New +2" Shocks from Terrafirma

[mtb_gary]

I'm due for replacement of my existing Off Road Boss shocks and was looking around to see what else is available and came across TF 176 and TF 177 +2" Terrafirma shocks for the p38. The difference between the TF144 and 145,s is that the new ones are 4 stage adjustable....Comfort - standard - firm- and sport.
Has anyone here already got them or know of anyone currently running them?

[TheTree]

Mate

Not sure about the terrafirma shocks but I find the BOSS shocks pretty good. Any reason you are nor going for another set of those?

Regards
Steve

[mtb_gary]

Steve

Just exploring options. The Boss shocks have served well, although now one of them is prety well stuffed, the rebound is dampening iss almost non existant and the adjusters on the shocks have all but seized (range limited between 4 - 7) depending on the shock being adjusted. These are around 5-6 years old, so I'm not too surprised.

[TheTree]

Steve

Just exploring options. The Boss shocks have served well, although now one of them is prety well stuffed, the rebound is dampening iss almost non existant and the adjusters on the shocks have all but seized (range limited between 4 - 7) depending on the shock being adjusted. These are around 5-6 years old, so I'm not too surprised.

I quite like the BOSS shocks but I am having a little trouble with the upper rear bushes, the ones they supplied have failed after some gnarly offroad work and we noticed their bushes are very very hard. I got some nolathane split bushes and installed them, so I will see how they go

I have a terrafirma steering damper which seems to be pretty good ;)

Steve

[Keithy P38]

I'll give the terrafirmas a go when I lift my silver P38. Not too far off!

Cheers
Keithy

[mtb_gary]

I'll give the terrafirmas a go when I lift my silver P38. Not too far off!

Cheers
Keithy

I'm seriously looking at the TF adjustable ones. I wish I could find a local supplier at the right sort of price. I can get them from a couple of UK stores for around $450 for the set delivered. Buying locally the best I have found is around $750 :(

[TheTree]

I'll give the terrafirmas a go when I lift my silver P38. Not too far off!

Cheers
Keithy

I have a pair of BOSS Adjustable for the rear of a lifted P38 sitting around. I bought them by mistake and they are too long for my unlifted beast :(

Not sure that I am going to lift mine so I will be looking to sell them I reckon

Steve

[TheTree]

I'm seriously looking at the TF adjustable ones. I wish I could find a local supplier at the right sort of price. I can get them from a couple of UK stores for around $450 for the set delivered. Buying locally the best I have found is around $750 :(

Ouch :o

[mtb_gary]

My sentiments exactly Steve!

Unfortunately I may have to shop overseas again.

[Keithy P38]

Hopefully it's a case of getting what you paid for?

I found the 144's and 145's to be too firm. The adjustable terrafirmas might just be what's needed!

[DiscoMick]

I'm seriously looking at the TF adjustable ones. I wish I could find a local supplier at the right sort of price. I can get them from a couple of UK stores for around $450 for the set delivered. Buying locally the best I have found is around $750 :(

Have you tried British Offroad on the Sunshine Coast? Be interested to see what they quote.
I'm considering Tough Dogs myself but haven't priced them yet.

Sent from my SM-G900I using AULRO mobile app

[mtb_gary]

DiscoMick

I'll give them a call tomorrow.

[benji]

Kiethy I've found the same thing with the 144/145s - mine is 2.5 tonne exactly and they're still too firm.

I'm pretty sure I'll go the boss adjustables, but a friend who has a delica (similar weight to a p38) has had the tough dog adjustable for a few years and they are fantastic.

Sent from my SM-G900I using AULRO mobile app

[DiscoMick]

Kiethy I've found the same thing with the 144/145s - mine is 2.5 tonne exactly and they're still too firm.

I'm pretty sure I'll go the boss adjustables, but a friend who has a delica (similar weight to a p38) has had the tough dog adjustable for a few years and they are fantastic.

Sent from my SM-G900I using AULRO mobile app

Yes, they're the Tough Dogs I'm attracted to, but it will have to wait until next year when I have done some other things and saved some money.

[prelude]

I did not know about the new terrafirma's so thanks for that!

Currently my range is stripped down to the bones and I am considering going the extra mile by lifting the body from the chassis and replace all the air lines and small stuff like that while I'm at it. I also want to look into the lift part since I already have the arnott gen III's installed. Just waiting for someone on this forum to get that HRA kit out :p

Back on the topic of terrafirma's, apart from them beeing firm, how do they handle currogations? I've read around that the KONI RAID's are the best one van get for the defender, but alas not for the P38. How do they stack up? I might consider the TF adjustables of they are tough enough.

Thanks,
Pascal

[mtb_gary]

They are on order! I finished up ordering from Lifestyle 4x4 here in Perth who are a sponsor of Team W4 Land Rover club. After explaining that the shocks were available for arond $450 for the set delivered to home, Steve took on board the challenge and rang his supplier. I'm not sure what was said but the price dropped close enough to the UK price that I ordered them.
Delivery should be later this week so maybe even get them fitted them over the weekend :D. Once fitted I will of course provide an update.

[prelude]

I just went over to a local 4x4 shop, the largest dutch importer of all-makes, and the list price for these shocks are 82 euros a piece. I'm pretty sure I can get a deal on them if I buy more.

So, here's hoping the HRA lift kit will be shipping soon! Anyone have them fitted yet?

-P

[mtb_gary]

OK first impressions. They look good, large dial to adjust settings (as opposed to the small knurled dial on the Off Road Bosses). First road test - keep in mind I do have a 2" lift and all testing is done at highway height.
Setting 1. Very soft. But absorbs bumps beautifully.
Setting 2. I think this will be my preferred off road setting. Absorbs bumps but still allows quite a lot of roll in corners so not so good for the open road.
Setting 3. Firm but still supple enough to absorb the Australian bumps and small potholes in the local roads. I will be using this for my day to day driving.
Setting 4. Maybe I'm just getting old but this was just too hard to be practical on our roads. On the autobahns through Germany or up and down the M1 it would be ideal but here for me just a bit too firm. On the plus side though cornering is much flatter and direct. Not quite the feeling of bump stops but still too firm for my old bones.
So in summary after 30 minutes of testing I like them. In fairness though the old shocks were stuffed after 6 years of usage.

[prelude]

I have also ordered and begun to install the new Terrafirma's. I am running into a bit of a problem when mounting them though.

As can be seen in the picture Gary provided there are 2 rubber grommets that are held in place by 4 rings, one each side. The nu that is supplied is hand tight on the shock (it's underneath the black cap in the picture) from the factory. However, there is not free space between the parts and the nut just holds on a couple of turns on the thread. When I mount them with the 2 centre metal rings in place there is no way I can get the nut on the thread.

Now, afaik the "cups" the shocks fit into are supposed to just hold the rubber grommet and the metal rings is not needed, or is it?

How am I supposed to mount these things? and how much force should be used to tighten the nut since the rubber will deform quite happily :)

Thanks!

-P

[finallyrangie]

I've just fitted a set of these and they do look the business, I also couldn't work out how to get all the rubbers and washers to fit, I just ended up leaving off the inside washer, you can just about get the nut to start then, seems to work fine.

I had the older terrafirma +2 shocks, they have a much longer thread to allow fitting off all the washers, side by side there is obviously no way it will all fit on the new ones.

[mtb_gary]

A few pics of the bottom of my shocks with nut tightened up a bit

129674
Rear

129675
Rear

129676
Front