new suspension is this a good deal

[rsrichie]

i am looking at putting new springs and shocks in my disco so far the best i can find for the price is F&R King springs +40mm heavy duty for $265.00 all up and i wanted to to go with the rancho 5000 shocks which come in at $520.00 all up is this a decent price, does any one know of where i might get a better price. Im not fussed about spring brand but i do want somthing half decent and i definatly want the ranchos (good past experiance)
Any help would be appreciated. https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

[tombraider]

Kings = Good

Rancho = Bad

Avoid Rancho like the plague.... Go Procomp ES9000, OME, TJM but not Rancho. Guy will supply $500.00 in any length you want to suit your lift.

Cheers
Mike

[Tikirocker]

Mind you, there are people out there who hate Pro-Comp with a passion and call them cheap **** also. Food for thought.

[DaveS3]

Ridepro shocks or OME. My mates have had a good runs from Rancho. So I wouldnt rule them out.
Rangie Spares/LRA will do springs to suit what you are actually after. Don't just buy 'off the shelf' stuff like Kings.

Dave.

[rsrichie]

What is wrong with rancho?
According to the rancho site all those brands you have mentioned are mass produced by a cheap supplier and branded by the various companies they wouldnt say that if it wasnt true as they would be sued.
Im just trying to get to the bottom of these beliefs and get the best value for money.
Who is it that can supply shocks for $500?

cheers

[Tikirocker]

Personally I would back Old Man Emu or Monroes ... Monroes were stock on my Landy when I bought it and were the bog standard shock going way back.

[tombraider]

Originally posted by rsrichie
What is wrong with rancho?
According to the rancho site all those brands you have mentioned are mass produced by a cheap supplier and branded by the various companies they wouldnt say that if it wasnt true as they would be sued.
Im just trying to get to the bottom of these beliefs and get the best value for money.
Who is it that can supply shocks for $500?

cheers

OK, yes the Rancho site market well and they're right. Rancho does have its own manufacturing facility.

Owned by Tenneco Automotive Group (sound familiar) Tenneco are the owners of Monroe as well.

Its called outsourcing, a shock absorber manufacturer is fully tooled to build shock absorbers. A seal company to manufacture seals. A steel supply company to manufacture chrome bar.

ARB, through OME Brand design and spec their own shocks. They then have a manufacturer make those shocks to their specifications. Recently they designed a new piston velocity valve which is OME property. Monroe build and assemble the shocks but OME owns the design.

Monroe also build the LTR for ARB, its built by hand on a specially constructed line by select personel. Every component in these shocks is audited weekly to ensure quality and quantity are correct (no parts go missing etc..)

They also spec their own spring rates, lengths etc.... And go to a spring manufacturer for these to be wound to their specifications (in this case King Springs) and coated black.

Tough Dog have their shocks from the Truck catalog in America. However their springs are also made by Kings and coated grey.

TJM has their coils done the same way, remain yellow and then sell a shock called an XGS. This is a Copak shock from Brazil.

Arguably they are their own products, manufactured to their specifications and then onsold by each company. Economy of scale allows them to be price competitive at resale.

Now, reasons against Rancho...

Personally - They suck!

But seriously, the valving is not suited to each vehicle, its just a this will do valving. I've never had a shock fade on me as quick as my RS9XXX shocks did in my discovery. 10 minutes on the Ngarkat Border Run and my front shocks were gone (this was on the hardest setting - I started at 3 and had to wind to max) nothing ruins a trip like crashing the front end every bump. None of the OME vehicles had this issue.

The shocks are foam celled, when they do get hot the foam degrades. Once they cool they are never the same, this continues through heating and cooling cycles and they degrade over and over.

A gas charged or remote shock will possibly fade, but will come back once they cool down a little. Foam cells do not.

Regarding springs, Les Richmond has his springs made by Browns springs in Melb. they will make a pair of springs, to your spec -height etc (or they will help you) for $135.00 a pair.

Best of luck!

Cheers
Mike

[Tikirocker]

Mike,

Monroe were around in the 70's which predates OME and whoever own them now I believe, either way Monroe have always been a great shock and well regarded in OZ - I agree with your assessment on Rancho and the same word comes back from others I know about Pro Comp also!

Just a quick question re those spring makers ... when you say $135 a pair I assume you mean coils and not leafers?

Best, Si.

[tombraider]

Si

Your absolutely right! Back in the day it was Monroe Whylie and my family has had dealings with this company from the very beginning of its origins.

I've been personally involved in the design and modification of several pieces of manufacturing equipment and even shock absorber seal design at their plant.

Remember, valving must work with spring rates to be effective. This is where the 'package deal' players win with the general public.

I have a collection of custom valves here for my LTRs that I chop and change as I continue to refine my own setups using custom coils etc...

And yes $135.00 is for coilies sorry..

Cheers
Mike

[lrdef110]

I have to agree with Tombraider. I tried them on my Defender but they just didn't suit the vehicle. Didn't like them and they didn't stay on long.

Barry.

[stevo]

had rancho's on my disco but no longer they were no good,faded very quickly and very little resistance on rebound,the adjustment only works on compression.I had the in cab adjustment this gave me grief tended to spring a leak every time I went off road.

Fitted bilstiens and put the rancho's in the rubbish bin and one of them had failed had hardly no resistance,as the above posts have said just good marketing.

[Slunnie]

I also agree with Tombraider on his assessment of Rancho. I've been through a couple of sets, so have given them a fair go. They last about 15 mins in my case on rough roads - then they're shot. Once they've overheated they don't recover.

Bilstein have been brilliant for me. No fade, outstanding damping.

[rick130]

Absolutely agree with Tombraider, Rancho's are a triumph of marketing over substance. ?You can do much better https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

[rsrichie]

ok well i guess i wont be going for the rancho's given this info, I will have to do some more shopping around and see what else i can find within my budget and try to match the shock to the spring. Just one more question i plan on lifting the disco by 2-3 inches depending on the spring/shock combo i can get, Is there anything i should be carefull of with this lift, like caster angles etc.

[MickG]

Originally posted by rsrichie
ok well i guess i wont be going for the rancho's given this info, I will have to do some more shopping around and see what else i can find within my budget and try to match the shock to the spring. Just one more question i plan on lifting the disco by 2-3 inches depending on the spring/shock combo i can get, Is there anything i should be carefull of with this lift, like caster angles etc.

I believe anything up to the 2" lift mark you will be fine and nothing needs adjusting - I didn't have to adjust anything, I am redoing my current OME 40mm lift to hopefully end up with a true 2.5" lift and will be modifying my sway bar mounts, x member etc to accomodate the extra droop. At this stage, I am likely to fit King springs with Bilstein custom valved shocks.

Hope this helps and good luck

[timberwolf_302]

Bilstein all the way! https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

[alexcd]

I run ridepro in my rangie and think that for $110 ea they are great.
I also us Kings springs (2" lift) and for me they are too hard. I'd go for Rangie Spares ones for the extra $$ and they let you change them if your not happy.

[HSVRangie]

springs Les richmond motors. Best selection going and know what they talking about.

Browns springs (Melb) make for LRA will do custom spring to your requirments.

shocks.
Bilstien.
Koni

ome
ect




rancho = crap

Michael.

[rsrichie]

Has anyone had any experiance with "RALPH" 53mm shocks as i have been offered these with tough dog springs (made by King i believe) for $1100.00 all up. I have taken heed with all the advise you have all so kindly offered but this offer was made to me yesterday afternoon and it sounded to be a good price. What do you think?

[Horace]

Be wary about what you ask for. I'm on my 3rd set of springs and none have been as comfortable as the originals. The current ones (Lovells) are so stiff in the rear that the back wheels actually bounce in the air over bumps. And I especially asked for soft springs as I also fitted Polyairs. I've never had the Polyairs above the base psi. I've got Koni shocks.

Previously I had OME's springs and shocks all around, rode better than the Lovells but harsher than the originals.

Each full set has cost around teh $1,000 mark, so $1,100 isn't unreasonable.

Mine is a 99 Defender 110 though, don't know if that makes a difference.

Due to the accessories, mine leans to the right and droops at the front right corner especially. Every shock I've fitted there blows and I've now bent the retaining plate at the axle end of the shock.

Does anybody have any ideas on squaring up my beast?

[rick130]

Horace, you have to be a little careful with the aftermarket spring crowds, often their rates are 10-20% stiffer than stock.
Andrew at Les Richmond Automotive knows Land Rovers and can advise what rates and heights you actually need for what you do.

FWIW, I've measured up one set of Lovells in the rear of a 130 and they were 540lb/in vs 330lb/in for original main spring.

[Andrewpv01]

I have had to return one of the rear shocks on my Discovery.
I found out when I checking things last weekend before going away that the stud at the bottom had snapped off.
I was told when I took it back on Tuesday that there would be a replacement one here today. Now it seems they are out of stock at their warehouse until early next week and he had to send the old one back. (He took me out the back initially to see if he had any in there to replace it immediately)
I thank I might have trouble getting it replaced now, and I certainly don't do anything too hard with the Disco.
I won't say what brand it is, but it is white https://www.aulro.com/afvb/
I put one of the old Billsteins(sp?) back on and when it was tightened up it seemed to work better than the new ones. Now I know I didn't need to replace them for rego - just put new rubbers on.

Andrew

[Tikirocker]

Originally posted by rick130
Horace, you have to be a little careful with the aftermarket spring crowds, often their rates are 10-20% stiffer than stock.

FWIW, I've measured up one set of Lovells in the rear of a 130 and they were 540lb/in vs 330lb/in for original main spring.

Damn right ... the previous owner of my S2A 88 had new springs made by Lovells years ago and the rear leaf springs of my 88 are rated in and around 540lb's!!!!!! for an 88!!!!! I'll be doing my own custom leaf spring conversion in the near future and have a hand in the ratings this time since when I was driving it before the restoration you felt every bump go through your spine!

[Andrewpv01]

Originally posted by Tikirocker+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tikirocker)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-rick130
Horace, you have to be a little careful with the aftermarket spring crowds, often their rates are 10-20% stiffer than stock.

FWIW, I've measured up one set of Lovells in the rear of a 130 and they were 540lb/in vs 330lb/in for original main spring.

Damn right ... the previous owner of my S2A 88 had new springs made by Lovells years ago and the rear leaf springs of my 88 are rated in and around 540lb's!!!!!! for an 88!!!!! I'll be doing my own custom leaf spring conversion in the near future and have a hand in the ratings this time since when I was driving it before the restoration you felt every bump go through your spine![/b][/quote]

Tikirocker
Maybe you could take a couple (or more) of the leaves off the Lovells and re use them?

Andrew

[Tikirocker]

Thats what I plan to do mate, I'm going to follow a friends lead and customize my leaf springs by removing a few and having them re-set. If you have a look at my other thread showing my project vehicle you can see a pic in that thread of his truck which has superior articulation to a truck with parabolics! https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

http://www.aulro.com/modules.php?name=Foru...ewtopic&t=11104 (http://www.aulro.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=11104)

Best, Si.

[Martin]

OME - and I have not yet heard a bad word said about them by anyone who has them fitted to any vehicle.

A friend fitted tough dog in his Pajero, and they lasted one trip and he had the garage take them out, and he swapped to OME, and is now very happy. I think the dogs had a manufacturing defect, but once botten twice shy...

[noddy]

Bilsteins have been brillant. Will be going back.

We have absolutely flogged them to death (Transcontinental Railway, Kimberelys, Arnhem Land, Cape, Central Oz) and they are still Ok. In terms of comparison, the Konis on the trailer finally gave up the ghost after Central Oz.

Yes they are expensive, but you get what you pay for. Handling is vastly improved compared with the standard kit.

Got LRA springs on the front (rear is standard with polyairs) and they are now starting to sag a bit.

[Horace]

Originally posted by Tikirocker+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tikirocker)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-rick130
Horace, you have to be a little careful with the aftermarket spring crowds, often their rates are 10-20% stiffer than stock.

FWIW, I've measured up one set of Lovells in the rear of a 130 and they were 540lb/in vs 330lb/in for original main spring.

Damn right ... the previous owner of my S2A 88 had new springs made by Lovells years ago and the rear leaf springs of my 88 are rated in and around 540lb's!!!!!! for an 88!!!!! I'll be doing my own custom leaf spring conversion in the near future and have a hand in the ratings this time since when I was driving it before the restoration you felt every bump go through your spine![/b][/quote]

Funny you should say that, I went down the Canning last year with the Lovells in place and while the car survived fine, I broke just about every crate and water container I had in the back due to the thumping we were getting over the corrugations. One of our friends following reckoned we were getting the back wheels 2 feet off the ground over the corrugations when ascending the sand dunes.

[Tikirocker]

Originally posted by Horace+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Horace)</div><div class='quotemain'>
Originally posted by Tikirocker@
<!--QuoteBegin-rick130
Horace, you have to be a little careful with the aftermarket spring crowds, often their rates are 10-20% stiffer than stock.

FWIW, I've measured up one set of Lovells in the rear of a 130 and they were 540lb/in vs 330lb/in for original main spring.

Damn right ... the previous owner of my S2A 88 had new springs made by Lovells years ago and the rear leaf springs of my 88 are rated in and around 540lb's!!!!!! for an 88!!!!! I'll be doing my own custom leaf spring conversion in the near future and have a hand in the ratings this time since when I was driving it before the restoration you felt every bump go through your spine!

Funny you should say that, I went down the Canning last year with the Lovells in place and while the car survived fine, I broke just about every crate and water container I had in the back due to the thumping we were getting over the corrugations. One of our friends following reckoned we were getting the back wheels 2 feet off the ground over the corrugations when ascending the sand dunes.[/b][/quote]

We have the same springs! 8O https://www.aulro.com/afvb/