Latest and Greatest Coils and Shocks

T.Bone

Member
Feb 1, 2021
7
1
Dallas, Texas
Okay so I'm the proud owner of my first Discovery and this is my first post... so please cut me some slack!
I have a completely original, stock 2000 Disco 2 with ACE and SLS. I would like to get some feedback on the latest and greatest coils and shock set ups on the market.
Let me know your thoughts/opinions on keeping the rear air shocks vs. converting to coils.
My intention is to have a daily driver/kid hauler that will make the occasional off road/camping trip to Texas Hill Country, Colorado, Utah, etc... think 4-6 trips a year max.
I really like the look of a 2" lift with 255/70R18 on the original wheels. It may or may not get steel bumpers but most likely carry a hidden winch, roof rack, tools, recovery gear, etc. on a daily basis.
I'm a bit of a gear head and like to have the best set up for intended use with less consideration of cost.
I've been looking at Terrafirma medium coils with either Terrafirma stage 4 adjustable shocks, Bilstein 4600's, Koni Heavy Track spx, even considering Bilstein 7100 no remote res. and Fox 2.0
There is a lot of info out there on the forums but not many recent posts.
That being said... what set up would you recommend or put on your personal rig?
Thanks for the feedback!
 

K-rover

Well-known member
Jan 15, 2010
2,163
62
Raleigh, NC
Ive really been pleased with my fox 2.0s. Been on the truck for 7yrs. With no complaints at all. Only thing to consider is that the Fox 2.0 emulsions ( not the ifp) need the rear upper shock mounts modified as the shoulder of the shock hits the mount. The IFPs dont have this issue, neither do the Bilstein 7100s.
 

T.Bone

Member
Feb 1, 2021
7
1
Dallas, Texas
If you can get in US, go for the Koni. Ive run their Red rallye raid for years. Heavy track are good. After that Fox is a good option and they can be re-valve to your driving needs
If you can get in US, go for the Koni. Ive run their Red rallye raid for years. Heavy track are good. After that Fox is a good option and they can be re-valve to your driving needs
Roverparts has the heavy track on sale for $399.00... just have no point of reference for these shocks as to the value. This would be half the cost of Bilsein 7100’s but I really just want a great shock for the rig.
 

T.Bone

Member
Feb 1, 2021
7
1
Dallas, Texas
Ive really been pleased with my fox 2.0s. Been on the truck for 7yrs. With no complaints at all. Only thing to consider is that the Fox 2.0 emulsions ( not the ifp) need the rear upper shock mounts modified as the shoulder of the shock hits the mount. The IFPs dont have this issue, neither do the Bilstein 7100s.
I don’t think I want to get into mount mods... I had Bilstein 5100's on my Tundra and they were great! I've read on here they are not so good on the Disco 2?
If I go with the 5125 or 7100 does anyone know the right travel and valving for a typical 2" lift?
What about the Fox ifp travel and mounts?
I'm just learning... is it best to call the manufacturer for specifics?
 

T.Bone

Member
Feb 1, 2021
7
1
Dallas, Texas
I saw they had standard height HTs on sale last fall, if they still have them, grab them. I would have grabbed a set but I need +2" on my D1
If I am trying to get 2" lift on my D2 I assume +2 needed as well?
I can't tell on the website if they are standard or not...
 

Swedjen2

Well-known member
Sep 12, 2018
594
127
California
4X OME MD + 4X OME long travel shocks = Done. Rovers North awaits your order.
To make your shiney new D2 sit proper and look better while doing it, add 1/2" or 1" spacers to the front. You will have to measure the difference between the front and rear arch height to get the right one.

They carry Fox and Bilsteen as well.
 

rovercanus

Well-known member
Apr 24, 2004
9,643
244
I've been running RTE springs with Bilstein 7100 for quite a while on 2 different D2's with 4+ lift.
The 7100's can be rebuilt and re-valved. Currently on my 04 I am running 10" non-remote on all 4 corners. I have a pair of 12" remotes that need to be rebuilt and then thrown in the back.
With RTE springs you won't need to level the truck side to side.
 

Toltec 1

Active member
If I am trying to get 2" lift on my D2 I assume +2 needed as well?
I can't tell on the website if they are standard or not...

The ones I saw that were on sale were for standard/stock ride hight. Whatever you do get, make sure they are revavleable and rebuildable. And stay away from OME sports unless you are hauling >600# on a regular basis, they are stiffer than a honeymoon dick.
 

p m

Administrator
Staff member
Apr 19, 2004
15,617
837
58
La Jolla, CA
www.3rj.org
4X OME MD + 4X OME long travel shocks = Done. Rovers North awaits your order.
A broken OME shock with about 1000 miles on it:
20171104_105305_HDR.jpg

Nearly anyone [who off-roads their Rovers] I showed the photo to said "Oh, the upper eyelet breaking on the OME shock! You didn't know?"
 
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p m

Administrator
Staff member
Apr 19, 2004
15,617
837
58
La Jolla, CA
www.3rj.org
I haven't had the opportunity to drive 1000 miles of washboard yet.
But If I did - what shocks do you run?
I haven't, either. Close but not quite.

More often, the stock-replacement Bilsteins. They break, too - but the eyelets are threaded onto the rod, so if you catch it in time and the threads are not too boogered, you can JBWeld the threads 'till it takes you home.
Last time in Baja we had two Bilsteins go tits up like that - including a spare. So I ended up with drilling the rods through eyelets, tapping the hole to about 10-32, and putting screws from the eyelet. The beauty of that is that the more crooked your threads are, the stronger the assembly is. But even if you drilled and tapped the hole perfectly, the outside thread has a different pitch from inside, so it locks itself.
 

Flyfish

Well-known member
Oct 29, 2004
1,402
212
52
St. Louis
I've been running RTE springs with Bilstein 7100 for quite a while on 2 different D2's with 4+ lift.
The 7100's can be rebuilt and re-valved. Currently on my 04 I am running 10" non-remote on all 4 corners. I have a pair of 12" remotes that need to be rebuilt and then thrown in the back.
With RTE springs you won't need to level the truck side to side.
X2 on RTE. I’ve had their 3” progressive springs for about 10 years and would buy them again!
 

Toltec 1

Active member
I haven't had the opportunity to drive 1000 miles of washboard yet.

But If I did - what shocks do you run?

Running "washboard" at high rates of speed for hundreds of miles requires not only beefy shocks but also appropriate springs tires and talent. An over dampened truck on washboard can easily swap ends with tad too much steering input. I run King (US) adjustable with remote reservoirs on my US based '96 LC80, where I run 50 to 70MPH all day long all north Maine's gravel logging loads. The Kings I have are pretty much sport level desert racing shocks, but at $650 a corner not in everyones budget. On my Costa Rican based '94 LC80 I run Koni Rallye Raids re-valved valved for my trucks weight armored up. The truck rarely leave the gravel roads of the Nicoya Peninsula, which are some of the worst road in all of Central America, the Koni's are very stable on washboard and never g-out on big hits at >80KPH. And, FWIW, NATO has been running Koni Rallye Raids on defenders and MRAPs for decades. If you want to invest in a high performance damper which can be valved to your drive style/needs definitely check out King, all made in US to. I've tour their factory, yes its epic. Happy Trails!
 

Blue

Well-known member
Mar 26, 2004
10,043
856
AZ
I've heard so many stories of OMEs breaking and I've personally seen it once. I ran OMEs on my D1 and my D2 for years and a couple hundred thousand miles with heavy-duty springs and I never had a problem. And I wasn't exactly easy on them.


IMG_2156.jpg

IMG_2152.jpg
 

Flyfish

Well-known member
Oct 29, 2004
1,402
212
52
St. Louis
The better shocks have eyelets that are more narrow and have a spacer on each side.so there’s a much wider angle for movement. That helps prevent the eyelet from binding up against the bushing washers/cups like the pic above.

EC6543CC-A4BE-47C0-B8BB-45A4B5C7ECE3.jpg
 
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p m

Administrator
Staff member
Apr 19, 2004
15,617
837
58
La Jolla, CA
www.3rj.org
That open Heim joint is terrible. The fine desert dust will wear it out in a few hundred miles, and it'll start rattling like crazy.
Open spherical end joints are only for trailer queens.
 

rovercanus

Well-known member
Apr 24, 2004
9,643
244
Is E-Shocks still around? They had the Bilstein stuff to change out the heim joints with bushings. RTE sold spacers to center the shock in the mount and convert the 1/2" Diameter to 12mm.
 
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