Thread: D2 rear bilsteins SLS

My advice for what it's worth, get some Lovells for a 2" lift, Shane at Suspension Stuff should be able to sort you out, they will be heaps cheaper too.

Baz.

cheers Redback the D2 is stock standard, no lift and no plans of getting one in the near future, I find the ability to lift the back end with the SLS good enough on most occasions, it is more the ride is starting to make the wife and progeny seasick and the prices delivered from the States are about the same for bilstein or factory Land Rover ( about $120aud each)

Yes you need a different shock for SLS, the air spring has nothing to slow the expansion as opposed to steel springs that will only expand to their set height. The air spring will continue to expand at the same rate until the piston runs out of bag length, it will then spit the bag off and only then stop expanding – the only thing stoping the air spring expanding too far is the shock.

To combat the extreme rate of expansion the shock needs to be valved vastly different for expansion and contraction. So internally the shock for SLS is nothing like one for coils. It should be the same as the RR, however I’ve not compared the end mounts of the P38.

I too have a 99D2 coming due for new shocks, I am going to do them when I replace the bags, they are still ok and have no air leaks but I know it’s not far away – I will be sourcing gen LR, I’ve experienced incorrectly valved shocks on air suspension before....

H

Cheers Harlie that tallies with what a few people have explained to me so far, I will probably just go the genuine option unless I can get a definite on the Bilstein numbers and find someone who has gone down this path

Originally Posted by Spenboyd

cheers Redback the D2 is stock standard, no lift and no plans of getting one in the near future, I find the ability to lift the back end with the SLS good enough on most occasions, it is more the ride is starting to make the wife and progeny seasick and the prices delivered from the States are about the same for bilstein or factory Land Rover ( about $120aud each)

The Lovells for a 2" lift will be longer to suit the SLS, I wasn't suggesting getting a 2" lift, just trying to save you money

Getting Bilsteins from the US is a lot dearer now because of the exchange rate.

Baz.

Have you thought about Monroe 4x4 Adventure Shocks?

I'm in a similar quandary as you re shocks for my '02 D2, mine has both ACE and SLS. According to Famous Four in the UK, Monroe's 4x4 Adventure has an offering to suit both SLS and SLS + ACE. And @ 26.50 quid a corner, the price is certainly cheaper than buying locally here in NZ. Not sure what you would pay for them in Oz but they've got my vote...feedback on this site seems to suggest they're a pretty good choice too.

Just my 2 cents...

That sounds alright but i have always had Bilsteins on previous vehicles, and always liked 'em and the price I mentioned earlier is with the current exchange rate so it seems pretty good and cheers for keeping a weather eye on the credit card for me redback....need all the help I can get on that front, have a tendency to shoot first and ask questions later

Official word from Bilstein Australia is that the company do not make a shock absorber valved to suit the rear of Discovery 2 with SLS......looks like I am going genuine