Thread: new shockies

I knew the guy that did alot of the national sales for billie's matched with TJM Springs and it was A known problem that for a long time they were matching a far too short rear Billie to suit the length spring and did not recall them, I also think this crossed over into other spring manufactures and none form my memory were recalled, We got caught with this problem with a 99 TD5 Disco of my brothers and after getting them repaired for the second time by the factory at our cost (topping out and banging badly) we changed over to the Tough Dog 45mm Adjustable and have not looked back, be aware that most disco owners are sold the 41mm TD Foam Cell which is no where near as good in durability as the 45mm, and the adjustability feature gives the ride the adjustability it needs over the 53mm Ralph which is a bit firm. The Standard out of the book 2" raised shock is spot on in Length for the 2" raised coils on the TD5 Disco.

Hope that helps

Originally Posted by procrastination inc

can anyone report on experience with koni heavy tracks?

After many years of using Bilstiens I decided to have a crack at Koni Heavy Track on my Defender for 6000km double crossing of the Simpson including Madigans Line.

The first Koni was leaking oil after 3000km the second went out at 3900 km. They still functioned OK except near the end.

Koni replaced them quickly within a week, they felt the reason was my two inch spring lift...not designed for anything other than standard height on Land Rovers...and thats a quote from their tech guy.

They sent me a set with a 29mm longer reach and hoping they work, but they won't get a hard work out until Xmas in the High Country.

Had I the money back I would not have changed brands from Bilstien.

BTW on the same trip a series 2 Disco, broke a new shock as well, which was duly replaced also by Koni, and had standard springs.

Originally Posted by Slunnie

Rovernit!

Roger, where were you finding the Bilsteins were not lasting? I've found that the rubber bushes are not durable enough and in the end replaced them with polyurethane bushes which have been the solution. But.. the D2 runs eye to eye shocks so can do this, and not the pin type which perhaps may not like the additional stiffness of the bush.

Hi Slunnie,

I've had the opposite experience with Bilstien having one set last 200,000 + on two cars (2 door Rangie then transplanted into my Defender), and the ones they replaced have done 80,000km and decided on a whim to run Koni's for the Simpson Trip, but like Roger said, wrong ones supplied after they were told about 2"lift.

Hoping replacement ones last the distance they are a different type having longer thread bolt needing spacers but so far OK, time will tell.

The rubber bushes on the Bistiens as good as the day they went in although like rubber has hardened a little with age but not changed shape.

The Koni rubber disintergrated (its a very soft compound) also one other on the trip had to replace his rubbers as well on the rear of his Defender 2/3 way through the trip, but an older set, not new.

Hello All, Good to see this thread is still kicking along.
Since I was the one who started the thread I thought I should put a bit of input in. Ok... I have decided on koni Heavy track as they seem to be the only shock suitable for my intended purpose ( light and heavy loads) I got the Konis for a reasonable price $1000.00 for front and rear. They are longer than the billiesIi have so it should solve the problem of topping out.

I am fitting on sat so I will let you know how it goes..

I have had cross country foam cell shocks for 3 years with king springs. The coils have saged in the rear but the shocks have been great cape trip and all. You can put your hand on them while other vehicles will be boiling by morning tea. The wer also 25mm longer than standard.

Just couldn't wait for sat, so knoked off early today to fit the konies. 3 hours later I have fitted the rear and the fronts ( the fronts are a frigging night mere to pull apart and refit) had to do it 3 times to adjust the rebound .

any way after 2 years of being told by so called suspension experts including one very reptuable land rover specialists that the valving on my billies was correct for my car I have proved them wrong. And found the ACE bracket haddent even been put back correctly on the turret After then HD springs went in. That was 2 years ago and no one picked it up when complaining about the ecessive ACE knoking sound. Last time I take It back there for a service.

Vent vent vent...... The difference in the ride is almost unbelevable it is so smooth i had my bundie on the dash and went over a speed bump and it diddn't spill. ( opps I diddn;t say that)

I am not saying the billies are crap but simply the valving was incorrect for my car. thay are awsome shocks but for the price of having them revalved at my cost of course It was cheaper to get the adjustable Konis.

Originally Posted by procrastination inc

Graeme, had a result on you dead konis?

Fitting mine this weekend

No word yet. Must be getting close though.

Originally Posted by willvine

<snip>
and the fronts ( the fronts are a frigging night mere to pull apart and refit) had to do it 3 times to adjust the rebound .
<snip>

I made a tool that grabs the top of the shock so that the shock can be pushed to the bottom and turned then pulled up (no gas after revalving) to refit the top bolt. I also reversed the towers to make removal of the top bolt easier. It now only takes a few minutes to do the adjustment.