Disco 1 shocks - confused

I want to replace shocks and springs on 1995 Disco 1 V8i ES but there are so
many to choose from!
Not used off road (not in the way you mean!!) but do tow a couple of tons
everywhere.
Would I be daft to buy Armstrong shocks (to name but one) at around £10
which seems very cheap when some shocks are £100+. Ditto springs, is there
a catch ? Are there any other bits that I should replace at the same time?

While I am at it, is it worth replacing my existing bushes with polybushes
(blue ones sound nice).

Still learning. Have damped down flames. Still grateful.....

Les

"Dadio" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I want to replace shocks and springs on 1995 Disco 1 V8i ES but there are
>so
> many to choose from!
> Not used off road (not in the way you mean!!) but do tow a couple of tons
> everywhere.
> Would I be daft to buy Armstrong shocks (to name but one) at around £10
> which seems very cheap when some shocks are £100+. Ditto springs, is
> there
> a catch ? Are there any other bits that I should replace at the same
> time?
>
> While I am at it, is it worth replacing my existing bushes with polybushes
> (blue ones sound nice).
>
> Still learning. Have damped down flames. Still grateful.....
>
> Les
>
>
I've just fitted super pro poly bushes to a RR P38. Did it easily in a
weekend.
Hardest part/ most time consuming part is removing old bushes, unless you've
got access
to a press.

I also fitted Armstrong dampers & steering damper at same time,
This I consider to be a mistake. After a few weeks I replaced them
with Bilsteins. The difference is remarkable. Corning & ride in general
I would say are what I was expecting a P38 to be like. I'm very happy
with it. Much more sure footed & pleasant to drive. Corner speeds have
gone up quiet a bit.

I've also got rid of the Armstrong steering damper, this had uneven damping
& loose sections
in it despite being primed.

I'm still running original worn damper as aftermarket cheap brands aren't as
good
as a worn OE one!!!

The morale of the story choose your components carefully & steer away from
cheaper
end of spectrum.
A least with disco you should have more choice of quality manufactures.

Hope this helps as I've made some expensive mistakes along the way.


Gerry

"Gerry" wrote in message

> I've just fitted super pro poly bushes to a RR P38. Did it easily in a
> weekend.
> Hardest part/ most time consuming part is removing old bushes, unless
you've
> got access
> to a press.
> I also fitted Armstrong dampers & steering damper at same time,
> This I consider to be a mistake. After a few weeks I replaced them
> with Bilsteins. The difference is remarkable.

Many thanks for that advice Gerry, it is about what I would expect on the
assumption that you get what you pay for. One reason I am doing this work
myself is that I know what I am getting. Having had my local garage fit the
wrong brake pads I suspect they would also fit the cheapest shocks, and
charge over the odds for them.

The Bilsteins are pretty expensive (all things being relative) but if the
ride is good and they last a few years I shall follow that advice. As far
as removing old bushes is concerned, how do you do it? You mention a press?
So its not just a nut and bolt then?

Les

Les Hi,

I have found De Carbon shock absorbers to be a very good compromise between
low cost and good quality.

I would not recommend KONIs either because they are too hard and they do
tend to get easily damaged when stressed (fully compressed while off
roading). And they are expensive.

Take care
Pantelis


"Dadio" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Gerry" wrote in message
>
> > I've just fitted super pro poly bushes to a RR P38. Did it easily in a
> > weekend.
> > Hardest part/ most time consuming part is removing old bushes, unless
> you've
> > got access
> > to a press.
> > I also fitted Armstrong dampers & steering damper at same time,
> > This I consider to be a mistake. After a few weeks I replaced them
> > with Bilsteins. The difference is remarkable.
>
> Many thanks for that advice Gerry, it is about what I would expect on the
> assumption that you get what you pay for. One reason I am doing this work
> myself is that I know what I am getting. Having had my local garage fit
the
> wrong brake pads I suspect they would also fit the cheapest shocks, and
> charge over the odds for them.
>
> The Bilsteins are pretty expensive (all things being relative) but if the
> ride is good and they last a few years I shall follow that advice. As far
> as removing old bushes is concerned, how do you do it? You mention a
press?
> So its not just a nut and bolt then?
>
> Les
>
>

"Dadio" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Gerry" wrote in message
>
>> I've just fitted super pro poly bushes to a RR P38. Did it easily in a
>> weekend.
>> Hardest part/ most time consuming part is removing old bushes, unless
> you've
>> got access
>> to a press.
>> I also fitted Armstrong dampers & steering damper at same time,
>> This I consider to be a mistake. After a few weeks I replaced them
>> with Bilsteins. The difference is remarkable.
>
> Many thanks for that advice Gerry, it is about what I would expect on the
> assumption that you get what you pay for. One reason I am doing this work
> myself is that I know what I am getting. Having had my local garage fit
> the
> wrong brake pads I suspect they would also fit the cheapest shocks, and
> charge over the odds for them.
>
> The Bilsteins are pretty expensive (all things being relative) but if the
> ride is good and they last a few years I shall follow that advice. As far
> as removing old bushes is concerned, how do you do it? You mention a
> press?
> So its not just a nut and bolt then?
>
> Les
>
>
I think the Bilsteins are worth the money, I wouldn't have said that before
trying them!

To remove old bush's I did the following
Drill out as much rubber as possible, them use hacksaw to cut into
outer sleeve without cutting into arm(the tricky bit) Make two cuts about
1cm apart. Chisel (I used a blunt screwdriver to peel away sleeve).
Doing this & the bush usually pushes out.
Push in poly bush using a decent wide opening vice.

Not difficult but be patient.

If you can find someone with a 20 ton press it's even easier.
remove arms & press out old bushes.

Gerry

Gerry wrote:
> "Dadio" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...

>>>Hardest part/ most time consuming part is removing old bushes, unless
>>>you've got access to a press.

> To remove old bush's I did the following
> Drill out as much rubber as possible, them use hacksaw to cut into
> outer sleeve without cutting into arm(the tricky bit) Make two cuts about
> 1cm apart. Chisel (I used a blunt screwdriver to peel away sleeve).
> Doing this & the bush usually pushes out.

We've been here several times before ... some of us find it easier to
burn out the rubber. It's not easily drilled.

It should only be necessary to make one cut in the outer sleeve, in fact
you don't usually even need to cut it all the way through.

>
> >>>Hardest part/ most time consuming part is removing old bushes, unless
> >>>you've got access to a press.
>

I see there is a thing called "Bushwaka", a bit pricy at around £190, has
anyone tried this bit of kit to press out the old bushes? If it makes it an
easy job I might be tempted, can always flog it on when finished with (thats
what I would tell my wife anyway).

Les

It has to be said I can't really fault pro-comp gas shocks. They come in a
range of lenghts for on and off road use and are only about £35 per corner.

As for springs you can get away with using standard OEM springs. In past
experience customers with this set up have a nice soft smooth ride but with
much better handling.

Brian Tonks