| Author | Message | ||
     Matthew Perry (Mattntamm) New Member Username: Mattntamm Post Number: 5 Registered: 06-2003 |
Is there a way to know for sure if the shocks and or springs need to be replaced? I recently purchased a '96 Disco and I'm not sure if the shocks have every been replaced or not. However, everytime I go over even the slightest bumb it sounds like the rear end is going rattle off!! I was looking into Bilsteins shocks and steering damper. Any thoughts or words of wisdom would be much appreciated. | ||
| Clif Ashley (Cta586) Senior Member Username: Cta586 Post Number: 344 Registered: 04-2002 |
Are you looking to retain the stock ride height? | ||
| Matthew Perry (Mattntamm) New Member Username: Mattntamm Post Number: 6 Registered: 06-2003 |
I think so. It is pretty much an "everyday/go anywhere" vehicle in our family. We are having new tires put on this week (255/65-16), should be okay with stock height, right? | ||
| Sergei Rodionov (Uzbad) Member Username: Uzbad Post Number: 42 Registered: 08-2003 |
Matthew, easiest test to check shocks is to just do "push and watch" test. I.e just push (fast) corner of vehicle down and release. If it jumps few times - your shocks as dead as very dead things. Next step is to get wheel off , then take shocks off and check them (if you got doubts yet) - you shouldnt be able to push them abruptly, they should collapse only if you use steady force (quite a lot of it for Disco's shocks). If you have to force them to extend, or if they collapse right away - its time to throw some bucks  As of springs - compare your ride height with some other discos on street, or get height values from tech section on this site. If you lower - your springs are to be replaced | ||
| Matthew Perry (Mattntamm) New Member Username: Mattntamm Post Number: 7 Registered: 06-2003 |
Thanks Sergei, did the "push and watch" test and it seems that they are toast. I was going to replace them with Bilstiens, basically just b/c that's about the only name I see when I read about Rover shocks. Any other suggestions? Also, how do I know if the steering damper needs to be replaced? Again, thanks for all your help. | ||
| Chris W. (Dcwhybrew) Member Username: Dcwhybrew Post Number: 88 Registered: 05-2003 |
Matthew, I replaced the shocks on my 96 D1 with Bilsteins. I really like them...good choice in my book. Others on here like their Old Man Emu. Those two seem to be the most popular. Chris | ||
| Matthew Perry (Mattntamm) New Member Username: Mattntamm Post Number: 9 Registered: 06-2003 |
Thanks Chris, I appreciate the input. Did you replace your damper with a Bilstein also? | ||
| Sergei Rodionov (Uzbad) Member Username: Uzbad Post Number: 46 Registered: 08-2003 |
Well , i just got new set of ProComps , and i am very impressed They cost like 129$ for full set (4) and with free shipping (4wheelparts.com) - hey i can always get another set if they drops dead. Another name to try, if you just do usual on-road driving is Trailmaster (Tyrco? Cant remember). I heard lots of good things about them for that kind of driving. Bilsteins and ProComp are more for off-road drive, i.e they are "harder", so they could recover from shock faster. For smooth highway thing you want "smoother" shocks - they will extend slowly, thus giving you "cushy" feeling. I have Bilsteins on my XTerra, and like them a lot. But then i have yet to see ProComps on my Discovery on serious trail. On road they feels about same. | ||
| Bill Bettridge (Billb) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Billb Post Number: 1068 Registered: 02-2002 |
If the rear is rattling that much, it is probably the rear door needing the hinges and/or striker adjusted - common problem with that big heavy door. I'm sure that if original, the springs and shocks need replacing also - Bilstein is a good choice for a mainly road driven truck (and they still do well off road) Bill | ||
| Alan Yim (Alan) Senior Member Username: Alan Post Number: 761 Registered: 09-2002 |
Mathew - You were asking about steering dampers earlier. I just put a Old Man Emu steering damper on and so far it's been great. I like it better than stock. Not sure how they compare to the Bilstein ones though. As for when the steering damper needs to be replaced, mine was shot but it was also obvious that it was done though. It made a grinding noise whenever I turned left and it didn't want to self-center, plus on visual inspection, it was pretty obvious. But if your damper isn't in that condition, another sign that your damper is going is that when you run over bumps, your steering wheel will shimmy or vibrate quite a bit. Very obvious at higher speeds. If the damper was healthy, you won't feel many vibrations in the wheel when you hit bumps. | ||
| Matthew Perry (Mattntamm) New Member Username: Mattntamm Post Number: 12 Registered: 06-2003 |
Thanks Guys!! I do notice some pretty serious vibrations when we run over bumps. It's VERY OBVIOUS any almost ANY SPEED!! I guess add a steering damper to the list!?!?! Bill, as far as the rattling goes....you're right, it is that damn door!! I have tried adjusting the wedge/catch assembly, and I have checked and tightened all the hinges. Hell, I even tried putting vaseline around the weather stripping!!!! (I may be crazy, but I could swear I read that one on a post in here!!!) Anyway, no matter what I do that thing will not stop rattling!!! Out of pure frustration, I just concluded that (A) the shocks must be bad which, (B) is causing too much vibration in the rear end, (C) which in turn is screwing up the door. Any other thoughts on this situation? I appreciate all the help this far....take care. Matt | ||
| Andy Thoma (Andythoma) Senior Member Username: Andythoma Post Number: 437 Registered: 01-2003 |
Replace the rear door wedgit thing, my 95 had it's problems cured from that rattle. The shaking is probably your steering damper, but check wheel balance and the torque on all of the suspension pieces first. Disco's in general like to loosen there steering box mounting bolts. After all is tight and wheels are in balance, check the damper, pull it off and use Sergei's method, try to compress it, to easy? Replace it. If not then check the steering box for play. Steering boxes can be adjusted for play but if your problem is too bad, you'll adjust one day and the next bump you hit will knock it out again. A bad steering damper is usually most noticable when you are turning and hit a bump. A bad steering box, or one needing adjusted, will happen all the time. As for shocks, I run Bilsten shocks, ome steering damper and a OME lift. I would recogmend the Bilstens as the 4 shocks and get a OME steering damper. Bilstens work great on wash board surfaces, a lot of them here in Utah, if you don't have those kind of conditions consider OME's all around, I've heard lots of good stuff about those too. Generally the Bilstens are stiffer than the OME's. The OME steering damper has been been noted here on this board to last longer and work better than the Bilsten version, using that advice I got the old man emu (OME).As for springs, get stock rovers, if you carry alot weight all the time get HD LR stock springs, they will lift you a little higher than stock, but not much. My 95 D1 springs at 89k when replaced had lower the truck maybe .75" to 1", so don't be susprised if yours are lower too. Lifting is cool, but if you don't need to to you can avoid potential future issues ( vibrations, excess wear, etc.) also mild lifted LR's really don't look lifted. I tell people "I have a 2" lift on it" and they usually say "you do?" | ||
| Matthew Perry (Mattntamm) New Member Username: Mattntamm Post Number: 13 Registered: 06-2003 |
Thanks Andy, appreciate the advice. I (and by "I", I really mean my wife), just want the smoothest ride possible. OME or Bilsteins? Also, was it tough replacing the rear door wedge? | ||
| Chris W. (Dcwhybrew) Member Username: Dcwhybrew Post Number: 90 Registered: 05-2003 |
Matthew, I still have my original steering damper...at least I think I do, I bought my disco a year ago. As far as your most recent question, which is smoothest Bilsteins or OME...like I said I really like my Bilsteins both on and off road. Also, you're really asking a question that will be hard to resolve. Both appear to be good products based on reviews by owners. On top of that both products should last a long while and I doubt many owners have had both. Bottom line...pick either one you'll be fine either way so long as you pick Bilstein...just kidding. Seriously though, you can't go wrong either way. Flip a coin if you have to...HA! Chris | ||
| Andy Thoma (Andythoma) Senior Member Username: Andythoma Post Number: 438 Registered: 01-2003 |
The door thing is the black plastic widgit on the the latch side, ten minutes to replace, time includes finding the screw driver and optional loc tight. I got mine at www.roverconnection.com . As far as shocks I was told the Bilstens are stiffer because they rebound faster. The OME's are softer but "float" better. Think about where they come from Bilstens are German, so they will control the suspension more to yield a stiffer ride and provide more teutonic autobahn control. They work well for controlled travel over rocks and wash boards where I drive here in Utah. OME, aussie products, work on high speeds for long distances, so more float for comfort, also outback roads are know for poor quality, so a stiff shock would pound you to death. So which is better? Well both seem to have the best reputations of use on this board for use on LR products. Both are made for harder use and are quality products. My wife would complain to me if my truck was floaty or leaned alot in corners. Her and my driving style support the Bilstens. Her car is a Audi so I guess we are euro fans. The OME's will allow the truck to float more so it would be more comfy, but would lean more and float more. Which is best? What else do you drive? Most American cars float more than euro cars, Asian cars seem to split depending on who they are trying to compete with, ie. Acura is after audi/bmw, where as toyota chases after gm/ford. Think about how you drive, when my truck is on road, most of its life, I prefer trying to drive back roads and not highways. So cornering performance is important to me. I talked a lot with Bill at great basin rovers www.gbr.com before I bought from him. Look at the info on www.expeditionexchange.com call them or grb, look on the archives here too. New springs will help either shock do its job, plus check for loose suspension bolts and cracked suspension bushings, go with genuine LR replacements for comfort. | ||
| Matthew Perry (Mattntamm) New Member Username: Mattntamm Post Number: 14 Registered: 06-2003 |
Andy, Thanks for all the info..very helpful!! My primary vehicle is a '01 BMW 330i and the Disco is mainly my wife's. However, prior to getting it she had a '99 323i coupe. So, that is the type of suspension that we are use to. I know that a '96 Discovery is not going to handle like a BMW, nor would I expect it to. I just want to try and "tighten" up the feel a bit? Make sense? I will also check those sites out you posted...thanks again. Matt |
