Shocks - is this normal?

Submitted: Tuesday, Jan 01, 2008 at 17:21
ThreadID: 53015 Views:3082 Replies:5 FollowUps:12
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OK, I have tough dog shocks in the Pathfinder. I have probably done close to 60,000 in the last 2 years with the new shocks. I am offroad almost every weekend, and to Cape York last year.

It seems that my rear shocks are stuffed. So, my question is.....is this to be expected given the km's and amount of offroading done? I would have expected them to last a bit longer. Have you had tough dogs shocks? How long did yours last?

Thanks in advance.

Jo
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Reply By: Member - Roachie (SA) - Tuesday, Jan 01, 2008 at 17:30

Tuesday, Jan 01, 2008 at 17:30
Have heard that the Tough Dogs aren't all that tough!

The standard ones leave a bit to be desired. Then there are the bigger, heavy duty units and the huge "Ralph". Latter are supposed to be pretty good and the Heavy Duty adjustables are pretty good too.

However, sounds like you've used them as they were designed to be used.....with lots of off-roading. They will now probably tell you that it's YOUR fault, cos you aren't supposed to do THAT much off-road driving.

See how you go with warranty (not sure if it's one, 2 or 3 years on those sorts of shockers).

Good luck; but be prepared to outlay more $$$ on new units.

Cheers

Roachie
AnswerID: 279235

Reply By: Member - Kim M (VIC) - Tuesday, Jan 01, 2008 at 18:08

Tuesday, Jan 01, 2008 at 18:08
Jo

Personally I don't have any interest in this after market suspension stuff.

Nobody could sensibly answer your question. However I'll try.

If the shocks have done a lot of work over corrugations, then at 60k they'll need replacement, particularly if your been carrying heavy loads.

Many of the locals up north just buy the cheapest shockers they can find in town, and often get a similar life out of the unit.

Regards

Kim
AnswerID: 279243

Reply By: Richard Kovac - Tuesday, Jan 01, 2008 at 18:24

Tuesday, Jan 01, 2008 at 18:24
Jo, how have you worked out (seems) they are stuffed? do they leak oil? when off the vehicle and vertical do they extend and have resistance when pushed in? maybe they are not stuffed at all..

Cheers

Richard
AnswerID: 279245

Follow Up By: johannagoanna - Tuesday, Jan 01, 2008 at 19:27

Tuesday, Jan 01, 2008 at 19:27
LOL - because they are not doing their job any more!!

Jo
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Follow Up By: Richard Kovac - Tuesday, Jan 01, 2008 at 19:58

Tuesday, Jan 01, 2008 at 19:58
Jo

And what would that be absorbing unsprung energy?

Richard
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Reply By: Footloose - Tuesday, Jan 01, 2008 at 18:50

Tuesday, Jan 01, 2008 at 18:50
My OE Toyota ones on the 80 series lasted for 150K+. Then it was time for a whole new suspension.
AnswerID: 279249

Follow Up By: Member - Kim M (VIC) - Tuesday, Jan 01, 2008 at 18:56

Tuesday, Jan 01, 2008 at 18:56
Footy

Then again, you only drive around left hand corners!

LOL

Regards

Kim
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Follow Up By: Footloose - Tuesday, Jan 01, 2008 at 19:00

Tuesday, Jan 01, 2008 at 19:00
Kim, the suspension saga is a long yarn, but basically my mechanic said "you don't need it, nothing wrong."
I told him "just change the lot"
He drove it afterwards and agreed it was a totally different vehicle.
It cost me a small fortune to be right...
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Follow Up By: Member - Kim M (VIC) - Tuesday, Jan 01, 2008 at 19:31

Tuesday, Jan 01, 2008 at 19:31
Footy

Then tell me the story. I look forward to your yarns.

If it's entertaining, I'll tell you a story about a fella who used his rifle as a shovel a few years back.

LOL

Regards

Kim

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Follow Up By: Footloose - Tuesday, Jan 01, 2008 at 20:48

Tuesday, Jan 01, 2008 at 20:48
I was stuck out by the Kintore turnoff for two reasons. I had a flat tyre that needed fixing if I were to go any further, and the sky had fallen in. The Gibson was fast becoming a lake. A mystery knee affliction was getting worse.
The local police couldn’t give me a forecast, but they could point me towards help with the tyre change. Took the young bloke about 5 minutes and he commented that I could do with better springs.
Being the lone hero that I am, I struck out, back to the Tanami as soon as the track dried a bit. Wash a ways across the track, great bottomless lakes, rough as guts track surface. Seat belt the only thing saving my head from the roof. I could have kissed the Tanami tar as I struck it about 8pm, along with nearly striking every bit of wandering wildlife at that time of the night.
With the suspension and knee, the Plenty wasn’t an option so it was up to Three Ways for the night. The next morning was extremely painful as I drive a manual. Took me several km to get into second, and later to third and fourth. I kept wondering how good bush hospitals were as I passed through civilization. I now know exactly how many traffic lights, round a bouts and crossings there are in Mt Isa. The knee didn’t get batter, but it didn’t get any worse.
The vehicle was all over the road at anything over 80k. I only passed a grader from the Alice to the Gold Coast and that was a bit of a drag race.
Once home, the mystery knee just went away…a bit of a worry but a giant relief.
Unloading the vehicle didn’t fix it, and my “specialist 4wd” mechanic (at least he charges like one!) drove it and said nothing wrong.
When recovered from the trip a bit (i.e. awake) I noticed that even the smallest bump would make the vehicle unstable. I didn’t feel safe (and no wonder).
I thought it might have been my imagination, but finally told the mech to change the lot. A small fortune later, he does the test drive and assures me it drove like a different vehicle.
On the way home I thought, “I can still feel the bumps, a lot of money for nothing”. There was a truck in the left lane and I accelerated to pass it. Then I looked down at the Speedo; 130k!
Whoopsies, it’s a 100k limit.
“Ahhh” thought I.
“THAT’S the difference.”
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Follow Up By: Member - Kim M (VIC) - Tuesday, Jan 01, 2008 at 22:16

Tuesday, Jan 01, 2008 at 22:16
Footy

I know of a large property owner, good fella. He and his missus are into investing into new technology. Particularly solar power to replace diesel to provide power to the homestead. On top of that, he's replaced the water pumps to work off solar.

He get's a little upset when finding clean skins after the muster and everyone in hearing distance had to put up with a fair mouth full.

Now you'd think such a clever fella could look after a rifle.

Not in this case. The thing gets bounced around a Toyota Ute tray, and he constantly grissles about why he can't shoot anything beyond ten feet.

I might add that a large portion of the rifle stock is worn though by the use of fence wire to secure it.

The analigy here could be not to get too presious.



Such is life in the bush.

LOL

Regards

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Follow Up By: Member - Raoul (Snake) H (QLD) - Tuesday, Jan 01, 2008 at 23:29

Tuesday, Jan 01, 2008 at 23:29
Footloose,
Can you send me a couple of Kgs of what ever it is youre on.Have a great New Year.
Cheers & ???? Snake
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Follow Up By: Footloose - Wednesday, Jan 02, 2008 at 09:19

Wednesday, Jan 02, 2008 at 09:19
Snake, I've got some really, and I mean REALLY, bad news for ya. :))))))))
Cheers
Footy
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Follow Up By: Footloose - Wednesday, Jan 02, 2008 at 09:23

Wednesday, Jan 02, 2008 at 09:23
Kim, good story.
Speaking of the way it was...
Years ago I used to travel up and down a mountain every day with a bloke who carried a loaded rifle. To say I was nervous would be an understatement. He had the habit of throwing out the anchors and blasting away.
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Reply By: Crackles - Tuesday, Jan 01, 2008 at 22:40

Tuesday, Jan 01, 2008 at 22:40
There has been a few threads in the past saying that Tough Dog shocks have failed prematurely particually on high speed corrugations but 60K of heavy use though really isn't too bad for an average after market shock & similar to what I've seen many get out of OME when pushed hard.
Lifespan of shocks is always difficult to compare as everyone drives at different speeds, carrying different loads over different terrain. Even top brands can fail early, but to answer your question, yes this is to be expected.
Cheers Craig..........
HZJ105, Koni shocks.
AnswerID: 279287

Follow Up By: Col_and_Jan - Tuesday, Jan 01, 2008 at 23:53

Tuesday, Jan 01, 2008 at 23:53
Im up for new shocks soon on my FZJ105 (Petrol Cruiser). I have a 2 inch lift all round, and tow a heavy caravan. Would like the Konis, but they are much more expensive than most. I have two questions Crackles (Craig) Are they honestly worth it?. They say they can be rebuilt, but do people actually bother to do this.
Col
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Follow Up By: Crackles - Wednesday, Jan 02, 2008 at 17:50

Wednesday, Jan 02, 2008 at 17:50
The Koni's on my current 100 series were off my old 80 series which originally came off my brothers 80, in total now approaching around 290,000 km's. (about 13 years old) This includes 7 Simpson crossings, 2 Cape trips, Canning along with all the other usual weekend to fortnight trips & a few competition runs as well so they weren't what you'd say well looked after.
They were pretty beat up from stone damage & the rebound started to fade at around 230,000 km's when heavily loaded so had them rebuilt for about $85 each. This included new rubbers, revalving the rears to suit the poly airbags I already had fitted & repainting them to look almost new.
IMHO there are better performing shocks on the market like Bilstien & Fox but for longevity and reliability I don't believe you would buy much better than the Konis in that price range.
Are they worth it?......... If you intend to keep the car for a while & are looking for a reliable shock for both outback & High Country driving then yes I've found them more than worth it. If you are just towing a big van on the tar & change your vehicles over frequently then some of the cheaper after market shocks would probably last the distance for a fraction of the price.
One additional bonus with the Koni's is that because they have an excellent reputation, their resale value when selling 2nd hand is very good. Despite dints and sandblasting the 2 sets I sold off earlier vehicles still made 65 & 70% of their purchase price at swap meets.
Cheers Craig..........
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