Choosing a replacement suspension shock

Benny_Boy · Jul 3, 2020

I need to replace my shock absorbers, but I'm struggling to find objective reviews or compassions. From looks alone my 110 has stock oem shocks fitted. I only partake in occasional green laning so I don't need anything super fancy/expensive like Old Man Emu, but I was eyeing up the terra Firma tf116s. At roughly twice the price of the OEM parts I'm happy with this price point, but are they worth it? Should I just stick with OEM shocks? Is there any tangible benefit with this relatively small jump in price point?

Thanks.

lynall · Jul 3, 2020

If susp oem, stick with oem shox, simple and cheap.
As for any difference whilst laning. none to very little, pretty much the same on the road.

Scooby22 · Jul 3, 2020

Landrover spent years developing the defender and gave it the best all round set up, you might improve extreme off road ability by putting different suspension on but for what you want stick to standard, Landrover knew what they were doing when they developed your set up as an all rounder.

tottot · Jul 3, 2020

I just painted my standard ones a nice bright yellow so they look like fancy ones.

Real reason is to keep the rust bug at bay .

dag019 · Jul 3, 2020

I would agree with the above, standard OEM all the way for your usage, that is what they were designed to do.
However if price is an issue, I can also highly recommend the Birtpart shocks that are about £15 each. Although they are very cheap and at times Bripart has a questionable reputation, I had them fitted for about 5 year with no problems. They were fitted at a time when money was tight but they did everything I asked of them, green laning, heavy loading, towing etc. In that time they also did a trip around the Moroccan dessert and were only replaced because I was preparing for another trip around Morocco so was preemptively replacing a lot of the suspension parts to reduce the risk of failure.

Benny_Boy · Jul 3, 2020

OEM it is then. Thanks.

Next question: length. I don't know if my vehicle has been lifted in the past. It certainly rides quite high. The crown of the wheel arch cover sits 3 feet above the deck (unloaded) and running on 265/75/16 tyres. Now I'm not asking how to measure the suspension lift! There are SO many variables in there it's not worth it.

What I can say is that the current rear shocks are 2 feet long in situe (unloaded). I don't know how much extra travel they have in them, but it doesn't look like much. Top tube is 9" long and there is 9.5" of bottom tube visible. 18.5" of tubing minus 24" tip-to-tip length doesn't leave much when you take out the length of the attachment points. Does that sound like it needs a '+2"' shock or just a regular?

lynall · Jul 3, 2020

Benny_Boy said:
OEM it is then. Thanks.

Next question: length. I don't know if my vehicle has been lifted in the past. It certainly rides quite high. The crown of the wheel arch cover sits 3 feet above the deck (unloaded) and running on 265/75/16 tyres. Now I'm not asking how to measure the suspension lift! There are SO many variables in there it's not worth it.

What I can say is that the current rear shocks are 2 feet long in situe (unloaded). I don't know how much extra travel they have in them, but it doesn't look like much. Top tube is 9" long and there is 9.5" of bottom tube visible. 18.5" of tubing minus 24" tip-to-tip length doesn't leave much when you take out the length of the attachment points. Does that sound like it needs a '+2"' shock or just a regular?

Measure centre of axle drive member to bottom of wheel arch lip, post up info and ask others to check theirs for you.

Hippo · Jul 4, 2020

Wrong fred

dag019 · Jul 4, 2020

lynall said:
Measure centre of axle drive member to bottom of wheel arch lip, post up info and ask others to check theirs for you.

You would be better off getting underneath and measuring from axle tube to chassis to remove the variable of wheel arch flex.

pushmi-pullu · Jul 6, 2020

Benny_Boy said:
OEM it is then. Thanks.

Next question: length. I don't know if my vehicle has been lifted in the past. It certainly rides quite high. The crown of the wheel arch cover sits 3 feet above the deck (unloaded) and running on 265/75/16 tyres. Now I'm not asking how to measure the suspension lift! There are SO many variables in there it's not worth it.

What I can say is that the current rear shocks are 2 feet long in situe (unloaded). I don't know how much extra travel they have in them, but it doesn't look like much. Top tube is 9" long and there is 9.5" of bottom tube visible. 18.5" of tubing minus 24" tip-to-tip length doesn't leave much when you take out the length of the attachment points. Does that sound like it needs a '+2"' shock or just a regular?

Hi,
Do the shocks on your car have a stamped code? If you can find the code and search via internet. You may be able to find the exact replacement and size?

All the best

Choosing a replacement suspension shock

Benny_Boy

Active Member

lynall

Well-Known Member

Scooby22

Well-Known Member

tottot

Well-Known Member

dag019

Well-Known Member

Benny_Boy

Active Member

lynall

Well-Known Member

Hippo

Lord Hippo

dag019

Well-Known Member

pushmi-pullu

Well-Known Member

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