Shock Absorber choices

[jsttry]

What brands/choices would people suggest for shock absorbers?

Looking for best bang for buck, not expensive adjustable rancho's or anything like that.

I have a Land Rover County 110 that is currently running Rockcrawler's however have just broken one of the rear lower rubber spacers and they are over 5yrs old and are past their due by date so am in the market for some new ones.

[6.5 rangie]

on a landrover i would go for Koni or Bistien. As for Rancho, i wouldn't put them on unless they were for free.

[bucketofbolts]

i agree with the rancho bit, have heard heaps of people that have had dramas,

i use RAW shocks and they work great, only new to the market, but have put up with everything i have put them through,

i have had mine for about 2 years and still going good,

[ST391GQ]

i agree with the rancho bit, have heard heaps of people that have had dramas,

i use RAW shocks and they work great, only new to the market, but have put up with everything i have put them through,

i have had mine for about 2 years and still going good,

X 2

[YankeeDave]

been running ranchos for 7 years and not one drama.

[Jimbo]

Dont buy ranchos. You only realise how crap they are when u take them off and put another shock on.

[bucketofbolts]

i've heard some bad story's about rancho's,

i've also heard of toughdogs flogging out the shafts to,

but you only here of the bad storys

[bogged]

Konis.. or LTR's.

[bazzle]

Ive run OMEs on 2 Disco's now over 10 years with no problems.

Bazzle

[Jimbo]

For the price i think OME's are great. I have also just put a set of procomps on my GQ and they are also fantastic.

[HotFourOk]

I love and everyone I know loves thier Rancho's... and they aren't dear either.

Its always the same, if a company sells a HUGE amount of shocks, the failure amount will probably be high, but this does not neccesarily mean they have a high failure rate.

And it seems like only one person who said dont buy Ranchos has actually had them on thier own car.
The others are always "a mate had them" or "I've heard bad stories"

[bogged]

And it seems like only one person who said dont buy Ranchos has actually had them on thier own car.
The others are always "a mate had them" or "I've heard bad stories"

Ive personaly had them, replaced 3 tmies, 4th time threw them in the bin

Ossie has had them, same story.

Ranchos are shit.
YMWV

[Jimbo]

"And it seems like only one person who said dont buy Ranchos has actually had them on thier own car.
The others are always "a mate had them" or "I've heard bad stories"

I hope u were not refering to me!! I ahve the 9 stage adgustable on the front. I only put them on because i had them sitting around and they were longer than my ome's. I have had experience with ranchos on 2 patrols now, my GQ and my mates GU (which i took away for 2 weeks in tassie and a few other trips to robe and so on). Maybe they are just crap on heavy patrols they they didnt even compare to my fairly cheap OME's and now procomps. I have stuffed around on all the settings but they dont feel right on either.

Maybe a rancho5000 is appealing due to the cost which is fair enough (although my procomps were cheaper and OME' almost teh same) but the 9000 sell for $200 each (along those lines) and are crap for the $$$. Save a little more and get Konis or spend a lot less and get OME's or Procomps.

Just my opinion though (through trial and error)...each to their own

Jimmy

[HotFourOk]

"And it seems like only one person who said dont buy Ranchos has actually had them on thier own car.
The others are always "a mate had them" or "I've heard bad stories"
I hope u were not refering to me!!
Jimmy

You were the one who I thought actually had them on thier car Jimmy.. not one of the mates had them people.

As said, they might not be up to scratch on a heavier vehicle... but then again, I don't do overly hardcore offroading... you boys would do I'd say

[Jimbo]

As said, they might not be up to scratch on a heavier vehicle... but then again, I don't do overly hardcore offroading... you boys would do I'd say

I actually havent taken mine for a proper test offroad yet, just a few bad dirt roads, and thats where i find the problem. They dont feel good (to me) over rough or pot holed roads. Even driving to work everyday and hit a decent bump.....the whole front end shakes and rattles rather just taking it like it did with the ome's.

I'm sure the ranchos would be fine for slow work through the bush.

[Jimbo]

As said, they might not be up to scratch on a heavier vehicle... but then again, I don't do overly hardcore offroading... you boys would do I'd say

I actually havent taken mine for a proper test offroad yet, just a few bad dirt roads, and thats where i find the problem. They dont feel good (to me) over rough or pot holed roads. Even driving to work everyday and hit a decent bump.....the whole front end shakes and rattles rather just taking it like it did with the ome's.

I'm sure the ranchos would be fine for slow work through the bush.

[turps]

I have RS9000's on the rear and had them on the front my SWB GQ (I brought the car with them on so dont know how old they are). I took the front ones off and replaced them with my 200 000km old Konis. And ride improved heaps and the konis are about shagged and it still feels better.
And none of the Ranchos makes a diference no matter what setting there on.

[bucketofbolts]

i've had rancho's on a zook, but the weight of them wanted break anything,

it's hard to know what to get, as i said 'we only here of the bad story's',

i'm happy with what i've got know,

[Hales231271]

Koni

Cheers
Dazza

[dirtyGQ]

i use EFS and seem to travel and ride fine and danm have i gave them a hammering........ had series 2000 shocks before and they were shocking

[Spartacus]

i agree rancho 5000 arent all that.

when i cut my rocky into a ute the ranchos went into bone jarring mode.
i now have efs and its a lot betta ride.

[Nev]

i agree rancho 5000 arent all that.

when i cut my rocky into a ute the ranchos went into bone jarring mode.
i now have efs and its a lot betta ride.

you also have coils now not leaves

[Jeeps]

And none of the Ranchos makes a diference no matter what setting there on.

I believe Ranchos are better suited to vehicles between 1500 kgs's and 2500kg's.

Above that weight you hear stories about them not making much of a difference no matter what setting they're on. The vehicle is too heavy. Below that weight, i've heard stories of lighter vehicles (jimny's sierra's etc) where it's the same deal - they're too light.

I've had mine for a year and a half and about 40,000klm and i still get a massive difference of feeling between the lowest and highest setting.

If you drive a feather or landbarge Rancho's won't be effective.

(and yes, i know in the US they fit them to F250's and stuff)

[Jimbo]

My GQ is in that range and still crap!!!

I can tell teh difference between the settings buts just a bad ride.

[jsttry]

Just been getting some ballpark prices

Rancho 5000 - $130
Tough Dog 41mm - $160
Rockcrawler 41mm - $165
Ironman - $70

That's a big difference between the ironman and the others. I'd go for the rockcrawlers again or the T/D's but at half the price its tempting to try the Ironmans. Anyone had experience with them?

[Jimbo]

Have u tried procomps? I just put a couple on my patrol and love them. Seem pretty big and tough and only cost $120 each (or maybe less). Plus you can get them nice and long.

[highlift80]

I have had Rancho RS9000 5 speeds on my 80 series for the last 4 years and have clocked up well over 100k on the bastards they have just died in the last few weeks now and are going to be replaced with ToughDog 45mm adjustables. As my brother has fitted T/D and loves em so I thought I would give em go as well. The Rancho's copped and absolute flogging over what i reckon are some of the worst corrugated roads in Australia a lot of the dirt roads out here in Western NSW don't see a grader too often and are fairly well beyond F#$%*D.. it wear's pretty hard on ya gear. I have seen plenty of the so called better brands rebadged cheap imports die pretty quick out here. Rancho's I can't fault em. I guess like most things you' ve just try these things and find out yourself. My brothers had Koni he reckons they are pretty good and they can be rebuilt, I have had OME and XGS before i lifted my cruiser they were ok . horse's 4 course's BOYZ

[jif]

Had OME's and they were firm as a sledgehammer in the back.

Swapped to Procomps, 10 times better on road and feel much more stable better off road

[Mark2]

I also had OME's (supposedly the comfort rated valving) in the rear of my GQ and wasnt happy with the ride (too firm). When I converted it into a ute it was unbearable. And no, the springs werent too heavy - I could bottom them out by jumping on the rear cross member without the shocks fitted.

Sold it with the OME's fitted so cant comment on others but would probably have tried procomp next for the money.

[HotFourOk]

And none of the Ranchos makes a diference no matter what setting there on.

I believe Ranchos are better suited to vehicles between 1500 kgs's and 2500kg's.

Above that weight you hear stories about them not making much of a difference no matter what setting they're on. The vehicle is too heavy. Below that weight, i've heard stories of lighter vehicles (jimny's sierra's etc) where it's the same deal - they're too light.

I've had mine for a year and a half and about 40,000klm and i still get a massive difference of feeling between the lowest and highest setting.

If you drive a feather or landbarge Rancho's won't be effective.

(and yes, i know in the US they fit them to F250's and stuff)

The difference between setting 1 and 9 on mine is huge also... my car weighs 1700kg If someone has changed the setting I can notice it with normal driving

I saw a F250 with ranchos on the front... but they use 2 per corner