Installing front shocks ... problem

Bilsteins may be fine on the bitumen, and indeed mine were. But they self immolated on corrugations.

The first sign of trouble was smoke coming from the engine bay. Both Billies looked very unhappy. With no option other than to press on slowly, it was soon apparent that the Billies had let go and the front of the car was wallowing up and down like a boat.

Before too long the left side Billie had completely disintegrated, and managed to jam itself cross way through the spring. It was jammed against the tyre and the car was going nowhere.

Yes, conditions were extreme, but the shocks were less than a year old and this was their first major trip.

I have changed over to Tough Dog adjustables. They have survived the same trip, which makes them a better shock than the Bilstein, but its too soon to comment about their longevity.

I had to laugh at this as my experience is the exact opposite.

In my last Disco I started with tough dog adjustables and they only managed to make it through 1/2 a Simpson trip before the failed to continue dampening properly.
Once back home I ended up forking out the money on the Billstein 994/995 and they were fantastic through another 3 Simpson Trips and a Madigans Line which would be the hardest trip in australia on Shocks.

I think you must have had a faulty pair or they were not valved correctly for the vehicle.


I have just ordered Koni heavy duty shocks for the new Disco. I liked the look of the Raids but after looking around the Koni's HD's had the best stroke while still having the correct closed length.

Dobinson shocks and stock springs are holding up well. No Simpson trips to test them but happy so far might get around to the lifted springs soon. In the shed just need time to make the sliders so family can get in

Adam & Roberto,

Do you have ACE on your vehicles? As I noted earlier, the Bilstein were not suitable for rigs with ACE. This is with reference to their current product for D2s.

Also, I pressed on with some more research outside of the forum and one of the more reputable Land Rover service centres in Brisbane is no longer in the Bilstein game. They have changed to Terrafirma. Apparently to many problems with Bilsteins.

Anyhow, by Monday/Tuesday I will have finalised the transaction for Terrafirma All Terrains. Will let you know the price when it's confirmed but there's going to be a fair bit of spare change to spend on tools (and this is with reference to all that I have looked at).

Regards
Andrew

Yes, I had ACE, never had a problem. The 994/995's were designed in Austrslia specifically for the D2 and only available here.

I looked at Terrafirma this time, but they are just not long enough extended. It is almost pointless having a lift with shocks that ate the same length as standard, your travel will be severely limited.

"not recommended for vehicles with ace?"

How? Why?

Ace is not connected to the shocks, it is a sway bar mechanism. It does not inhibit the up and down motion of the car, the car can freely bounce as much as it likes, the is why d2s with ace had softer springs from the factory to give a more supple ride - ace was an "upmarket" ride experience - this info from LR factory sales site.
ace only assists with turning and uses accelerometers to activate so traveling in a straight line and having wheels go up and down will not activate ace.

Simple to test...drive down a bit of selected track, then return to start. Pull ace fuse and drive the same track again, I doubt you will find any difference in the shock feel......I'm talking straight line here not bendy roads.....and if there is bends, remember your ace is switched off!

If someone can show me factory references to state that special shocks are needed for ace vehicles....because of the ace and NOT the softer spring rates, or valid information to show otherwise, then I doubt that ace would cause any damage to any shocks.......in fact as an afterthought, maybe Bilstein shocks are not valved correctly for the softer springs in the ace vehicles and not anything to do with the ace itself?....an issue which is negated with replacement springs anyway.

If you have springs in your car that are nice around town and give a great comfy ride, then these are more likely to cause your shocky damage on trips when your car is all loaded up......the springs will be way too soft to deal with the extra considerable weight of all your kit. I have a set of medium springs for normal use, and a set of hds for trips....it only takes a short time to change the rears over, front stays same as bar etc stays on....

I have billies with king lifted springs on an ace vehicle.....been on plenty of bumpy roads, nil issues for me sofar.....I love the ride they give too.

Re Terrafirma, I believe their shocks for the D2 are +2" and their Prosport model is available in +3", but as yet they are not available in the remote res series, pity....

.Re Terrafirma, I believe their shocks for the D2 are +2" and their Prosport model is available in +3", but as yet they are not available in the remote res series, pity....


The +2" are still not as long extended as the Koni and not even as long as the extended Bilsteins. I am pretty sure the +3" are to long closed without some modifications.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by walker

.Re Terrafirma, I believe their shocks for the D2 are +2" and their Prosport model is available in +3", but as yet they are not available in the remote res series, pity....


The +2" are still not as long extended as the Koni and not even as long as the extended Bilsteins. I am pretty sure the +3" are to long closed without some modifications.

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I think I remember reading that new bump stops had to be fitted with the +3s...I'll stick to billies anyway:D.

For all interested these are the sites I have referred to for Bilstein

Bilstein*Shocks:*99-04*Discovery Series II (except "ACE" system); Front: Coil / Rear: Coil* - eShocks.com:

Parts catalogue

Regards
Andrew

Aftermarket store, not Bilstein site, site has no reference as to why not suitable for ace.
Does not give link to model that is suitable....

An Internet search will show that this has been questioned many times. Contact with vendors returns a "no idea why they are different", its also been noted that the valving is slightly different, but again no one appears to know why or by how much. Many vendors and others have used bilsteins and other shocks marked "not for ace" for many years with no apparent issues.
The general consensus is that ace has no effect on the shocks.




Cheers