Shocks on a leaf sprung vehicle

[hj 45]

G'day all, one question, how important are the shocks in a leaf spring system, I've been told by some that they make bugger all difference, but then again, others have said otherwise. Added to that, is it really worth paying more for say, Pro Comp, Bilstein or Konis? Assuming we have good quality springs too.

TIA.

[bazzle]

They make a big difference.

What about OME?

[hj 45]

They make a big difference.

What about OME?

Yeah them too. Just asking as I'm browsing around for new suspension for my HJ 47 - a couple of the shocks are shot as well as the bushes, so only a little more effort, I might as well replace the lot. Anyway, I seen the 82 series Konis, pretty expensive but Konis are brilliant, are they not? It would most likely be coupled with EFS springs, as I've heard good stuff about them and I've found an excellent price on these. so much choice it's confusing.

[SCANAS]

Try taking your car for a drive without shocks you'll probably roll it. Lovells are a good cheaper shock if your don't want to blow the budget IMHO EFS springs are pretty good - I've had a set in my 60 for about 5 years, they are a little hard maybe take a leaf out all the way around.

[chunks]

You will notice a difference if you get shocks with the wrong valving. However I don't believe shocks are as critical with leaf springs as they are with torsion bars or coil springs, probably because the friction between the leaves in the pack has a dampening effect in itself.

[muddylux]

Shocks are dampners, they dampen the spring. Leaf springs are self dampening to some degree, but leaf springs with shocks are much better. You see 6x4 box trailers have no shocks cause it realy don't matter that much on a trailer of that size. I drove an old lux around for 3 months with a snaped rear shock and didn't realy notice much difference. But if it were coil sprung it would of been a death trap.

By the best you can afford.

[hj 45]

Oh, I'm not tossing up the idea of running no shock absorbers at all, that sounds silly. I guess it's just whether the extra cash of the Konis is worth it?

[chunks]

If you can afford them then yes! You never regret buying quality mate

[bad_religion_au]

I had a good set of Koni's at one point in the 40.

i snapped a front shock offroad.

pulled both fronts to get me home.

forgot that i had no front shocks for 3 months...

read into it what you will...

[SCANAS]

your springs are way too hard ??

[-Scott-]

I had a good set of Koni's at one point in the 40.

i snapped a front shock offroad.

pulled both fronts to get me home.

forgot that i had no front shocks for 3 months...

read into it what you will...

This is something I thought about recently.

As others noted, inter-leaf friction has a significant damping effect, and I've also read that friction in the shackle contributes too - so I imagine that a well-lubricated leaf pack (i.e. decent inter-leaf friction pads, and whatever else they do) and some quality greasable shackles will significantly reduce the damping (and possibly the effective spring rate?)

I believe this is typically done in an effort to improve articulation. Has anybody done this, and then found that their shock absorbers are not longer good enough for the "new" spring pack?

What have people experienced?

[bad_religion_au]

your springs are way too hard ??

at that point it was a factory 40 leaf pack with one spring removed...

[RO8M]

...significantly reduce the damping (and possibly the effective spring rate?)

Now THERE'S an interesting question. Gut feeling is spring rate would be unaffected...

[-Scott-]

...significantly reduce the damping (and possibly the effective spring rate?)

Now THERE'S an interesting question. Gut feeling is spring rate would be unaffected...

Fair call - that's my gut feeling too. But if (that's the big if) "freeing up" the leaves allow them to "flex more", why did they "flex less" when they're not nice and slippy? I have a theory, if anybody is interested in discussing it...

With a lubed spring pack, if the same applied force produces more spring compression hasn't the spring rate decreased? F=k*x. Under static conditions, with sufficient "settling" allowed, there probably wouldn't be a significant difference. But what's happening under dynamic conditions - as you're bouncing along that creek bed?

Big if. Does the lube job really make a difference, or is it a perception?

[hulsty]

WHen I had no front shocks I REALLY noticed the difference, on the rear I have damaged them a few times and never notice

[deano86]

i had no shocks in the front of my old mk patrol for 6 months and didnt make any difference but when a mate had no shocks in the back of a 60series it bounced around all over the joint, as for u buying shocks i'd probly just buy somthing that is a litle better then ya average shock but dont go spending a fortune

[hj 45]

Thanks for the replies, anyone know who does good prices on Konis? Not sure that I'll go that route, but it pays to find out.

[Patroler]

https://www.suspensionstuff.com.au/shop/

[ausyota]

With no shocks on the back you will get major axle hop when you take off on a high traction surface.
Just go talk to Locktup4x4 and get some nice long Billsteins.

[hj 45]

I had a good set of Koni's at one point in the 40.

i snapped a front shock offroad.

pulled both fronts to get me home.

forgot that i had no front shocks for 3 months...

read into it what you will...

You're not very observant?

[ferrit]

matching spring rates and shock valvings important too- overdampening is just as bad as underdampening.

Ive got matched OME Nitrochargers and OME Dakar packs in the lux, and they work very, very well together- When the coils go into it i'll probably stick with OME matched to the springs (Prado rear end, 79 series front end)

[bad mudda]

Why don't you like the dobinsons shocks ? Unless your after some really long travel gear they should be more than enough, and if you did ever have any worries at least your only a walk away from the manufacturer.

[hj 45]

Why don't you like the dobinsons shocks ? Unless your after some really long travel gear they should be more than enough, and if you did ever have any worries at least your only a walk away from the manufacturer.

Just keeping my options open mate, I do have a qoute from Dobinsons sitting here.

[dave_str]

I have Bilstiens in my Navara and the rear is way better now since I fitted the Bilstiens.

Dave.

[brendan rooke]

I drove my 60 without shocks when i first put my new springs in and it was an abortion to drive.

Youve only got to stick ya head out the window and have a look at the tyre when you hit a pothole or rough patch and you'll know what they have shocks for.

I borrowed a pair of toughdog big bores for the front untill i got new ones and that made it worse to drive than with none. The rear had a mind of its own...ducking and weaving and BOUNCING all over the road.

Now i have Pro-comps in the rear and still have the toughdogs in the front and ive come to the conclusion that the big bore toughdogs arent meant for 60 series (probably why they arent an option from an suspension co for a 60) as the foul on the spring pack at the bottom and even on the number 1 setting its still rigid as hell.

Pro-comp shocks are good value for money.