Thread: gas v oil shocks

no expert on it by any means but i always felt oil filled shocks were more comfortable (less jerky shall we say) than gas shocks

i never did hard core or massive miles on corrugations

cheers

Originally Posted by laney

As I had previously posted I am thinking of replacing my shocks and springs I was going to put oil shocks on similar to ome. Now I was about to order oil shocks when my mate said gas shocks are wat better because they will no fade like oil shocks as I said in previous post this car doesn't do hard core off roading just bush tracks. sealed and unsealed roads so now that he has completely confused me what are other people using. Is what you are using giving you a smooth ride or do gas shocks firm up the ride to much as I was told.
Thanks Phil.

I guess it depends too on the load you carry, bull bar, winch etc. I didn’t drive on crazy tracks in my D2 but did hammer it over corrugations at high speed. I had gas shocks after the originals and I felt they assisted to stop the Disco bottoming out when it… landed. But I had also lifted it 50mm with a slightly higher duty spring setup.
Personally I like the gas and given you can squash them in easily by hand I’d say it’s the valving in the shocky that adjusts the ride rather than the gas itself - you can probably get “soft” or adjustable gas shocks.
If you’re happy with how it’s been so far and/or $ an issue the hydraulic type are fine though.

There are two types of gas.
Single wall -Bilstein and double wall (just about everything else)where the gas is held between the inner and outer walls. This also applies to "foam" shocks where foam is used as anti foam rather than gas.
Bilstein advantage is more cooling as the heat only has to radiate through one wall. Disadvantage _ dent the wall and shock is kaput.

Oil shocks fade more than gas shocks as the gas pressure reduces foaming which is what makes an oil shock go limp on corrugations, however if they are good quality they recover when they cool.

I currently for about 40K have had Monroe Gas Magnum shocks and they seem to do the job. No leaks and still damp. They have done the GRR .

My only advice is to buy a shock that has the makers name on it like Monroe, Koni, KYB, Bilstein, or even Girling, or Sachs . Even ARB AFAIK are not made by ARB. They used to be made by Monroe but that has changed.

Most other shocks around are made by COFAP in Brazil or some Chinese maker and just branded by the seller.

You do not need stiff shocks in Australia as corrugation can cause "pump up" on stiff shocks where they gradually pump up until no suspension travel is left. Many years ago Graeme Cooper advised me to get Bilstein "comfort" shocks rather than "sport" due to this factor. I listened and was happy with them until I dented one.
Regards PhilipA

Thanks all I have brought a set of KYB premium shocks as they were said to be ome replacement and I don't do hard core off roading as previously stated.