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Equipping the Overland Vehicle Vehicle accessories - Making your home away from home comfortable, safe and reliable.
Photo by Ellen Delis, Lagunas Ojos del Campo, Antofalla, Catamarca

I haven't been everywhere...
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Photo by Ellen Delis,
Lagunas Ojos del Campo,
Antofalla, Catamarca



Overlanders Handbook - everything you need to know, available NOW!

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  #1  
Old 13 Apr 2005
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Shocks & Springs ?

I read through all the threads and I’m more confused than ever !
I’m fitting out my 110 300Tdi Hard Top for an African overland trip and am now looking at the final bit …. the springs & shocks. Now that the wee beastie is fully loaded she wallows somewhat to say the least. The best suggestion I have had to date is Koni shocks and EMU springs and I am inclined to go down this route, but if so, what specification/model number to go for? Or, what other alternatives should I be considering?
Any advice would be appreciated
Thanks
Ian


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  #2  
Old 13 Apr 2005
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I run the heavy duty OME shocks and Springs on my 110 300TDI. Went trans africa with these and they work pretty well. Still give some travel whilst the vehicle doesn't wallow. We were pretty heavily loaded, roll cage, winch, bull bar, side bars, long range tanks, 2 spare wheels, 3 people, all our kit, etc. Not sure on the Koni shocks, haven't had experiance of those, they may work just as well / better?
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  #3  
Old 13 Apr 2005
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Not sure what HASN'T already been said in http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb...ML/000393.html and others.

All a bunch of opinions of course, but you pays your money and takes your choice.

For countering wallowing, I'd recommend airbags in the rear, pretty much regardless of spring/damper choice.

Regards,

Michael
www.expeditionoverland.com
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  #4  
Old 28 Apr 2006
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Airbags.

I agree with the previous guy: airbags in the rear, fitted within the coil spring in my case (Defender 110). It´s a Firestone product. Mind the top rubber stopper that fits into the spring bracket. Its need a special provision I can tell you more about if you decide to use them.
Pieter
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  #5  
Old 28 Apr 2006
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ianrichards121
I read through all the threads and I’m more confused than ever !
I’m fitting out my 110 300Tdi Hard Top for an African overland trip and am now looking at the final bit …. the springs & shocks. Now that the wee beastie is fully loaded she wallows somewhat to say the least. The best suggestion I have had to date is Koni shocks and EMU springs and I am inclined to go down this route, but if so, what specification/model number to go for? Or, what other alternatives should I be considering?
Any advice would be appreciated
Thanks
Ian


------------------
Ian,

I ran the Koni Heavy Tracks (3 way adjustable) on my Disco and they were much better than any other shock I had (OME, Bilstein, deCarbon, Rancho, etc). I did remove the OMEs from my wife's 96 Disco bucause they were too hard and started to sag after a year.

Right now I am running the Scorpion Racing springs and Oram shocks. This is by far the best setup I've had on my Disco. I'm prepping my Rover for expedition travel and carry alot of gear and so far the springs and shocks have been doing fine.

I've sold a few AirLift kits to guys in Argentina for the Rovers and they seem to be very happy with them. The kit costs around U$S 90 here in the US.
Good luck.
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  #6  
Old 28 Apr 2006
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cinquegrana

I ran the Koni Heavy Tracks (3 way adjustable) on my Disco and they were much better than any other shock I had (OME, Bilstein, deCarbon, Rancho, etc).
Wow, you've eaten through quite a few of them! What was wrong with Bilsteins?

Quote:
I did remove the OMEs from my wife's 96 Disco bucause they were too hard and started to sag after a year.
You mean sagging springs, not shocks. Is that right?

Quote:
Right now I am running the Scorpion Racing springs and Oram shocks. This is by far the best setup I've had on my Disco.
Ehm... wish you good luck. You'll need it, believe me ;-)

Quote:
I've sold a few AirLift kits to guys in Argentina for the Rovers and they seem to be very happy with them. The kit costs around U$S 90 here in the US.
Good luck.
I've bought the Airlift1000 kit but not fitted it yet. Just wondering how long it will last on the piste?
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  #7  
Old 28 Apr 2006
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On my current off roader 90 i have OME springs and shocks. had the same on my old 110 SW 300Tdi and swear by them.

saying that, on my current 110 SW (td5) i've got around to start "modifying" it ready for some off road excursion, i've got standard 110 HD front springs (which are 90 standard rears) and Bearmach 110 HD rear springs, which seem to give virtually the same ride as the OME rears i had (can't remeber the numbers for any of them, but i can dig them out if anyone wants them) but the bearmach are about 1/2 the price of OME.

i've yet to change the shocks though, i think the HD stiff rear springs need a decent shock with them as it's a bit "bangy" over bumps and potholes. the gas OMe shocks should help to absord this a lot i think.
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  #8  
Old 29 Apr 2006
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Roman
Wow, you've eaten through quite a few of them! What was wrong with Bilsteins?

You mean sagging springs, not shocks. Is that right?

Ehm... wish you good luck. You'll need it, believe me ;-)

I've bought the Airlift1000 kit but not fitted it yet. Just wondering how long it will last on the piste?
Bilsteins are fine with the BB springs but the BB sagged after 2 years.

I'm not worried about the Scorpion springs since they have a lifetime warranty.

Yes, I mean sagging springs not shocks.

Airlift: don't know if they will last or not, I guess time will tell.
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  #9  
Old 29 Apr 2006
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[QUOTE=Cinquegrana]
I'm not worried about the Scorpion springs since they have a lifetime warranty.

[QUOTE]


Maybe so, but you ave to deal with them to get the replacement springs... and their customer service is, ahem, rather lacking!
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  #10  
Old 29 Apr 2006
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[QUOTE=diesel jim][QUOTE=Cinquegrana]
I'm not worried about the Scorpion springs since they have a lifetime warranty.

Quote:


Maybe so, but you ave to deal with them to get the replacement springs... and their customer service is, ahem, rather lacking!
I heard, actually I don't have to worry because I am their North & South America distributor. But I have to admit they are not the easiest people to deal with. I also distribute for other UK suppliers (Ashcroft, QT, Tomcat, Devon, Exmor, etc) and they are much nicer to deal with than Scorpion.
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  #11  
Old 29 Apr 2006
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Fit Land Rovers own HD 110 front springs (the ones you use with a bonnet mounted spare), and either use the standard van type rears or if you're going to have a permanent load over 500kg use the 130 type (twin coil). Don't know the part numbers off the top of my head, but this is all you need to know. Standard 110 shocks all round. A cheap reliable set up actually tested on these vehicles by LR. Used by me and never any problem. All the rest are an unknown quantity. Avoid stiff springs and gas shocks for overlanding, you want the low rate stuff the factory fits.

Andrew.
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  #12  
Old 29 Apr 2006
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Andrew Baker
Fit Land Rovers own HD 110 front springs (the ones you use with a bonnet mounted spare), and either use the standard van type rears or if you're going to have a permanent load over 500kg use the 130 type (twin coil). Don't know the part numbers off the top of my head, but this is all you need to know. Standard 110 shocks all round. A cheap reliable set up actually tested on these vehicles by LR. Used by me and never any problem. All the rest are an unknown quantity. Avoid stiff springs and gas shocks for overlanding, you want the low rate stuff the factory fits.

Andrew.
Here goes:

110 HD rear damper (or 130 standard) STC3772
110 HD rear spring (or 130 standard) NRC6904 (for both sides)
110 HD rear spring "helper spring" (goes inside the main spring) RRC3266
helper spring upper retainer RRC3352
helper spring lower retainer RRC3355

110 front HD drivers spring (its a standard 90 rear) NRC9448
110 front HD passenger spring NRC9449

110 front shocks are the same as 130 fronts, no HD version shown RSC100050




Hope that helps.
Although i rave about OME stuff, the genuine LR HD components are more than adequate, and a lot cheaper, and available at EVERY LR dealership worldwide should the worst happen and you break something.
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