How long did your Ironman shocks last you?

[gofast]

And how long did your OME shocks last you? I just installed a complete replacement set this weekend

I got 26000 miles or 42000 km on my Ironman foam cell shocks that came with my 4" competition lift. Installed in 2012. I do about 3 serious trips a year and I tow a utility trailer for chores around the house.

This is my first coil sprung truck and I had leaf spring cruisers for years. It was pretty easy to tell on those when I need to do a shock change out.

I've been chasing vibrations this summer and it took me a long time to diagnose shocks. I didn't think of my shocks as they were "young"

It started with body roll and seesaw type steering experience and death wobble - I am correctly castored with slee radius arms. I changed out the steering stabilzer. I knew it was bad when I had it out and tested it - no resistance. Should have thought the shocks were bad then too.

Changing the stabilizer helped a little bit but I still had vibrations so I had the tires re-balanced and went over every single bolt on the suspension and all checked out tight. Knuckles too.

It was time for brakes so changed them and wheel bearings just in case - orginal were OEM also put in 26K ago. Still had vibes.

Pulled all shocks - even my wife noticed that the truck is a pleasant thing to drive now. Deathe wobble is also gone. Three of the 4 shocks have zero resistance - one seems that it resists on decompression. None of them will decompress on their own.

Did I just get a bad batch or are others experiencing the same thing? Trying to figure out if 26k is normal and I am wondering how long I can expect my OME long travels to last. OME on my other trucks lasted 50000 miles or 80,000km or longer on my 60 series. I think I got 70,000 miles or 110,000km out of those

 

[jonheld]

I installed my 4" Ironman springs/shocks in my 91 in April 2010, then moved that setup to my LX450 shortly after I got it last February. Truck handles very well and I still get the "swish swish" sounds when in the rocks. I have gone through several sets of rear lower bushings, but they do get beat on.

 

[gofast]

So yours seems to have help up. Any idea of mileage?

I installed my 4" Ironman springs/shocks in my 91 in April 2010, then moved that setup to my LX450 shortly after I got it last February. Truck handles very well and I still get the "swish swish" sounds when in the rocks. I have gone through several sets of rear lower bushings, but they do get beat on.

 

[inkpot]

I would be disappointed with that short service. I bought my rig in 2010 as a running trail rig. That got a fair amount of use. The OME " L " shocks had been on it for a while at that time. After 5 years and over 70,000 miles including a lot of trail time, I finally blew out a rear shock. Just got my new rears from Kurt, but I have not installed them yet. I am curious how the old "Good" one compares to the new one. I have no complaints about the lifespan. John

 

[jonheld]

So yours seems to have help up. Any idea of mileage?

Both trucks are daily drivers and the 91 did 2 round trips from Jersey to Moab during that time. No real idea about mileage, but driven every day, wheeled very hard in between.

 

[gofast]

Thanks guys, I was wondering - must be a bad batch.

 

[gofast]

Nice to know that the OME's should last.

 

[inkpot]

Got my replacement "L's" installed yesterday. Much better ride and handling. Rear end is much more stable, especially high speed lane changes on the freeway. I'm so happy that I am going wheeling for the next 3 days!!! John

 

[gofast]

Yes mine's night and day with the L's and I'm out next weekend giving them a work out!

 

[Tapage]

I replace my OME shocks on my 60 after 10 years of use and abuse .. but on my 80 they last " only " like 5 - 6 years but less abuse than the ones on Tencha ..

Now I'm onto Fox and hope they will last longer ..