[Bugsta]

I've got Monroe GT shocks on the front suited to a HQ Holden I think, chosen for their length.

Problem is, I reckon they are fatter than standard and they are being damaged by the spring and and the dust cover damaged by the tower side.

I removed the dust covers but the damage has been done so I need new ones.

SO what I want to know is what brand people suggest for a Jimny that I can choose the lengh and are not so fat.

[monley]

Jimnybit's procomp shocks!

http://www.jimnybits.co.uk/shop/jimny/j ... od_15.html These are the budget shock!

http://www.jimnybits.co.uk/shop/jimny/j ... od_19.html These one's are adjustable budget shock!

http://www.jimnybits.co.uk/shop/jimny/j ... d_418.html And these are the top of the line adjustable shocks!

Shock length range's from 0-5" of lift

[Bugsta]

SO where would the Monroe GT Gas fall into that list

And are boots really necessary?

[monley]

Bugsta wrote:

SO where would the Monroe GT Gas fall into that list

What do you mean? Length wise?

[Bugsta]

Quality

[Bugsta]

And what is adjustable about the ES9000's? There is no mention of this on the page.

Are these available in Australia?

[monley]

I've heard pretty good thing's about the procomp shocks alot of the guys in the UK run them and at that price you can't complain, even if they do only last 12month's. Just a tad over $200 AUD for 2 'ES9000' series shocks delivered to your door...which is less than what you would pay for 2 tough dog shocks which are about $110 each....

[monley]

Bugsta wrote:

And what is adjustable about the ES9000's? There is no mention of this on the page.

Are these available in Australia?

Sorry i miss-read!

Quote:

10 stage velocity sensitive valving

I think you can get them in AUS but only for patrol's and other bigger cars....

[Bugsta]

monkey wrote:

Quote:

10 stage velocity sensitive valving

I think you can get them in AUS but only for patrol's and other bigger cars....

How does this make them adjustable?
Is there some kind of external valve screw, and what does this do for me?

[monley]

Bugsta wrote:

monkey wrote:

Quote:

10 stage velocity sensitive valving

I think you can get them in AUS but only for patrol's and other bigger cars....

How does this make them adjustable?
Is there some kind of external valve screw, and what does this do for me?

Mhh...i think you do....im not 100% sure...i will tell you in about a weeks time

[Gwagensteve]

Those shocks are US$37.50 from Summit Racing.

They are nothing special quality wise. They are not user adjustable AFAIK. "10 stage velocity sensitive valving" refers to how the valve plates in the shock - they open progressively depending on the speed of the suspension movement.

I fail to see how these shocks will help with clearance between the axle housing and pan hard rod as they are quite large diameter.

Monotube shocks might be the answer as a) they are smaller diameter, and B) they work upside down so on the shaft is down near the panhard in normal operation.

[monley]

Steve: Do the shocks from summit racing come with the right bushes for the jimny tho? and what dose clearance between the spring and panhard rod have to do with the price off eggs? I'm 90% sure he's talking about the front shocks.....

[BlueSuzy]

Bilsteins have a small body. Avaliable from lowrange in different lengths and valving. All come with the soft boots, except for the 14" strokes.

[Bugsta]

Gwagensteve wrote:

I fail to see how these shocks will help with clearance between the axle housing and pan hard rod as they are quite large diameter.

monkey wrote:

and what dose clearance between the spring and panhard rod have to do with the price off eggs? I'm 90% sure he's talking about the front shocks.....

Bugsta wrote:

I've got Monroe GT shocks on the front suited to a HQ Holden I think, chosen for their length.

Yes, we are talking about the front shocks.

Bugsta wrote:

Problem is, I reckon they are fatter than standard and they are being damaged by the spring and and the dust cover damaged by the tower side.

Panhard is not the issue. Spring and possibly the bottom axle plate.

Bugsta wrote:

I've got Monroe GT shocks on the front suited to a HQ Holden I think, chosen for their length.

Where are the measurements of a shock taken from?

Perhaps a shock with a thicker body material would help to. These Monroes seem to be very thin and therefore easily damaged.

[Bugsta]

BlueSuzy wrote:

Bilsteins have a small body. Avaliable from lowrange in different lengths and valving. All come with the soft boots, except for the 14" strokes.

Low Range 4x4 or Low Range Off Road?

[BlueSuzy]

lowrangeoffroad.com

[Bugsta]

I worked out the measurements and called Fullcrum. They are the Bilstein dealers in Australia. I could not find specs on Bilstein shocks on the net.

I have asked for same or longer, with thicker wall and smaller body than the Monroes I have.

[Bugsta]

Ok, so a bit of research. Might need upside down!

Seems Monroe are the bottom of the range. KYB are better and should last longer, but either way I will still have the same issue of damage from the spring. Its been suggested that an upside down (body on top with rubber dust cover) would be an option. KYB don't have a spec list so that doesn't allow me to find one that will work.

I assume that any decent shock can work upside down, so I just need one with the right measurements and mounts... Post on top and Ferrule at bottom.

Any suggestions here? I need to keep the total cost to less than $200 if at all possible.

[atari4x4]

only mono tube shocks work upside down.

[Gwagensteve]

As has been pointed out, only mono tube gas shocks can be used inverted or remote reservoir shocks can be used inverted. Normal shocks don't work upside down because the foot valve unprimes and the damping goes to poo.

Specs for Bilstein shocks:

http://www.lowrangeoffroad.com/index.ph ... hocks.html

http://www.lowrangeoffroad.com/index.ph ... hocks.html

Fair call that the problem was in the front. I'm so used to seeing damaged shocks on the rear of a Jimny I kinda jumped to that conclusion. I wasn't aware there is an endemic problem in the front.

Note there is an eye to post adapter as well for the 5150's.

5150's ship with no boots.

I'd be using 5150's myself - they are more efficient compressed length v travel and are available with quite soft valving.

Steve.

[Bugsta]

Gwagensteve wrote:

I wasn't aware there is an endemic problem in the front.

It might just be my vehicle. Perhaps because my radius arms are custom - longer and castor adjusted, rolling the top of the axle, and hence the bottom spring plate back.

Gwagensteve wrote:

5150's ship with no boots.

Are they really necessary?

Gwagensteve wrote:

I'd be using 5150's myself - they are more efficient compressed length v travel and are available with quite soft valving.

Could you please explain what this means.

[monley]

Bugata: Can you please get a pic of where the shocks are hitting?

[Bugsta]

I have them both out and the arms are not yet fully reinstalled but you can see where its being damaged here...



The dustcover is causing some but the main indent is from the spring base

[monley]

Your coil/shocks tower's aren't bent at all are they?

What arm's are those? 3" jimnybit's arms, with 80mm TD coils?

[Gwagensteve]

Bugsta wrote:

It might just be my vehicle. Perhaps because my radius arms are custom - longer and castor adjusted, rolling the top of the axle, and hence the bottom spring plate back.

Yes, that looks to be the problem from the photo.

Gwagensteve wrote:

5150's ship with no boots.

Bugsta wrote:

Are they really necessary?

IMHO yes. A stray stone could nick the shaft which would waste the seal and the shock would loose its gas=shock fail.

Gwagensteve wrote:

I'd be using 5150's myself - they are more efficient compressed length v travel and are available with quite soft valving.

Could you please explain what this means.[/quote]

Monotube shocks generally have slightly less travel than a "normal" shock, because they have a floating piston that separates the oil and gas in the shock. This is why they can run upside down - the oil and gas are kept separate.



Compare that to a twin tube shock:



You can see the the foot (or base) valve will take up less room than the floating piston and its charge of gas.

The result is that "normal" twin tube shocks can offer a little bit more travel for the same compressed length because there is less junk taking up room inside the shock body.

now compare that to a remote reservoir shock:

(This is a 5150 Bilstein, and it's not the best image, but it's helps explain the effect)



Now there is no foot valve or floating piston in the main shock body - the floating piston is in the reservoir. That means the shaft can reach further into the shock body.

That's worth about 35mm more shock travel for the same compressed length than a twin tube shock. That's quite a lot of added travel without having to cut and modify the shock mounts or add that spacing to the bumpstop.

Sorry if this seems like a plug for 5150's, but at $100 they are a very good solution compared to OME ($130), Rancho ($75) or $63 for some rubbish pro comp thing. Thats local pricing for the OME but online with no shipping for the others.

The fact that Bilstein are also transparent bout their valving unlike everyone else helps too. (They are German made too!)

Now for a downside: Monotube shocks have thicker, CrMo bodies, but they will jam with ANY dent in the body Twin tube shocks will still work with surprisingly large dents in the body. It's imperative that the shock can't touch the axle or become dented or it will have to go in the bin.

Steve.

[monley]

I don't think there's enough room on the jimny to allow for a remote reservoir unless it can be mounted else where?

[Gwagensteve]

On first pass, it looks like you are right, however, the reservoir is clockable and it might fit between the shock tower and the coil, in the gap where the boot is in this photo. The reservoir is quite compact and won't move very much.



Looking at this photo it looks 100% like the 5150 will fit.

However, if that's impossible, there is the 5160 Bilstein, which is more money but would fix the problem.



These are $185 each, which is a lot of money..... the same as I paid for RS9000's each in 2001

Steve.

[monley]

Here's a better pic Steve.



I think bugsta might have to much castor for the amount of lift he has, which is what is causing the spring to touch the shock maybe?

[Gwagensteve]

Piccy no worky?

I think the longer arms won't be helping either - pulling the shock forwards at the bottom.

I still wouldn't rule out the 5150 might fit.

Steve.

[monley]

Pic works for me....

Are you using a i-fail?