Thread: Shock Absorber difference: Leaf vs Coil Shocks

Originally Posted by JDNSW

Yes. Leaf springs have significant, often substantial, friction damping, so the hydraulic dampers are an 'extra', and will not have near as much damping as is needed with coils.

My old work truck was an FJ45. One of the rear shocks failed so we removed it and we noticed little difference with the handling. In fact we drove it around for weeks without the shock. Coil suspension is much more reliant on shocks than leaf springs.

I seem to remember that the 30 Cwt Commer truck Dad owned in the late 50s had no shock absorbers.

The friction of the leaf springs provided some damping, but if water from a puddle splashed onto the springs, that damping disappeared briefly until the water between the leaves dried out.

With leaf springs the smoothness of the ride depends mostly on the gait of one's horse/s.

British Offroad will have the perfect damper for your D1

Originally Posted by ozscott

Rob if you are in SEQ give Garth Smith a call at Carolls Suspension at Rocklea a bell. Very impressive place. Good knowledge and experience and very reasonable prices. Cheers

Are they a EFS dealer?

Originally Posted by Vern

From memory patrol rear valving is pretty close to what landrover is, and 80series cruiser fronts are pretty close to what landrover is. So look for some +2" patrol/cruiser shocks, should give about 11" of travel from memory, and get a pin eye adapter (or make one) for the rears. Have used this combo a looong time ago and it worked quite well

That's kinda what I'm already running on my old Landy... I've got EFS 80's shocks up front and I had thought that were 80's rears as well but I cannot find a suitable Eye/Pin 80's shock so I must not have a 80's shock on the rear...

I found a Rear Eye/Pin shock for a GU/GQ Patrol that meets or close to the Open/Close that I have currently but the shock is designed for a leaf spring.... Just not sure how that would go in a coil sprung 4wd...

Originally Posted by 350RRC

What open / closed lengths are you talkin' Willis? Lift?

Going for droop I assume?

DL

The Rear Shocks currently are 635mm Open and 382mm closed

Originally Posted by Robmacca

That's kinda what I'm already running on my old Landy... I've got EFS 80's shocks up front and I had thought that were 80's rears as well but I cannot find a suitable Eye/Pin 80's shock so I must not have a 80's shock on the rear...

I found a Rear Eye/Pin shock for a GU/GQ Patrol that meets or close to the Open/Close that I have currently but the shock is designed for a leaf spring.... Just not sure how that would go in a coil sprung 4wd...

I'd just get pin/eye converters for the rear (bottom) and run a coil gq shock and be done with it.
I used to run 80 series fronts, front and rear (pin pin) but the valving for the rears was all wrong

Originally Posted by Robmacca

The Rear Shocks currently are 635mm Open and 382mm closed

I have some Terrafirma rear shocks lying around from a 'job lot'. They were on the rear of a RRC.......... pin / eye.

About 610 open and 380 closed. Dunno about the quality.

Have another pair, same brand, about 620 open and 420 closed. Real big fat mofo's and really soft.

Both sets had been on a 77 with 35's, 2" body and 2" spring lift.


I'd be going with what Vern has suggested.................. he's been there.

DL