Thread: Aftermarket Shockies?

I've got Dunlop branded shocks in mine (Allmakes PR part). They were around $1100 ex-uk landed for the set. A set of OE Delphi (branded LR part but in Delphi box) are about $1600 if I recall correctly.

My Disco now handles, tows and drives great (apart from wandery steering and clunks that I am currently chasing, think it is lower column related) what more can I say, will report back if the situation changes unduly!

Mine were done at 130,000 (7 years old) and were well and truly stuffed - but it was only when they were changed did it become obvious how stuffed they were - 'twas a slow progression to oblivion.

HTH

G'day Ean - another option is the Arnott Industries front suspension struts. We've only seen mention of them on this YouTube video: [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VQ2kbIKgEw]Discovery LR3 - Arnott Air Spring Install - YouTube[/ame]

The link for the product - shows they use Bilstein shock absorbers. They offer lifetime warranty inside North America, or two years outside. I have no idea if they're custom designed Bilsteins for them, as several people here had no luck with Bilstein (or Koni's for that matter), direct from suppliers in Australia.

Product link: https://www.arnottindustries.com/par...75_gid723.html

Of course, the hassle is if something does go wrong! Shipping part back to USA and waiting for replacement and so on.

IMHO, if you want to upgrade a D3 suspension - the best bet would be to install D4 shock absorbers. They are firmer than a D3 and suspension is a lot more controlled. At the cost of smooth (and sometimes "floaty") ride quality.
Cheers,
Rob

I fitted genuine 2009 D3 shocks to my D4 then when they wore-out after about 60K kms I fitted cheaper Britpart-boxed Delphi versions. After 25K kms I'm starting to think about the next set as these have already softened on slow movement to the extent that the vehicle lurches a little on the first turn of the wheel, not that they were originally as good (different valving) as the genuine D3 shocks.

Originally Posted by jonesy63

IMHO, if you want to upgrade a D3 suspension - the best bet would be to install D4 shock absorbers. They are firmer than a D3 and suspension is a lot more controlled. At the cost of smooth (and sometimes "floaty") ride quality.

Somewhere in between would be my choice.
I've inquired if my original rears can be refurbished as they only did 40K before failing abruptly, then the fronts too if all OK. I'm hoping the 17" non-LT tyres to be fitted tomorrow coupled with the D3 sway bars has softened the ride enough to go back to D4 shocks. The ghastly jarring on bad corrugations still haunts me though.

Graeme - was the "ghastly jarring" with the 19" or 20" wheels?

19" Pirelli ATRs on a slow down-hill windy section of gravel road where presumably the locals powered up-hill. My wife wanted to get out and walk.

Edit: I found the ride generally too harsh so changed to D3 shocks, then D3 sway bars then 17" rims, all contributing to the final much-improved ride until the D3 shocks went floppy.

Originally Posted by Graeme

I fitted genuine 2009 D3 shocks to my D4 then when they wore-out after about 60K kms I fitted cheaper Britpart-boxed Delphi versions. After 25K kms I'm starting to think about the next set as these have already softened on slow movement to the extent that the vehicle lurches a little on the first turn of the wheel, not that they were originally as good (different valving) as the genuine D3 shocks.

I noted the comment about the non Genuine but Delphi branded, and inferred to be "same as" seem to be, well .... are not.

While I have no experience with the air springs, a couple of years back, I purchased new brake rotors that over here are branded OEM, and are supposed to come off the same factory floor as the Genuine but are a bit cheaper - not much, but somewhat.

Well maybe they do come out of the same factory shipping door save for a different box, but these rotors had missed the anti-corrosion coating station. Three months later, when one looked thru the wheel spokes, the surfaces of the rotors not in contact with the pads looked the colour of railroad tracks. I then had to pull the wheels off, clean up the rotors and paint the rusted surfaces with silver heat paint - it works, but it was not worth the cost "saving."

I guess one can presume the Delphi branded air spring is probably the same rubber bladder but the shocks are somehow different, valving, quality, or who can say, but there is a quality difference.

My 3 now has about 180,000 km on the factory installed air springs so I am going thru the same exercise - should I replace with OEM Delphi or with Genuine? I note that I can still see the Delphi stickers along with the LR factory stickers on my original air springs; I guess I will just have to pay up and be happy.

Originally Posted by bbyer

I noted the comment about the non Genuine but Delphi branded, and inferred to be "same as" seem to be, well .... are not.

While I have no experience with the air springs, a couple of years back, I purchased new brake rotors that over here are branded OEM, and are supposed to come off the same factory floor as the Genuine but are a bit cheaper - not much, but somewhat.

Well maybe they do come out of the same factory shipping door save for a different box, but these rotors had missed the anti-corrosion coating station. Three months later, when one looked thru the wheel spokes, the surfaces of the rotors not in contact with the pads looked the colour of railroad tracks. I then had to pull the wheels off, clean up the rotors and paint the rusted surfaces with silver heat paint - it works, but it was not worth the cost "saving."

I guess one can presume the Delphi branded air spring is probably the same rubber bladder but the shocks are somehow different, valving, quality, or who can say, but there is a quality difference.

My 3 now has about 180,000 km on the factory installed air springs so I am going thru the same exercise - should I replace with OEM Delphi or with Genuine? I note that I can still see the Delphi stickers along with the LR factory stickers on my original air springs; I guess I will just have to pay up and be happy.

Maybe I need to investigate further as I assumed the shock and the air spring were separate and you could just purchase the shock. Am I mistaken in my assumption?

My car has 105,000ks and by the time I get back home will be closer to 112,000 so gather that seeing it isn't a Toyota where everything lasts forever if you believe what you read, I should start to investigate options.

Cheers Ean