jacckk

jacckk

Active Member
Hi all,

The ride in my P38 feels pretty bad on anything but the smoothest of roads. I understand it's not going to be brilliant but the way some members seem to praise the ride of it must mean I have something wrong with mine.

I've changed the shocks with new terrafirma ones from Island 4x4 (I understand that these are slightly harder than OEM but I can't really notice any difference since fitting them). The old shocks were completely ruined since I could compress them by hand easily and they wouldn't extend back out.

Air suspension itself seems is in good order with new bags a few months ago. I'm going to calibrate it tomorrow to rule out that as an issue and also make sure all tyre pressures are correct. I'm on 16 inch wheels.

Are there any other things I should be looking to replace/take a look at?

Thanks.
 
It will be the Terrafrmas. I fitted them to mine and they make the ride noticeably harder. I've not done enough miles yet to see if they bed in but to be honest I prefer it. It gives a lot more feed back on what the wheels are doing and I have a lot more confidence in driving it. Also feels like the steering is now connected and not lashed up using rubber bands.
 
I've got Terrafirmas on the bank end and OEM (old) up front. Ride is firm but not harsh. Maybe if your original shocks were as bad as described, you just got used to it being that way and can now feel a big difference?
 
jacckk said:
Hi all,

The ride in my P38 feels pretty bad on anything but the smoothest of roads. I understand it's not going to be brilliant but the way some members seem to praise the ride of it must mean I have something wrong with mine.

I've changed the shocks with new terrafirma ones from Island 4x4 (I understand that these are slightly harder than OEM but I can't really notice any difference since fitting them). The old shocks were completely ruined since I could compress them by hand easily and they wouldn't extend back out.

Air suspension itself seems is in good order with new bags a few months ago. I'm going to calibrate it tomorrow to rule out that as an issue and also make sure all tyre pressures are correct. I'm on 16 inch wheels.

Are there any other things I should be looking to replace/take a look at?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

I have news for you your old shocks were working. Pushing in easily and being hard to pull back out is what they are supposed to be like. Don't confuse with gas shocks that have resistance when pushed in and will self expand when pressure is released.
 
Last edited:
P38s ride nicely compared to tractors and many German cars. They're pretty unsophisticated over rippled surfaces. The terrafirmas are harsher than oem.
 
Ok thanks everyone. I'll still give the calibration a go anyway!

The old shocks were leaking which is why I replaced them.
 
jacckk said:
Ok thanks everyone. I'll still give the calibration a go anyway!

The old shocks were leaking which is why I replaced them.
Click to expand...

Well that's a better reason to replace them than the one you first described. :D:D
 
Mine was also harsh.
That changed when i calibrated with the calibration blocks i made.
Now its quite comfortable, not Citroen comfortable but more comfortable than the Audi A4.
 
Mine which came off at 115k miles and like yours had started to leak but mine had zero resistance both ways. The difference the terras made was amazing but they are firmer
 
Calibrated it and made sure the tyre pressures were 100% and theres a definite improvement in the ride.
 
I changed the shock absorbers back to Boge and my ride is still rubbish. You can feel every bump in the road through the seat. On bigger bumps it feels like there's practically no suspension.

What else could this be?
 
jacckk said:
I changed the shock absorbers back to Boge and my ride is still rubbish. You can feel every bump in the road through the seat. On bigger bumps it feels like there's practically no suspension.

What else could this be?
Click to expand...
Tyres, tyre pressures.
 
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