Steering Dampers: OME or Bilstein?

[pschuler]

Any rave reviews about either the Bilstein or OME Steering Dampers? They are both $80.

Out of curiousity is anyone running a double damper set up on their Disco?

 

[wizard]

Yep i have two pro comp dampers on my Tdi disco

wizard

 

[rover4x4]

I guess you have to double up on the shit dampers. I like the OME damper, I like the lack of that rubber boot the Bilsteins have.

 

[antichrist]

I've had OEM, OME and Bilstein (currently) in that order. Haven't seen any real difference.

 

[rovercanus]

How do you know when they're bad?

 

[p m]

You have to dig deep into archives.
The difference between OME and Bilstein steering dampers is profound. Just like Hi-Lift jack vs. Jack-All.

 

[mainerova]

I decided on OME because the are designed for bumpy rough roads and not harder 4wheeling like some others, dont know what terrain the Bilsteins are designed for.

 

[D Chapman]

Can someone confirm this?

A guy told me once that the Bilstein was "gas charged". I assume he was talking about like how a shock is "charged" and extends on its own.... But he was telling me that the dampner, because its "charged" pushes on the drag link, thus turning the wheel, thus making it so the truck will not track straight down the road.. Bullshit? Sounds like bullshit to me....but I've never had a Bilstein dampner.

Peter, just get the OME.

 

[RoverInTheRockies]

Peter, just get the OME.

I can't believe this... I actualy agree with Dan on something... Just get the OME

 

[GregH]

You won't go wrong with either OME or Bilstein. Both are quality dampers.

I guess you have to double up on the shit dampers. I like the OME damper, I like the lack of that rubber boot the Bilsteins have.

My Range Rover Bilstein damper has a steel tube dust cover-no rubber boot.

 

[GregH]

Can someone confirm this?

A guy told me once that the Bilstein was "gas charged". I assume he was talking about like how a shock is "charged" and extends on its own.... But he was telling me that the dampner, because its "charged" pushes on the drag link, thus turning the wheel, thus making it so the truck will not track straight down the road.. Bullshit? Sounds like bullshit to me....but I've never had a Bilstein dampner.

That is a load of crap. I've had one on my Rover since 1994 and I've never experienced any "pushing".

Sounds like someone's alignment was off and they blamed the damper.

 

[antichrist]

How do you know when they're bad?

Well, in the case of my OEM and OME, they were beat all to hell.
I installed the bilstein when I made a relocation bracket to move it up front.
In general though, one way would be hitting something with just one wheel and having it jerk your steering wheel around, since that's the purpose of a damper.
Two would be to take it off and test it like a shock. That said....

Dan, I don't know. I do know my Bilstein had to be compressed to fit it. But I don't have any tracking problems. Maybe it's magic

 

[p m]

Can someone confirm this?

If you install Bilstein steering damper with the axle on the stands, unlock the steering column, you may be lucky to observe some pushing.

On the road, like Greg said, it would be just as easy to detect as global warming.

I haven't had any problems with either. EE carries OME, that's good enough for me.