Shock absorbers Import options, Koni, Bilstein, etc

[slug_burner]

Hello,

Given that the Aus $ is up I though i might treat the defender to a new set of shock absorbers.

Anyone imported/purchased on line from O/S. Any recommendations on sellers.

I don't want to start a Koni vs Bilstein, Holden vs Ford type of discussions just want to hear about good suppliers of good shocks for a defender for work on corrugations etc.

Thanks

[discoveryseries1]

Hello,

Given that the Aus $ is up I though i might treat the defender to a new set of shock absorbers.

Anyone imported/purchased on line from O/S. Any recommendations on sellers.

I don't want to start a Koni vs Bilstein, Holden vs Ford type of discussions just want to hear about good suppliers of good shocks for a defender for work on corrugations etc.

Thanks
not sure if this is what you want to hear, but i just put in a set of old man emue and i wll never fit any thing elts, they are a smasher, i used to bump over a speed hump at 20 k and it woudl break my balls, now i can smash it at 60 k and no dramas, it just floats off road. i was in a new toyota at work and the ride was so crap it was insane, i asked the driver how mey ks it had and he said only 35000 (not to put toyota down) but it was just a compleatly smother ride. if you bought old man emu you wouldent regret it, i have spent 12 grand in one hit upgrading my 4wd and the ome was omong the best value for money. good tip, get a steering stabilizer too. it will feel like a whole new ride, they come with a 3 year warenty on shocks and 2 on the springs. ( arb)
cheers, jeff.

[Psimpson7]

To an extent I would recommend OME ones also, as when they work they are excellent, but I run LTR's and they are quite high maintenence.

I will be changing to 7100 series Bilsteins at some point.

Rgds
Pete

[Slunnie]

Hello,

Given that the Aus $ is up I though i might treat the defender to a new set of shock absorbers.

Anyone imported/purchased on line from O/S. Any recommendations on sellers.

I don't want to start a Koni vs Bilstein, Holden vs Ford type of discussions just want to hear about good suppliers of good shocks for a defender for work on corrugations etc.

Thanks
I haven't used them, but I was under the impression that eshocks in the USA is good.

Bilstein Shocks, Edelbrock Shocks and more: eShocks.com (http://www.eshocks.com/)

[Signal1]

I recommend Truckspring.com (http://www.truckspring.com/). I've bought a set of Firestone Helper Springs about six months ago. Seem reasonable and good communicators; will look up non listed items and answer questions.

[flagg]

I've been watching the dollar and eyeing off eshocks as well.. and while I have not ever purchased anything from them directly they have come up a few times on the forum with people saying good things about them.

Only thing that has stopped me to date is whether to get the +2 inch in case I want to go down that path or not..

Assuming combined freight is cheaper would anyone be interested in a potentially combining an order? I'm in Sydney.

[dmdigital]

I've been looking in to this for a set of shocks and if I go ahead I'll have to split the order or pay the import duty and handling fees. If I split the order I pay extra shipping so either way I loose out and I'm only saving about $200 maximum.

Thinking I might get a pair of HD shock turrets and rings though. Any suggestions? The Devon 4x4 look good.

[Crackerjack]

Thinking I might get a pair of HD shock turrets and rings though. Any suggestions? The Devon 4x4 look good.


I have a set of the Devon shock turrets, very good piece of kit, very strong. I have Rancho 9000's (non Gas) on my Discovery which are quite comfy and adjustable, also have some DeCarbons (Gas pressurised) which are also very good, but the ones I have I find a bit hard.

[slug_burner]

I've been watching the dollar and eyeing off eshocks as well.. and while I have not ever purchased anything from them directly they have come up a few times on the forum with people saying good things about them.

Only thing that has stopped me to date is whether to get the +2 inch in case I want to go down that path or not..

Assuming combined freight is cheaper would anyone be interested in a potentially combining an order? I'm in Sydney.

Unfortunately the cost is such that when combined it might attract duties. Anything over $1000 including shipping costs and you will be subject to GST etc.

[Reads90]

not sure if this is what you want to hear, but i just put in a set of old man emue and i wll never fit any thing elts, they are a smasher, i used to bump over a speed hump at 20 k and it woudl break my balls, now i can smash it at 60 k and no dramas, it just floats off road. i was in a new toyota at work and the ride was so crap it was insane, i asked the driver how mey ks it had and he said only 35000 (not to put toyota down) but it was just a compleatly smother ride. if you bought old man emu you wouldent regret it, i have spent 12 grand in one hit upgrading my 4wd and the ome was omong the best value for money. good tip, get a steering stabilizer too. it will feel like a whole new ride, they come with a 3 year warenty on shocks and 2 on the springs. ( arb)
cheers, jeff.


I would agree and say Old man Emu are the best. I have had Koni and Biltens and they are not that good. I have used them racing landies and for winch challenges. And on both cases OME came out on top and proform alot better . And in many cases were cheaper . Even in the Uk

[wally]

You could try Bilstein - KYB - Rancho - Monroe - Edelbrock Automotive Truck Shocks and Struts - Shockwarehouse.com (http://www.shockwarehouse.com). I bought a Bilstien steering damper through them and found them very good. I noticed they have 10% off Billies at the moment. With the current exchange rate you should get a good deal.

[Tombie]

I haven't used them, but I was under the impression that eshocks in the USA is good.

Bilstein Shocks, Edelbrock Shocks and more: eShocks.com (http://www.eshocks.com/)

I have used them, thrice! And they have been brilliant to deal with....

Be advised, when purchasing the first time, they will ask for a fax from you with your D/Licence photo etc...
Its a small hassle, and there to protect both you and them from fraud.

But I cannot say enough about their quality of service and speed of delivery.
(5 days to my door)


And FYI, I run 7100 series long travel, short body shocks

[Signal1]

And FYI, I run 7100 series long travel, short body shocks

Would you recommend 7100 Series for a D2 w/out ACE and what length. I'm looking at the eshock site but the lengths - I don't get.

I have a '00 D2 with ARB Bar, bash plate and up back I have dual batteries, cargo barrier and recovery kit. I use Firestone helpers in the rear springs. I'm looking at the Bilstein BE5-6046-H0 (F) & BE5-6047-H0 (R) from eshock and then source local King springs. Do I need to decide on spring length and lb before choosing the shock rate and length?

Sorry for hijack!

Thanks,
Peter

[Tombie]

Would you recommend 7100 Series for a D2 w/out ACE and what length. I'm looking at the eshock site but the lengths - I don't get.

I have a '00 D2 with ARB Bar, bash plate and up back I have dual batteries, cargo barrier and recovery kit. I use Firestone helpers in the rear springs. I'm looking at the Bilstein BE5-6046-H0 (F) & BE5-6047-H0 (R) from eshock and then source local King springs. Do I need to decide on spring length and lb before choosing the shock rate and length?

Sorry for hijack!

Thanks,
Peter

24" open, short body (10") for a 2" lift

Rates, 278 front, 380 rear for a moderately controlled ride.
If heavily loaded, 400/80 rears will be good, but stiff when empty

[PAT303]

You can buy Koni's cheap here,I've bought two sets,one for the disco and one for the defender and paid $700 for 4.They are a really good shock in rebound. Pat

[Slunnie]

If heavily loaded, 400/80 rears will be good, but stiff when empty
Would you do 400/80 or 400/100?

[Tombie]

Would you do 400/80 or 400/100?

OOpppsss!

400/100 good spot Slunnie :angel:

[Slunnie]

OOpppsss!

400/100 good spot Slunnie :angel:
On no thats cool. I thought you may have found the 400/80 to give better control over the 360/80, but with less harshness when compared to the 400/100 - but I wasn't quite sure how well the balance between bump/rebound worked.

[slug_burner]

Thanks Guys,

I had a look at both e-shocks and truck springs,

Truck Spring do Bilsteins, e-shock do both Bilsteins and Koni

US$470.40 for the Koni 30-1311/30-1312
US$300.00 for Bilsteins B46-0243-M0/B46-0253-M0 US$75 ea (trucksprings have them at US$87.62 ea)
The 7100 short body (remote resevoir) are around the US$180 each for approx US$720 for 4.

Tombie,
In your description for a D2 with +2" lift when you say 10" is that travel or body?



at xe.com the current exchange rate has that at AS$510.20 if shipping comes in at $190 then it is about the same as PAT303 has managed to get them here is AS.

The 7100s will set you back approx AS$780 plus postage. And if you want to get the blackhawk 9300 brace yourself they are about US$2k per corner:eek:

The 7100 look like a sweet deal.

Anyone with Defender recommendations?

I must say for the people with OME which I take to be Old Man Emu recommendations, thanks. It might be some sort of snobbery but I had not though of OME as in the same league as the two German brands, it is good to know that OME are thought of highly by people who have had experience with the German brands as well. Food for thought:o I expect that OME will come in at about the 7100 price

[dmdigital]

As I think I've mentioned I'm running Koni HT's in my Tdi Defender and they are very good. I'm looking at going the whole way and putting Koni Raids in the Puma.

From what I've seen the OME in the Defender are a lot better than the ones in the Disco's. I ran OME in both my D1 and D2 and they would go about twice as far as the genuine shocks before starting to fade. IMO they are a better than average shock but you can do better.

The other thing I like about Koni over Bilstien is they are a twin tube design and so the shock body isn't as vulnerable to stone damage on the back of the Defender.

[flagg]

For a D2:


24" open, short body (10") for a 2" lift

Rates, 278 front, 380 rear for a moderately controlled ride.

Anyone with Defender recommendations?


Id like to strap in some 7100s on my Isuzu 110 - does anyone have some recommendations on open / closed lengths and damp rates?

Cheers :)

[Furka]

...

[gmeddy]

anyone have an opinion on this?
LAND ROVER DEFENDER 90 110 130 R.T.C STEERING DAMPER - eBay Other, Suspension, Steering, Car Parts, Accessories, Cars, Bikes, Boats. (end time 12-Apr-10 23:47:07 AEST) (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/LAND-ROVER-DEFENDER-90-110-130-R-T-C-STEERING-DAMPER_W0QQitemZ370359300026QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_ Car_Parts_Accessories?hash=item563b226fba)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

[landfish]

anyone have an opinion on this?
LAND ROVER DEFENDER 90 110 130 R.T.C STEERING DAMPER - eBay Other, Suspension, Steering, Car Parts, Accessories, Cars, Bikes, Boats. (end time 12-Apr-10 23:47:07 AEST) (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/LAND-ROVER-DEFENDER-90-110-130-R-T-C-STEERING-DAMPER_W0QQitemZ370359300026QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_ Car_Parts_Accessories?hash=item563b226fba)
http://www.4wd1.com/Images/ebay/tddamper.jpg


I had a TD RTC damper on my Defender, worked well when I first installed it, until I had a wheel alignment done, and then the car never drove straight again (even after adjusting the thing literally 5 separate times).

Also replaced all the tie rod ends and rebuilt the pitman arm balljoint at the same time as installation, and they only lasted around 15k. I put the premature wear down to extra pressure being exerted on the balljoints by the spring.

IMO you would be better off spending the money on a good quality HD damper, without the return to centre spring.

Cheers.

[SA88Rangie]

King Shocks, Not cheap, fully rebuildable/servicable in Aus
I have them on my NavaraD40, 2.5 Inch Piston
http://www.kingshocks.com/perfkits.php?action=performance_kits
:)