EAS shocks

[Chivalry]

I've noticed recently that the highway stability of my soft dash is getting worse and the ride at any speed seems to be getting more harsh over bumps too. I did put all new Airbag Man bellows in a while ago which at first rode beautifully but lately it is wallowing around at highway speeds with very light steering and is almost jarring over bumps on the highway and over speed bumps at low speed. It's gradually been getting worse and it's now at the point where I am losing confidence in safety at 80+KM/H.

As far as I can tell it currently has Armstrong or OEM shocks which are about 80,000kms old. The first thing I am doing is replacing the Armstrong steering damper with a Bilstein to hopefully get some feeling/stability in the steering back and after new tyres (Pirelli Scorpion Verde All Season 235/70/16) in the next week or two I would like to get either Bilstein or Koni shocks, unless someone has another opinion of shocks well suited to EAS. I'd also be interested in hearing if certain poly bushes do anything to tighten steering feel but not compromise ride quality too much.

I'm not going to do a coil conversion at any time with the car but there is no way that the EAS should ride and handle as poorly as mine currently is.


So any experience with shocks for EAS specifically is what I am after, if the Koni raids are absolutely worth it over Bilsteins with EAS and if there is any other options. Also any experience with a partial or full poly bush replacement would be appreciated. I'm not going offroading so don't care for articulation nitpicking or sand/mud wearing rubber bushes more quickly. I really just want to make the EAS as comfortable and as safe as I possibly can.

[Grumbles]

To my knowledge genuine shocks are still available from franchised Land Rover dealers...and reasonably priced as well.

There is no way I would put any poly bushes on my EAS Classic. The way I think of the EAS is that at considerable cost Land Rover designed the suspension to act as a unified whole with each component playing a predetermined role as part of a team. Change one part to non factory spec and the system will not work as it was designed for.

[superquag]

If we're talking about The Lady Sarah, the shocks on her were purchased as 'OEM' / for EAS - around $60 each? - from a LR dealer up around Morley way (Having a Senior's Moment, can't think of the name...) They should still have a mileage scribbled on them, when fitted , and, they made a slight difference, but not enough to get excited over. Have no idea what KONI et al would do to the ride / handling.

I was never over-impressed with her 'highway' (directional) stability compared to my old Pajero. I put it down to being acclimatized to the Paj's torsion front suspension / leaf-rears. The small diameter soft-dash steering wheel also annoyed me, but to be fair, the Paj was 5cm wider. - And 5cm deeper, come to think of it.

Agree. changing the bushes to poly could lead you up the Garden Path. The suspension [B]is meant to be soft and compliant, if for no other reason than preserving your noggin... with the lack of headroom, you cannot afford to be bounced around to any extent... Poly is great for hard work or hooning.. not cruising. Indeed, doing a 100% rubbers/bushes/etc changeover would be my first suggestion. From memory, around $200 average from England.

Replacing the dampers would be my third... setting up the swivel hubs should be the second step. I never did it during her time with me, and I'm sure the PO didn't either. Also inspect the uni joints on the steering column shaft, and maybe the steering box adjusted. No reason, just like to start at the root cause and work from there. Pitman arm is also 'original' so it might be close to it's Best -Before date. NO suspension or steering joint was replaced by me.