Dobinsons Shocks, who uses them?

[stevo68]

G'day all,

Well after an almost 9mth wait, I am soon able to start my first mods to Smokey...guess that makes me the bandit :cool:...anyhoo off track on my own thread. I am looking at a couple of options, one is Dobinson shocks and lovell springs. Anyone have any experience with them.

Have also looked at Bilsteins and EFS....so any experience with them would be good as well. I am looking to get a lift kit for the SLS from 4x4 intelligence and myself and mates are going to do the lift.....beer and bbq for those fella's. On one quote I have looked at there is about a $400 diff between the bilsteins and the dobinsons...but at this stage going dobinsons keeps the lift under $1k...bilsteins over $1k.....is the extra $400 worth it?? Thanks in advance for thoughts etc,

Regards

Stevo

[Redback]

Personnaly i'd go with the Lovells package of springs and shocks, but hey just my opinion;)

Just so you know you'll need spring compressors for installing Lovells 2" lift springs.

Baz.

[Slunnie]

Bilsteins will be in completely different league to the Dobinson (or Lovells) rebadged from somewhere shocks. This will be in both design and quality. I also think that shocks make the biggest difference to ride and handling.

Shane from Suspensionstuff would be really helpful with Lovells, Dobinson (who makes his spec springs), Bilstein etc etc etc and is somewhere up your way.

https://www.suspensionstuff.com.au/shop/index.php?cPath=27_94_113&osCsid=t48m36uo5jt0nce55t1abrguu1

[Redback]

Bilsteins will be in completely different league to the Dobinson (or Lovells) rebadged from somewhere shocks. This will be in both design and quality. I also think that shocks make the biggest difference to ride and handling.

Shane from Suspensionstuff would be really helpful with Lovells, Dobinson (who makes his spec springs), Bilstein etc etc etc and is somewhere up your way.

https://www.suspensionstuff.com.au/shop/index.php?cPath=27_94_113&osCsid=t48m36uo5jt0nce55t1abrguu1

I think Dob/Lov shocks are made by Monroe, as is OME, Browns and so on, Bilsteins are a great shock though.

Just a side note Simon can you give me the valving specs for your please, i need my billies rebuilt and was going to your valving, i get to much rebound with mine with the standard valving.

Baz.

[stevo68]

Thanks Baz...am open to suggestions as well :). Hey Slunnie...yep have emailed Shane as was in touch 5 mths ago when I was looking at doing something. Now it is weeks, so getting him to give me cost configurations on the dobinsons and bilsteins, but interested in peoples thoughts on who uses them and whats better/ worse/ indiffferent about those and any set ups.

Regards

Stevo

[Slunnie]

I think Dob/Lov shocks are made by Monroe, as is OME, Browns and so on, Bilsteins are a great shock though.

Just a side note Simon can you give me the valving specs for your please, i need my billies rebuilt and was going to your valving, i get to much rebound with mine with the standard valving.

Baz.
No probs.

I've got 360/80 in the front (actually just standard Bilstein GQ/GU rears) and this puts a lot of control into the front. The rears were 360/80 and were really good for ride when empty but too soft to control it when loaded. I've now got 400/100 which gives outstanding control when loaded or empty but stiff when unloaded and the tank is empty - these will need polybushes as the rubber wont last long due to the rates.

This is with 230lb/in fronts, 300-340lb/in rears, TD5 auto ACE, F&R bars, low mount, 4x4 Intelligence sliders, rear dual batt, shelves, barrier, LR tank. With the 360/80 rears it would squirrel a bit between under/over steer. With the 400/100 it is balanced on dirt, turns in and will have slight oversteer but it does not snap, and so far has been quite controllable even in loaded emergency swerves. Corrgations and fast dirt it will eat with ease and no other D2 will have the same handling that you'll have. I like a stiff controlled ride, but Tombie I think has trialled a softer shock rate all round - I'm not sure what his judgement on that is.

[Redback]

Thanks Simon, my shocks rebound way too quickly, which causes it to jump when offroad, when loaded with the trailer on they are good but without the trailer the shocks rebound way too fast.

The fronts are good, Procomps from Shane, but mine is setup a bit different to yours on the front, mine having D1 mounts.

Baz.

[Slunnie]

Thanks Simon, my shocks rebound way too quickly, which causes it to jump when offroad, when loaded with the trailer on they are good but without the trailer the shocks rebound way too fast.

The fronts are good, Procomps from Shane, but mine is setup a bit different to yours on the front, mine having D1 mounts.

Baz.
Ah yes of course. Apart from the shock mount, that alters the ride height by about 10mm too I think. Actually, not wishing to sidetrack the thread.... do also run front springs that are ground at the bottom or D2 fronts?

[Grover-98]

Get Dobinson springs they are an extremely high quality spring, and you could complement these with lovele shocks. If you do this the kit will cost you $720 from www.suspensionstuff.com.au :D

[Wortho]

Dobinson and Lovell shocks last i saw them were foam cell shocks which i would steer clear of, good shocks do make a difference and if the difference is only a couple hundred wait a couple weeks longer and get the better quality. In a few years you won't miss the money but you'll love you suspension, why spend money on something that may do the job thats a waste, spend once and enjoy for longer.

[Yorkie]

the lovells shocks are gas charged :D
stevo check out the other thread with more glowing reviews of shane's work:cool:

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/discovery/68571-d2-2-lift.html

[tony]

Only ever used Billies untill just recentley, when on a recomendation from

a mate went and spoke to Martin at Dobsons Narrellan, he fixed me up

with a set of Dobsons 2" lift coils and shocks and I can say there as good

as the Billies if not better it was a bit of stuffing around as I had to weigh

the axles empty then agian when loaded but the end result is well worth it

[Redback]

Ah yes of course. Apart from the shock mount, that alters the ride height by about 10mm too I think. Actually, not wishing to sidetrack the thread.... do also run front springs that are ground at the bottom or D2 fronts?

Same springs as yours F & R, just the shock mounts that are D1.

Sorry Steve

Baz.

[streaky]

I use Dobs springs and shocks for fast off road use in my Discovery I...the truck is normally quite heaviliy loaded too.

After four years they are still behaiving very well and I wouldn't hesitate to replace them with another set of the same specs.

Money well spent IMHO.

[Tank]

Thanks Baz...am open to suggestions as well :). Hey Slunnie...yep have emailed Shane as was in touch 5 mths ago when I was looking at doing something. Now it is weeks, so getting him to give me cost configurations on the dobinsons and bilsteins, but interested in peoples thoughts on who uses them and whats better/ worse/ indiffferent about those and any set ups.

Regards

Stevo
I went with Bilstien shocks, because when they do wear out you can have them rebuilt for the cost of a set of inferior shocks, and of course the Superb ride and handling of the Bilstiens, Regards Frank.

[stevo68]

Thanks for all the feedback, mucho appreciado. At this stage am leaning towards the Dobinson Shocks and coils....as I also need to get a lift kit for the SLS. Plus I need to get it past SWMBO as will be getting new tyres all round as well. Man am almost like a child waiting for Santa to come...have waited a looonnnnnngggg time to get muddies as never could on the D3, and have since waited again for the D2 to take it from looking like a stocker to take it to something where I can play off road more comfortably with a better set up and tyres and suspension are first cabs off the rank.

Regards

Stevo