Defender springs Kings or OE?

**CraigE** · 18th August 2008, 05:19 PM

Originally Posted by Wortho

Old Man Emu coils are made by King's for OME, same coil's just different rates, lengths and colours.
I've tried Lovells and don't rate them, still on now can't wait to get them off(yes tried 3 different combos before callng them crap).

Interestingly ARB biggest selling suspension is for Land Rover, number one selling locker too, even more interesting is that OME LTR shocks biggest market is Mongolia.

P.S Shock wise don't bother with OME shocks as listed in there book, export only Land Rover shocks are N174 front, N175 rear are 60mm longer than standard and are really great shocks.

I was inferring the shocks were more of a problem than the springs.
I also remember reading somewhere about Kings making OME springs, but to a lower quality spec, yet they are dearer. I have found the opposite, talking to ARB shops in WA, that they hardly ever fit Land Rover suspension and have generally been unsure of the combo. Toyotas they could rattle off without pulling out the catalogue.
I had OME on my old Nissan and loved it. It was a fantastic setup on that, but from research Defender apparently tend to break the eyelets on the OME shocks, which indicates the shocks are not really made for the vehicle.
I am happy with my Kings and Billies.

**Wortho** · 18th August 2008, 07:31 PM

I was inferring the shocks were more of a problem than the springs.
I also remember reading somewhere about Kings making OME springs, but to a lower quality spec, yet they are dearer. I have found the opposite, talking to ARB shops in WA, that they hardly ever fit Land Rover suspension and have generally been unsure of the combo. Toyotas they could rattle off without pulling out the catalogue.
I had OME on my old Nissan and loved it. It was a fantastic setup on that, but from research Defender apparently tend to break the eyelets on the OME shocks, which indicates the shocks are not really made for the vehicle.
I am happy with my Kings and Billies.

Kings and Bilstein are great, however i can tell you that the shocks are actually made specifically for the Landys, as for number sold look at location your asking and the ratio of Jap to good cars, i was talking world wide. Research could also show you you shouldn't have bought a Defender cause it seems that to everyone else they break all the time, at one stage the shock bushes were changed from rubber to poly and this caused a few problems with eyes and pins they have since gone back to rubber bushing for Landrovers, as with any shock it is important that the right one for the application is chosen or regardless of brand you won't like it, and seeing as there are a few differant choice's with the OME shocks and as you have seen some ARB staff who don't know Rovers then yes you somtimes get the wrong selections made.
Next coils i'm trying are going to be LRA coils, my shocks will stay OME export ones though as of all the different ones i've tried(and i've tested a few,Billies to) these have been the best for ME.

Tombie · 18th August 2008, 07:44 PM

Originally Posted by CraigE

<snip>I also remember reading somewhere about Kings making OME springs, but to a lower quality spec, yet they are dearer. <snip>

Kings make OME using the same steel, to OME specified rates / lengths...

The quality etc is the same.

**CraigE** · 19th August 2008, 08:09 AM

Originally Posted by Tombie2

Kings make OME using the same steel, to OME specified rates / lengths...

The quality etc is the same.

Thats good to know, a direct replacement is available if you run OME or Kings springs. Really that does not suprise me much. Significantly dearer over here for the OME springs though. Kings were about 2/3 the cost. Goes to show not everything that is written is fact.

I almost went down the path of OME, but was going to cost $1700 fitted for OME shocks (standard range not nitro's and springs) and then read several reports on the web of eyelet failure of the shocks on Defenders world wide. So went with the Kings and Billies which was substantially cheaper. The fitting cost was not the issue. From memory I think it was $1400 just for the springs and shocks against $1000 for a 100 series cruiser.
As I said I had OME gear on an old Nissan and it was a fantastic setup.

**Wortho** · 19th August 2008, 02:55 PM

I almost went down the path of OME, but was going to cost $1700 fitted for OME shocks (standard range not nitro's and springs)

I would suggest that the vendor for OME is ripping people off, nitrochargers are the standard shock and should be exactly the same price fitted as a patrol or coil cruiser( both shocks and springs are the same price), at worst mayby an extra hour labour for front shocks if they are a problem, going at full retail on the east coast fitted should be $1347 add freight to W.A to that, but as i said a Cruiser or Patrol would be exactly the same.
Springs wise the main difference is that OME offer progressive rate springs as well as linear and and Kings are largley linear for Landys.

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