Shocks for comfort and control

Buying a name like Bilstein or Koni isnt going to make your vehicle drive any more brilliant than any other, you have to chose correct components to suit your needs, The european brands have a slight quality edge but performance is only marginally better than others. Remember no single component can do everything well, some compromise must be made between comfort and load carrying ability. Discuss different technologies such as adjustablity and Foam Cell with tech shops.

Disco - harsh choppy ride sounds like your springs are too firm, or maybe shocks aren't controlling the spring rebound well enough - Discos normally give a very good ride. Whilst I think Koni shocks are better than Old Man Emus, the advantage of going to ARB for OMEs is that they will only replace what is required and their shocks and springs are well matched.

As for Explorer with typically soft suspension, ARB should be able to sort that too if they have an OME kit for Explorers...

Hi Jeff,
Have just fitted OME springs,shocks and steering damper to my disco 2 and has made a big improvement to the ride and handling.The kit raises the vehicle by 2 inches as well as firming up the ride.(firm but certainly not uncomfortable)
OME are very good value for money.
cheers mark

Thanks for the replies. I was particularly after the " I did this and this happened" kind of reply so thanks especially to Marcus and Allen.

I checked out ARB and King Springs. King are very good but if they don't stock a spring you have to be able to tell them exactly what you want.

I have had a lot of experience with modifying road cars, I just didn't want to dive into the deep end of something I don't have experience with.

Thanks.

Jeff the other thing that may be worth checking is the ride height, especially on the front if you have a bar. The Discos are set up pretty soft in the springs and so they can be made to sag easily. The harshness can come as a result of the axles hitting the bumpstops because they are so close. It seems that the Bilstein shock is pretty popular with the Discos, though so are OME kits. I have run the King kit which also gives a good ride. If you want to fix it right up, the easiest way is an OME kit.

Bilsteins break at the eye-tube point in the rough stuff (corrugations); OMEs and Konis generally don't...