Tuco69 replied:

Troy, I have used OME on several vehicles and found them good on some, and much too rigid on others.
If you are also looking at Koni and Bilstein - make sure that the model that you pick is a twin tube or tripple tube design. Both are exelent brands, but many of their designs are only monotube and not suitable to 4x4 or 2WD vehicles that will be traveling on dirt roads. If a monotube shock cops a rock dent - it becomes a throw away item. This is because the internal piston is actually running inside the tube that you can see on the outside. Most offroad shocks are twin or tripple tube to help overcome that situation.
My preference in shocks is the american Rancho 9000 series - 5 way adjustable for ride.

Tuco

Slunnie replied:

Hi Troy, I share Tuco's opinion on the Bilsteins, and I think OME is a custom Monroe - different brand but a similar product. I tend to like the Rancho's, though I understand the Koni is also very good - but expensive. What I like about the Rancho is you can choose the damping rate you want, and they are strong. Regards Slunnie

Ray replied:

Hi Troy
I have found the Koni's to last the longest of any shoccks I have used in 30 yrs 4WD. The other advantage is that they are adjustable and also they can be repaired. The first set lasted 350000 on a F100. OME lasted about 120000 on a 80 series and also on a Patrol. I have now gone back to the Koni's on the GU ute with a camper
Ray

Member - Mal replied:

Bambi, OME get my vote. Mal T.

Steve L replied:

OME have proven their worth to me as well.

Sambo replied:

If your looking for a shock that can handle both conditions you cannot go past Rancho 9000's. This is a no BS shock that out performs any of the others you have been looking at. Another advantage is they are available in assortment of lengths that will allow you to get maximum wheel travel and articulation while 4wd. They also have 5 levels of adjustment allowing you to firm up the ride for better handling or soften them up for more comfortable offroading. At $175 each they are competitively priced when you consider they are much more superior in quality to those other shocks you have been considering. Cheers

John replied:

I have used various shock over the years. The last trip I did was with Rancho 9000's. At first I had them set too hard, but with experimentation, I got it right. Great in corrigatigations, try the lower settings. I have upgraded mu GQ to Gu and will fit Rancho's, again, but this time with in cab controller, able to adjust on the run. As a point of interest, OME and Rancho are all made in the same plant in USA, so I have been told by Rancho rep.

Savvas replied:

Rancho is owned by Tennaco which also owns Monroe. The Rancho 1000s are rebadged Monroes. The 5000 and 9000 range are manufactured separately.

bambi replied:

Hi Reader's,

thanks for all the replies, it's been good. However, there have been a few posts regarding the Rancho shock, especially the 9000. From what I've been told I can't use this type on the front of my vehicle because it's a strut type shock and spring, I would have to use the 5000. Cheers Troy.

tim replied:

bambi - i've only ever had an ome set up with ome springs and schocks and they've never let me down - find them great

Slunnie replied:

Bambi, the RS5000 is supposed to be similar to the RS9000 on the middle setting. With strut type suspension the entire shock body (not the shaft) is encased in the strut so the adjusting knob would not be accessible.

Andrew O replied:

Bambi, I personally have Bilstein shocks and Lovells springs fitted to my GU Patrol. Before buying, I drove a car with the RS9000's, and couldn't get it to a setting I liked. Further, the way the shocks were fitted on the rear of the patrol, that knob is very exposed. The good thing about the Bilsteins shock is that they either work, or they don't - there is no shock fade - a direct result of their method of construction. They are also fully rebuildable in the event the seal does give up. I really love the quality of the ride, and the rebound control that these shocks give - second to none (not that I'm any expert). The other view I formed in the whole exercise, was that whatever you do, you'll end up with a better suspension system than the one fitted in the factory.

A good friend of mine with a 97 Disco has RS9000 - lets just say hes now onto his 4th set of rear shocks - all replaced cheerfully under warranty - but he's now not feeling that confident about their durability in the outback, especially given the problems have happened around Sydney.

Cheers ... Andrew O

Andrew O replied:

Bambi, I personally have Bilstein shocks and Lovells springs fitted to my GU Patrol. Before buying, I drove a car with the RS9000's, and couldn't get it to a setting I liked. Further, the way the shocks were fitted on the rear of the patrol, that knob is very exposed. The good thing about the Bilsteins shock is that they either work, or they don't - there is no shock fade - a direct result of their method of construction. They are also fully rebuildable in the event the seal does give up. I really love the quality of the ride, and the rebound control that these shocks give - second to none (not that I'm any expert). The other view I formed in the whole exercise, was that whatever you do, you'll end up with a better suspension system than the one fitted in the factory.

A good friend of mine with a 97 Disco has RS9000 - lets just say hes now onto his 4th set of rear shocks - all replaced cheerfully under warranty - but he's now not feeling that confident about their durability in the outback, especially given the problems have happened around Sydney.

Cheers ... Andrew O