just do them up until they looked right?

I am in no way a suspension expert so its hard to describe the feeling, although I have had a wide variety of cars so familiar with different ride "feels". As I said, I am happy with the Terrafirmas over the Bilsteins regards ride, just curious if anyone else has found them slightly "rubbery" with the gen 3 airbags.

[Keithy P38]

They feel quite planted to me. A good improvement over the boges on dirt roads and corrugations. Better over imperfections on tarred roads too! With that in mind, I've not run anything other than boges.

Mine are as tight as I could do the nuts without hurting my hands. It's been a few k's now so I'll re-torque them next week to ensure they have not loosened.

Cheers
Keithy

[redandy3575]

I've got the Terrafirmas on mine which seems not bad for ride. But then again I prefer the softer ride over the harder. Being a keen off roader the Terrafirma does minimise the wheel lift.

I also have a set of Britpart foam cell shockers which are fantastic, but for some reason the do not have the same amount of shock travel as the Terrafirmas.

I'm pretty sure the Terras are a recommended option for Land Rover products in aftermarket replacement, but the world is your oyster when it comes to choosing shock absorbers.

[Pete38]

They feel quite planted to me. A good improvement over the boges on dirt roads and corrugations. Better over imperfections on tarred roads too! With that in mind, I've not run anything other than boges.

Mine are as tight as I could do the nuts without hurting my hands. It's been a few k's now so I'll re-torque them next week to ensure they have not loosened.

Cheers
Keithy

As tight as you could get them? I only did them up so they the thread hung out the bottom of the nut a little under 10mm I'd say (15+mm or so including the un-threaded part as the socket was starting to come up the nut so I could see a third of it when done up). Maybe that wasn't enough and the rubber is compressing a little on bumps which gives that feel. But they do seem to damp well though.

I know there are torque settings but didn't check them. I was also concerned that doing them up to tight might not allow any rotation at the axle but you now have me thinking.

[Keithy P38]

Yep! Keep in mind I'm 75kg when wringing wet and 6ft tall so I'm no body builder! I just tightened until I couldn't tighten any more! Squashed the bushes a little.

[Pete38]

Yep! Keep in mind I'm 75kg when wringing wet and 6ft tall so I'm no body builder! I just tightened until I couldn't tighten any more! Squashed the bushes a little.

Ha ha. I wasn't sure to be honest so maybe I need to do mine up tighter. I might even use a torque wrench to get an idea what 33 ft-lbs feels like (even though the nyloc will mean they are under torqued).

The top one is torqued up to the the Ahhhh on a foot long wrench so that felt about 92 ft-lbs ha ha.

[benji]

Mmm, we should really get these terms sorted out.
For someone whose 10kg lighter than Kiethy, Ahhh is about 37ft/pd; Bl@#$ y Ahh is around 65ft/pd (requires a double ringy); and FFS /FT!!!!!! Near on 100 (requires breaker bar for sure).

[Keithy P38]

Rough translation: Keithy's nuts are around 75Nm, with a bit of cursing they have the potential to be 110Nm, and with a breaker bar the bolt will strip the thread from the shockie!

[wayneg]

I am looking hard at Shocks at the moment and cant decide.
I can get Std shocks for 72 pounds the full set
Terrafirma (not pro) 120
Cellular Dynamic 135
Prices dont include shipping to Aus but I will be in the UK soon and price includes UK Tax
I am running gen 3`s with slightly higher settings than standard and 265 75 16`s, 90% highway 10% off road. Plenty of fairly long trips pulling camper trailer.
I am leaning towards the cellular dynamics. What do you think?

[flathead steve]

I fried my stocky's doing the simpson and replaced them with koni's they seem realy good but Im gonna change the front's to the softer setting as they hold the front up too much rear is good on medium

[rc42]

I've got the Terrafirmas on mine which seems not bad for ride. But then again I prefer the softer ride over the harder. Being a keen off roader the Terrafirma does minimise the wheel lift.

I also have a set of Britpart foam cell shockers which are fantastic, but for some reason the do not have the same amount of shock travel as the Terrafirmas.

I'm pretty sure the Terras are a recommended option for Land Rover products in aftermarket replacement, but the world is your oyster when it comes to choosing shock absorbers.


I have the Britpart foam cell shocks fitted too, they're really well made and have very little resistance on compression (they're not gas pressurized either) but lots of resistance on extension so they damp rebound nicely whilst letting you hit bumps and barely feel them.

I had the +2" Terrafirmas before that, they are a good shock but the gas pressure can make your face go red tot he point of bursting a blood vessel trying to fit (or remove) the damn things. Also, the longer shock travel is very risky if you don't have a suspension lift as you can pull the airsprings apart, for Arnott 3's this is terminal as the rubber pulls out of the crimp ring.

[Pete38]

Well these shocks have grown on me. Liking very much now. Felt quite different than the Bilsteins, even with the same spacers and height changes fitted.

They don't seem to have that rubbery feel anymore. Either I have got used to the change, or maybe they have bedded in... And thankfully no over extension of the gen 3 bags with only 30mm spacers (rather than the typical 50mm). But yeh, I would be concerned running these shocks without the spacers, especially the angle correction on the rear.

[davidsonsm]

I echo Pete's comments. The TF's took a bit of adjusting to after Koni's but now I've had them a while I think they're great.

What impressed me was their solidity - they appear really well made and are far fatter (oil vs gas?) than the bilsteins and konis that I've had in the past. Compared to those two the TF's ride a lot more "range rovery" (unGerman) if you get my drift.

[redandy3575]

I have the Britpart foam cell shocks fitted too, they're really well made and have very little resistance on compression (they're not gas pressurized either) but lots of resistance on extension so they damp rebound nicely whilst letting you hit bumps and barely feel them.

I had the +2" Terrafirmas before that, they are a good shock but the gas pressure can make your face go red tot he point of bursting a blood vessel trying to fit (or remove) the damn things. Also, the longer shock travel is very risky if you don't have a suspension lift as you can pull the airsprings apart, for Arnott 3's this is terminal as the rubber pulls out of the crimp ring.

Yes.......i know what you mean about red faces in installing the TF's. I honestly dont know why i bought both, but at the moment i still have TF's in place. If anyone wants to buy a set of britplart cellular foams shocks off me, just PM me.

[TheTree]

Yes.......i know what you mean about red faces in installing the TF's. I honestly dont know why i bought both, but at the moment i still have TF's in place. If anyone wants to buy a set of britplart cellular foams shocks off me, just PM me.

Andy

Now that is tempting!

Steve

[tasi devil]

rc42 do you have the Gen III's fitted with the Britpart foam cells ?

I have Gen III's with Bilsteins F4-B46-2214-HO Fronts on both front & rear & have not been impressed with the ride comfort (harsh/jarring) even around town.
I am putting in a brand new valve block this arvo (have rebuilt the current one twice & a spare twice to no benefit, new Driver also) hoping this will fix almost constant running of nonstandard compressor. next on list will be different Shocks

I was considering Terra Firmas,
wayneg what did you go for ? & redandy do you still have the Britpart cell's available ?

..........tasi

[redandy3575]

redandy do you still have the Britpart cell's available ?

..........tasi

Yes mate I do. Sitting in the Garage.

[TheTree]

Hi

I went for the BritPart foamcells and I am liking them

Steve

[wayneg]

[QUOTE=tasi devil;

I was considering Terra Firmas,
wayneg what did you go for ? & redandy do you still have the Britpart cell's available ?

..........tasi[/QUOTE]

As most of my daily driving is tarmac I decided to stick with Std shocks over gas. I made this decision after long discussions with a few mates with better knowledge than me. I have not got them yet as I will be in the UK in Aug and will get them when there 72 pounds the set, $140. Redandy what do you want for the foam cells?

[redandy3575]

Redandy what do you want for the foam cells?

Well if i told you, my post might get deleted.:D:p. i don't think AULRO like us doing any wheeling dealing umongst friends here:p

Only kidding!! Mate whatever you think is fair for a seconhand hand set. It's only had minimal use of about 4 months worth of driving.

I'll take a few snapshots and post them up here, so stand by.

[redandy3575]

Here you go.

There seems to be 2 washers and a bolt missing, as they weren't included with my terrafirmas.