Which shocks for a 4" spring lift ??

[dazz mav]

I'm finally getting around to upgrading the suspension on my diesel maverick. Ended up getting 4" lifted Dobinson springs. I've got about $800- to spend on shocks and was looking for opinion on best type. I had Rancho RS 9000 on my previous 80 series which were brilliant, never had any probs even after doing 30,000 k's around Oz in 2000. Since then I've read/heard some not so good things about the new 9000X.
What do you guys reakon ??

[blkmav]

EFS

[tuff dog]

I just fitted a 4" lift to my GQ ute. I used Dobinson springs and shockers, I have only been for a couple of drives but the shocks feel fine. I have no sway bars and they still handle good around corners. Mine are to suite 4" GQ springs, but if you have a body lift or are not scared to cut the towers in your guards and add 40 mm lift blocks to your shocker towers. You can fit 80 series shocks which will give you more up travel. From what I could find out about brands of shockers, every body loves the ones they sell. Koni are ment to be very good for hard 4WDing and Rancho good for climbing.I went for Dobinson they are half the price of Koni so I can buy two sets to 1 and I don't have to wait to get them rebuilt.

[bogged]

OME LTR's.

[dazz mav]

Thanks Tuff Dog. Where did you get your Dobinson shocks and what sort of price did you pay ??

[morkz]

i have LTR's

but i dont know what else to go

OME -L series ?

Tough Dogs i hear they leak?
Rancho = poo
Koni good but expensive to modify no warranty
EFS ? not sure some people swear buy them but at the comp in qld alot of people were having problems with them.
Dobinson = cheap but how good are they. some guys are running cause there sponsored i dont know..

I have been told by alot of the comp guys to stick with OME or koni

[BigMav]

I've had EFS springs and shocks in my diesel mav for a 4" lift for 3 or 4 months and i'm extremely happy with them. very solid shock. Springs I have are suited to a 5" but are nice and soft so they settle to about 4, maybe even a little less.

[Robbo]

koni bus shocks in my 4" lift GU. They take a pounding, have stuffed nearly all other brands but koni tough as. They are worth the extra $.

[GQ TROL]

koni bus shocks in my 4" lift GU. They take a pounding, have stuffed nearly all other brands but koni tough as. They are worth the extra $.

Got any part numbers, comp & exten lengths, and costs for the bus shocks Robbo??

Cheers
Mitch

[mav]

can you post some pics with the 4" dobinson springs fitted ???

I'm finally getting around to upgrading the suspension on my diesel maverick. Ended up getting 4" lifted Dobinson springs. I've got about $800- to spend on shocks and was looking for opinion on best type. I had Rancho RS 9000 on my previous 80 series which were brilliant, never had any probs even after doing 30,000 k's around Oz in 2000. Since then I've read/heard some not so good things about the new 9000X.
What do you guys reakon ??

[Adsman]

OME -L series ?

Tough Dogs i hear they leak?

I have heard the same about tough dogs blowing seals. So much for their advertising their foam cell technology that wont leak like other brands!!!

Arn't OME the same as Munro. A few shops have told me that they are both the same shock just rebadged, including an OME distributor.

Apparently Rancho's have no warranty in four inch lifts only in two inch lifts because their bore size is to small for the weight of a patrol when lifted. Also apparently their valving gets a real flogging when in higher lifts and they fail early.


I'm thinking of trying Dobinsons. Has anyone used them who can give me some feed back. (I'm in the process of a four inch lift)

[tuff dog]

I got my shockers from the local Geelong Dealer. I payed about $110 each. Next time I would deal with Dobinson direct, But any local 4WD shop should be able to get them.

[bogged]

Arn't OME the same as Munro. A few shops have told me that they are both the same shock just rebadged, including an OME distributor.

Then they dont know what they are talking about, if they dont even know that, I wouldnt walk in the place again..

They are made to OME Specs which are totally different to anything Monroe make.

[Robbo]

[quote="GQ TROL"][quote]koni bus shocks in my 4" lift GU. They take a pounding, have stuffed nearly all other brands but koni tough as. They are worth the extra $. [/quote]

Got any part numbers, comp & exten lengths, and costs for the bus shocks Robbo??

Cheers
Mitch[/quote] Yeh no probs will ask andrew at OnTrack 4x4 Melb cos he organised em for me, they were about $1000 12 months ago & have better travel than Rancho's that i rooted in 1 weekend!

[GQ TROL]

Yeh no probs will ask andrew at OnTrack 4x4 Melb cos he organised em for me, they were about $1000 12 months ago & have better travel than Rancho's that i rooted in 1 weekend!

Thanks Robbo, that would be great. I agree that paying a little extra up front is well worth it in the long run.

Cheers
Mitch

[JK]

I have been running Dobinson shocks for over a year now and covered some miles with them.

They are quite firm which gives a good ride without swaybars. Great for touring and handle dirt roads really well.

Done a lot of offroading with them and found them to be just fine.

Paid something like $75ea. Can't fault them for the price.

I max out shock travel in the rear but have never done the same in the front (running 3 link) even when I was running the poor-man's 5-link (2-page flex photo in 4WD Monthly OL Watagan's article).

They are a much bigger shock than rancho 9 series.

[John H]

OME -L series ?

Tough Dogs i hear they leak?

Apparently Rancho's have no warranty in four inch lifts only in two inch lifts because their bore size is to small for the weight of a patrol when lifted. Also apparently their valving gets a real flogging when in higher lifts and they fail early.

Just about everyone seems to say that Rancho's are too small to control the weight of a Patrol. OEM always comes up as a name that people recommend.
One thing puzzles me — I didn't think that OME shocks were any bigger in bore diameter than Rancho's. I thought that they were both around 35mm which is on the small side. So, what makes the OME's better? If anything I would have thought that the longer lengths of the Rancho's would usually give a larger oil volume for better heat dissipation...
Any Ideas?

[turps]

Arn't OME the same as Munro. A few shops have told me that they are both the same shock just rebadged, including an OME distributor.

Then they dont know what they are talking about, if they dont even know that, I wouldnt walk in the place again..

They are made to OME Specs which are totally different to anything Monroe make.

With regards to OME/Monro. Monro make alot of shocks for different brands Old Man Emu is one of them. Monro have a very similar shock to the OME's. But it uses a different sized piston and different valving. But uses the same body. I was told that the OME has a thicker piston/shaft but smaller seals. Where as the Monro equivelent has a smaller shaft, but bigger/better seals.

As for shocks. I have had Koni's for about 5 years and have been very happy with them. Even after I bent the shafts (both rears), due to broken trailingarm and panhard rods. They still seem to work. The fronts still feel good.
My next shocks are going to be Dobinsons, as I got them cheap 2nd hand (swapped them for some old IPF's) and the car they came of only got driven about 3 times a year. These are being changed cos the konis are going to be to short and I cant afford Konis.

Prices approx-
Dobinson $130ea
OME $130ea
OME LTR's $lots ea
Koni $230-260 for std, or around $360 for the revalved truck ones.

All depends on what sort of deal a shop can do for you. Have heard people get alot better prices. But I dont know anyone in a Shop that well.

[bazzle]

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/PHP_Modul ... t=l+series

I run OME N19L and N29L.

Lengths above

Very happy

Bazzle

[BowTieGQ]

I run Monroe's as I was told they are identical to OME's. Different valving/sizes between them I was told is only a rumour to make them sound better, therefore the better choice. If OME have a good rep than the Monroe's will be just as good. I really have no idea though. But no one has proven to me either way and I couldn't care. Mine were less than $100 each and suit what I use my Patrol for. More work and commuting than off road.

[Cossie]

Im about to lift my mav and cant decide between dobinson 4" and OME (which would only be 2-3").

also remember that OME L series have no warranty on them which sort of swings me towards towards Dobinsons even though I can get VERY good prices on OME (working for ARB has its advantages!)

anyone know how much dobinson springs/shocks are?

[ludacris]

I would not use anything but [u]Pro Comp[/u] shocks.

Take a look at what all of the comp rigs are running and talk to them if you get a chance to.

LudaCris

[bogged]

I would not use anything but Pro Comp shocks.

Take a look at what all of the comp rigs are running and talk to them if you get a chance to.

LudaCris

what else would you expect procomp trucks to run?

[Adsman]

We cant get pro-comp up here! Distributor cant sell them and had some problems with the shock a few years ago. Freight is far to expensive making basic pro-comps over $240 each.

Where do you get them from and how much?
What sort of warranty?

[Adsman]

Im about to lift my mav and cant decide between dobinson 4" and OME (which would only be 2-3").

also remember that OME L series have no warranty on them which sort of swings me towards towards Dobinsons even though I can get VERY good prices on OME (working for ARB has its advantages!)

anyone know how much dobinson springs/shocks are?

Prices are approx.
Springs 19mm wire $180pr
Shocks $220-260pr
Freight $50-100

Mackay Distributor 4927 7444

Spoke to him last week while chasing prices and info. for my lift kit.

Four or six inch lift for me probably if insurance will cover me.
Take a look at this monster Patrol

[Robbo]

To GQ Trol some of your question answered, Koni special 'D' Bus & Truck front 88 1538 & rear 88 1457. 24 months ago $1000 rebuilt front pair xmas time for $80. If you can afford it fit four to the front & it will land ok from big air.

[GQ TROL]

To GQ Trol some of your question answered, Koni special 'D' Bus & Truck front 88 1538 & rear 88 1457. 24 months ago $1000 rebuilt front pair xmas time for $80. If you can afford it fit four to the front & it will land ok from big air.

Thanks Robbo, what caused you to have to rebuild the front pair??

Cheers
Mitch

[Robbo]

GQ Trol, We have been competing in the GU for 5-6 years & a couple of years back we pushed a little too hard split both front bump stops & over traveled the shocks, that destroyed the valves inside. So hence the rebuild, they have performed fantasticly & have only shown fade once. That was approx 22hrs into a 24hr event running 36" tyres.

[GQ TROL]

GQ Trol, We have been competing in the GU for 5-6 years & a couple of years back we pushed a little too hard split both front bump stops & over traveled the shocks, that destroyed the valves inside. So hence the rebuild, they have performed fantasticly & have only shown fade once. That was approx 22hrs into a 24hr event running 36" tyres

Hmmmm, very impressive!!! With that sort of performance you've got to be happy!! Have been on the Koni website and found the following specs:

88 1457 shocks: Extension = 29.53" (750mm), Compression = 17.91" (455mm), Travel = 11.61" (295mm). Does that sound about right??

I haven't been able to find any specs on the 88 1538 shockies??

Cheers
Mitch

[Robbo]

Yeh that sounds about right (having never put a tape over them) I know what were 5" lift dobinson coils (now approx 4") will fall out on full extension if on hoist with both wheels dropped (on rear that is) but front will not travel full movment of shock even with 3rds control arms in front end. Also no paint left in rear wheel arches so up travel is fine & dandy, could get more with body lift I spose. Hmmm it needs new cab mounts to.