Shockies

Rosscoe -- I guess there are lots of good shocks around -- and posibly depends on your vehicle as well as what you want to do. Even so, I'm with you on the Bilsteins. Had them fitted to my Pajero as part of the suspension lift in March so have only done about 15K since, but I'm very pleased with their performance.

Bernard,

What model Pajero? I am about to fit them to my 2004 NP 3.2 L diesel.

I'm not particularly looking for lift. My main goal is better ride/handling on corrugations. Did they do this for you? If you replaced springs what did you use and how was the ride after the job was done?

My current plan is to go for Bilstein shocks all around with "raised" King springs in the rear and leaving the OEs on the front. Apparently you can use the body of the front Bilsteins to lift the botom of the OE springs so that the car is flat.
I tow a 16 ft, 1800 kg Coromal dirt road van.

Rosscoe,
I've got a 2002 Pajero NM petrol. Not sure of brand of springs ... but they were supplied to our fourbie servicer by 4WD Warehouse.

Yes, much better all round ride/handling on corrugations and blacktop. I had all round 50mm lift with springs that compensated for the weight of the auxilliary petrol tank (50 litres) and the full, stell bullbar on the front.

If you're mainly looking for extra support when towing, why not have a think about airbags on the back.

Hope this helps and doesn't create any confusion.
Regards.

Thanks Bernard,

Looked at air bags and decided not to go that way. Pleased to hear you found the Bilsteins an improvement. I'm going to the cape next month so I'm hoping the new shocks will be better than the OE.
PS leaving the caravan at Port Douglas and camping.

Bilsteins are a quality shock. However I have seen them break at the eyelet welds, so my preference for corrugations/off road use would be Koni or OME.

Had Bilsteins on my last fourby, shorty Td with aftermarket intercooler bundera with big lift lockers, tyres etc and did some comp work and trips. The billy's failed on four occasions on trips, heated up too much when worked on corrigations and are an expensive shock. There aftermarket service however is quite good and they replaced the shocks free of charge.

I've had ranchos, billy's, koni, tough dog, and dobinson. Dobinson shocks have been best to date (having done the most amount of kilometers without failing, or fading and are cost effective)...

Only my opinion however!!!

Jeez Trucky.............now you really are gettin' serious!!!!! What do they run to; about $360- per corner I seem to recall???

Cheers mate

Na not that much, even less when ya mate works for ARB..

:)

Its that or KONI's.

here here truckster...even pretty crap on mid size fourby.

I have LTR's and they are rippers - run heaps cooler than my last set of OME Nitrochargers so they should go the distance!

(non-LTR) OME's are not $100 more per shock - more like $20 - and I have yet to see one break or lose the plot - weeping a bit of oil is the worst I've seen and still working fine. Long warranties may seem great (Rancho's have them too) but isn't much of a consolation if you're constantly claiming on the warranties...

Don't care about OME's - know what they sell for - it's the European brand ones that bight hard on price I was comparing to.

I also endorse the Gabriel Blue riders.
Got four from supercheap on a 20% off day, $80 each and have since given them a hard time- couldn't be happier (have 20,000 kays on them-much dirt) .
Excellent shockie for what I need....maybe some say they're not in the league of some of the best, (Could have fooled me) but neither is the price!

Sure the Koni, Bilsteins and deCarbons (have a good repututation) initial purchase cost are way up and they can all be rebuilt when required but for close to $1,000 for 4 shocks - that's got to hurt some people.

Came across 4 busted Bilsteins that I could use on my '84 Hilux at the wreckers for $25 each but I thought I'd find out first the price to rebuild before I spend the $100 to buy them - (in Bne) $180 per shock and allow 3 to 4 weeks to do - ouch!

So I kept looking for new ones and settled on the Gabriel Blue Ryders at $99.50 each with the buy 3 and the 4th free deal but would consider the TJM XGS next time - they're around the $140 mark.

The GBR are fine for my $5,000 4wd farm workhorse. If I could afford a $50,000 4wd maybe the $250 per shock isn't over spending.

There has and will always be a forum on "what shock" should I buy and with countless blah blah feedback comments but I always think if you ask upfront for 100% money back in writing (make sure you keep your old shocks to put back on) after one month if you're not happy with the performance you can't go wrong.

There will always be somone that has had a bad experience on a particular brand of shock so sometimes you have to take a punt either to buy them due to cost or name.

Banjo, I dont know where you shop, but if your paying $1000 for Konis your gettin butt raped.

Konis rebuilt same day, drive in drive out, $50-80 depending where you go per shock.

Some people like to have quality items on their car, LTR's provide that, as do others, its a totally YMMV

Well Truckster, I might enquire prices interstate next time but up here in Bne I was quoted the price for new Konis at $248 each - hence the close to $1,000 for 4 shocks as I mentioned above.

That's why when I saw the 4 Bilsteins at $25 each and hoping about $50 to repair but felt further shafted at $180 each to reco plus a 3 to 4 week turn around to do.

I might add the day I rang for a reco price the fellow was rather gruff when on the phone - maybe the $180 (and I did clarify twice that the price was EACH) covered the inconvenience factor or didn't like Bilsteins. Didn't really care either if he got the job or not by his tone of voice, that's why it was cheaper to buy new.