Thread: Which Brand Shocks

Not EFS, I cooked a pair on a corregated track at Alice Springs.

When I say cooked, you could hear them cracking and bubbling and were so hot that we had lunch and a bit of a walk around and they were still too hot to touch.

This is meant to mean they are working if they get hot but I dont think they should get that hot that they start locking up and trowing the car from side to side at 30kmh.

Ive now got a new set of Ride Pros but I havnt really punished them yet but from what I have done they seem to do the job.

im in the same position as rambo, wouldnt mind hearing a little more about the ome ltr's. price, performance etc?

Having read quite a number of threads on here about shocks and springs I am surprised that no one ever makes a reference to the Dobinsons equipment...also made in Australia.
I've used OME twice...no complaints apart from a few leaks from the seals.Considering the abuse I give them...fast off road...I wasn't going to complain, even though the seals failed within the two year warranty both times. The springs also held up to a point before going sloppy on me.

I then tried KONI's and took them off after 2000km....absolute diabolical. The rebound was uncontrolable.

I then looked at the stuff from Dobinsons and wish I'd have found out about them before I forked out on the original set of OME....two years on and 30,000 km of fast and hard sand tracks, rally support and highway use the Dobs are still performing without any hint of sagging in the springs or leaks from the shockers seals.
I have the Dobinsons set up on my Discovery and when the OME suspension needs replacing on the 130 it will be treated to a new set of Dobinson springs and shocks. They are a little bit more to pay than the OME...but the advantages are clear and well justified.

OME is still outstanding value for money...but I think it's worth paying that little bit more for the Dobs.

S

Originally Posted by streaky

Having read quite a number of threads on here about shocks and springs I am surprised that no one ever makes a reference to the Dobinsons equipment...also made in Australia.
I've used OME twice...no complaints apart from a few leaks from the seals.Considering the abuse I give them...fast off road...I wasn't going to complain, even though the seals failed within the two year warranty both times. The springs also held up to a point before going sloppy on me.

I then tried KONI's and took them off after 2000km....absolute diabolical. The rebound was uncontrolable.

I then looked at the stuff from Dobinsons and wish I'd have found out about them before I forked out on the original set of OME....two years on and 30,000 km of fast and hard sand tracks, rally support and highway use the Dobs are still performing without any hint of sagging in the springs or leaks from the shockers seals.
I have the Dobinsons set up on my Discovery and when the OME suspension needs replacing on the 130 it will be treated to a new set of Dobinson springs and shocks. They are a little bit more to pay than the OME...but the advantages are clear and well justified.

OME is still outstanding value for money...but I think it's worth paying that little bit more for the Dobs.

S

any body got any info on Dobinson springs and shocks and how much more are they to OME as i have been looking at the ome ??????????

What are peoples experiences with having Konis rebuilt, if I remember correctly I was quoted about $90 each to get rebuilt or about $30 to test them.Is this about the price. I'm in Brisbane, these are for a rangie classic going to put in 2 inch spring lift - kings, already have 50mm body lift.

Cheers Guy

I've had OME shocks (+ their 2" lift springs) and steering damper on for more than 5 years on my Disco 1 and think they do a good job. They've been up to Cape York, Birdsville Track, NT touring + general farm use, etc.

Might not be the best, but they have been very good for my useage.

My experience has shown the following,,,

1) During the 1992 Australian Safari, we had Bilsteins on a 2 dr RR, the rear ones got so hot the rubber gaiters dripped off the bottom of them like mozzarella cheese on a pizza...BUT THEY STILL WORKED. In fact I have one I show people from a burnt out Defender and it STILL has gas and rebound control!

2) For quite a while now I have been using / selling DeCarbon shocks. In my opinion these are the best quality shock at a decent price, and I haven't been able to hurt them yet on my RR. They are a monotube and they haven't faded yet even towing through bulldust and corrugations from Camooweal to LAwn Hill. The valving is superb, the ride quality therefore is so close to 'car' like that I'll never use anything else.

3) Koni's were on my Rangie when i bought it, and they are also a fantastic shock. I took them off when I was rebuilding the beast and promptly sold them to a custiomer who put them on his Defender. They have since travelled from Tassie to Kununnurra at least 4 times and are still up ther, NO leaks, NO loss in performance, only the odd bush replacement.

4) OME, Monroe, EFS, Tough Dog adjustables, Rancho(HEY stevo_62!!!)and Peddars etc ALL get 'filed' in the 3 cubic metre blue receptacle out the front of my workshop.
ALL of them have had faults such as poor rebound control, fading, mismatched compression damping for coil sprung vehicles, leaking, gas loss, etc etc etc.
I don't recommend ANY of these.

5) Dobinson shocks seem good for the $$, I would fit them in preference to OME for example as they have superior road feel/ damping.I can't say much about their lifespan ATM, except that all the sets I've fitted are still goiung well and some have spent a good deal of time being pounded...No leaks and still have a good road feel about them.

I hope this helps.

JC

Over the years on Coil sprung 4x4's I have seen Koni and Bilsteins shine particularly Koni.
Believe it or not the Genuine Rover stuff is better than a lot of the brightly colored openly promoted crap that you buy in Australia.