Shocks & Springs (1 Viewer)

[PJHunter]

Two simple questions relating to these... am interested to read your opinions.

1. Springs. If you were planning an outback adventure [rather than a weekend jolly] with the vehicle fully loaded which springs would be preferrable - raised soft/medium springs or std height heavy duty springs?

2. Shocks. What are the pro's and con's of monotube shocks &/vs. twin tube shocks?

 

[Gold Finger]

Two simple questions relating to these... am interested to read your opinions.

1. Springs. If you were planning an outback adventure [rather than a weekend jolly] with the vehicle fully loaded which springs would be preferrable - raised soft/medium springs or std height heavy duty springs?

2. Shocks. What are the pro's and con's of monotube shocks &/vs. twin tube shocks?

You have not stated what your vehicle is! OME are often praised on many of the boards here, they have been developed in Australia under very harsh conditions. They make packages to suit a number of requirements from mild to wild and have matched dampers with springs.

http://www.frogsisland4x4.com/home.php

http://www.devon4x4.com/

There are other manufactures and Koni make excellent dampers with adjustable damping, the latest offering from them is heavy track raid which has special damping and has been designed for very arduous going.

http://www.scorpionracing.co.uk/

 

[PJHunter]

my vehicle is a LCII - kzj70

i've been made aware of the kits available, OME, Ironman, Koni, Dobinsons etc... but they all have different options for this vehicle. So in that sense my questions are not vehicle specific but are being asked to increase my knowledge of what set up people use and why. my searching on the internet to answer the questions above has proved fruitless hence why I've asked them here.

any ideas?

 

[Jonathan_Ferguson]

You have not stated what your vehicle is! OME are often praised on many of the boards here, they have been developed in Australia under very harsh conditions. They make packages to suit a number of requirements from mild to wild and have matched dampers with springs.

http://www.frogsisland4x4.com/home.php

http://www.devon4x4.com/

There are other manufactures and Koni make excellent dampers with adjustable damping, the latest offering from them is heavy track raid which has special damping and has been designed for very arduous going.

http://www.scorpionracing.co.uk/

Oh really!


PJ, No matter what Springs and Dampers you get, none of 'em will allow an increase in GVM/MFAW/MRAW

 

[PJHunter]

Oh really!


PJ, No matter what Springs and Dampers you get, none of 'em will allow an increase in GVM/MFAW/MRAW

What does MFAW / MRAW mean?

 

[PJHunter]

also johnathan, puting in bold a statement from another person that didn't answer the original quesiton I asked still isn't answering my question? Do you have anything helpful to add?

I know there are different kits out there. I'm not thick. What no one has answered/ explained to me are a: the pros and cons of monotubes compared with twin tubes/ high pressure gases vs low pressure in what environments. It makes absolutely no difference at all where items are made... the theory is still the theory and its the theory I am wanting to understand! along the same line... ie wanting to understand the theory, what is it that people use/recommend for treks for spring rates and why. I've bought books that say standard height. Forums state raised height. No one has seem to put two and two together to state what the advantages of one over the others are. However they are very happy to say 'ironman is s***', 'OME is great', Carols are average and Dobinsons are very good. So everything I'm getting is alot of opinions and not a lot of theory/fact.

Are there any designers/engineers who can anser my questions or am I just going to get shown the finger!

 

[Gold Finger]

I am sorry I miss understood the direction of your original question.

I believe that standard shocks are twin tube and are OK but if driven very fast over something like corrugations similar to what I understand is common in desert situations such as in Australia etc then they are prone to fade because of aeration of the oil and I think that the viscosity is also likely to thin as well. The mono shocks have gas under pressure I think it is N but not sure this prevents the aeration and so give a more consistent performance even under duress.

I agree that you will need up rated springs if travelling fully laden for long period what length is best depends on what sort of driving you do and the terrain that you will be travelling through. Where might you be going I see you are a fellow UK resident? Longer springs will allow greater ground clearance and may facilitate the use of larger diameter tyres which will also add to greater performance over rough terrain, climbing obstacles, traction in mud etc. The down side of greater height is of corse a higher C of G.

If you choose to just up rate your springs and shocks and if cost is a concern, then Miner do Heavy duty shocks and springs for most Landcruisers as well as a lot of other stuff as well.

http://www.milneroffroad.com/

 

[Jonathan_Ferguson]

What does MFAW / MRAW mean?

Maximum Front Axle Weight & Maximum Rear Axle Weight.

 

[Jonathan_Ferguson]

I've never experianced Damper Fade. I replaced the front and rear Dampers on my BJ40, becouse they were bent, the front were replaced with Gabriel Monotubes and the rear with Old Man Emu Twin Tube with Nitrogen from a friends HJ60. - Cheapest option.
Dads December 1995 FZJ80, a few weeks ago I could feel the rear left wallow just after going over a speed hump. - Good life for the original Dampers, even though they are yet to be replaced, becouse Mum and Dad can't notice it. If it were my decision, I'd replace with Genuine(Hydrolic Twintube). - Cheap and longlasting.

From my understanding(Theoretically), the only disadvantages of Monotubes is if the housing is dinged, and the lack of Manufacturers.