Thread: Tough Dog bush problem

Hi all!

I'm about to tear out my Tough Dog shocks and hurl them into the sun

This is on a 1996 Defender 110 with 52mm foam cell shocks & heavier than stock springs in the rear but my question relates to all landy's with TD shocks & those who might have had a similar issue.

The story:

For the 5th time in 12 months the rear shocks have chewed out the bottom lower bush. The first time was during some fairly enthusiastic activities, second and third times driving with nominal rear load and the fourth time was whilst empty. It's just happened again - the vehicle has been in the drive way over winter while I tended to its war wounds and it happened on the 2nd trips to the shops... I know instantly when its missing as the rear end will not settle down after a minor bump!

To their credit, the supplier (who shall remain nameless) has warrantied it judiciously however its getting beyond a joke. I know from TD & the supplier that this issue has occurred with other customers.

They have used genuine land rover bushes to begin with then moved to "good quality aftermarket parts" when the problem was initially identified as crap rubber. The good quality parts were Britpart and they've gone AWOL just as much as the genuine...

In good faith I'm giving it another shot. They're putting in another aftermarket set.

On top of other "supply" issues with the same supplier (not really their fault, though) I am barely keeping my frustrations in check while trying to sort a solution with them. Asking for a 2" lift kit and being supplied a 35mm lift with a phenomenal 60mm drop does not really help. Honestly, discounting the carrying capacity the worn out shocks were a more comfortable ride with better articulation!

This latest incident was actually met with "Well Land rovers are very hard on bushes, its just a land rover thing." which was quickly and carefully skirted away from when I started blowing steam audibly over the phone...

The question...

Has anyone had this issue with any of TD's Landy suspension and more importantly has anyone had the issue of losing the bottom LOWER bush only from their rear suspension?

P.S>> thanks for letting me rant a bit

I used to run tough dog foam cell shocks as part of their 35mm lift kit. The rear lower shock bushes would be fine for months and then in an instant go from fine to mush. I found out the first time in the middle of a week long Vic High country trip. Made for an uncomfortable ride for days of track touring. After that I carried spares. While I blamed the shocks at the time it might be more to do with the lift and the cups.

My TD shocks seemed to have a disproportionate lack of compression resistance and normal rebound resistance. Made for a tinny in a storm handling characteristics. Exaggerated by the weight of the RTT. Only got 45,000 kms out of them. They are now in a tub under the house and should really be land fill.

I too chiseled off the cups and fitted 80 series bushes. The bush has substantially more material. I used locating spigots sold by Gwyn Lewis to centre the shock pin in the axle mount. Since that upgrade the bushes are holding up and look like new even with the ill-effects of long travel suspension.

If you decide to chisel the cups. Drill the spot welds first, easy as pie to knock them off after that. A flapper disk to clean up the surface and a coat of rust inhibitor primer and a lick of paint for good measure. The paint will likely wear off but at least you can say you tried.

MLD