[uppitt]

G'day, I have a lifted V6 Vitara. Have always used OME struts in the front, but I've just gone through my 2nd pair which lasted 4 years which I guess is not too bad. I'm interested to hear from others that have an opinion on whether to stick with OME again for a 3rd time or maybe try Dobinsons. Dobinsons are alot cheaper $165 a strut compared to $227 for an OME), but not sure what their quality is like. Anyone used Dobinsons struts ?

Toughdog gas struts were another option, but not for $700 a pair.

Tim

[Fatzook]

I've seen a few dobinsons struts fail early. But no first hand experience sorry

I run Koni's. Pretty dear, but they are performing well so far.

[flatcat_auz]

I run Bilstein Struts and Dobinson's Springs and so far clocked up 55,000kms. Very happy with performance as the Bilsteins where not cheap.

[nissvit]

I've had dobinsons once and went back to OME. The dobinsons seized after about 6 months, so couldn't recommend them to anyone.

Up here ironman seems to be the brand that are being pushed at the moment, bought at set recently and when we pulled them out of the packaging one had a damaged shaft ( small rust pitting). I took it back to the sales place and had a new one that arvo, but might be something to check if anyone gets some.

The sales guy reckons he hadn't seen any similiar problems with any other ironman shocks..

as far as how the ironman work, dunno, havn't fitted them yet.

[uppitt]

are the koni's standard length though? or are they 40mm extended length ?

[atari4x4]

I'm currently running OME & they're nice, but I might end up running koni's or bilstein next depending on lenghts.

[Fatzook]

uppitt wrote:

are the koni's standard length though? or are they 40mm extended length ?

30-40mm extended. I am going to do a strut top flip to get the other 10-20mm I need to match my coils.

[uppitt]

I rang Bilsteins and was told they didn't make a strut for a Vitara, maybe they used to, but not anymore..

[flatcat_auz]

uppitt wrote:

I rang Bilsteins and was told they didn't make a strut for a Vitara, maybe they used to, but not anymore..

Ring this bloke:
Chris Bale Automotive 0249597174. Toronto.
http://web1.carparts-cat.com/default.as ... 004&12=100

On this page somewhere there is an english converter.

[uppitt]

flatcat_auz wrote:

uppitt wrote:

I rang Bilsteins and was told they didn't make a strut for a Vitara, maybe they used to, but not anymore..

Ring this bloke:
Chris Bale Automotive 0249597174. Toronto.
http://web1.carparts-cat.com/default.as ... 004&12=100

thanks, waiting for a call back tomorrow.

[MacDaddy]

uppitt wrote:

G'day, I have a lifted V6 Vitara. Have always used OME struts in the front, but I've just gone through my 2nd pair which lasted 4 years which I guess is not too bad. I'm interested to hear from others that have an opinion on whether to stick with OME again for a 3rd time or maybe try Dobinsons. Dobinsons are alot cheaper $165 a strut compared to $227 for an OME), but not sure what their quality is like. Anyone used Dobinsons struts ?

Toughdog gas struts were another option, but not for $700 a pair.

Tim

I have Ironman Coil springs and shocks, on my 01 GV ( Grand Vitara ), and i am very happy with them !
Ironman do a complete suspension kit for the Vitara, for $840, with free postage on ebay, so that may be another option to consider...
Your Vit has coil springs, so i would go Dobinson, have heard good feedback about them... not a big fan of OME, have heard about to many failures, and claiming on warranty can be a real pain in the ass...

[Built4thrashing]

nissvit wrote:

I've had dobinsons once and went back to OME. The dobinsons seized after about 6 months, so couldn't recommend them to anyone.

Up here ironman seems to be the brand that are being pushed at the moment, bought at set recently and when we pulled them out of the packaging one had a damaged shaft ( small rust pitting). I took it back to the sales place and had a new one that arvo, but might be something to check if anyone gets some.

The sales guy reckons he hadn't seen any similiar problems with any other ironman shocks..

as far as how the ironman work, dunno, havn't fitted them yet.

The quallity of ironman is a bit hit and miss. I put a 40mm lift in the wifes new GV and within a week one strut was fucked. Their after sales service is awsome as they replaced it without question and even fitted it at their cost. But they didnt send it off to get the front end allignment redone. If you do fit ironman struts get the front end checked asap. Our camber was so far out the adjustable castor bolts are at their maximum and its just within acceptable limits.

[steak_knife]

Built4thrashing wrote:

The quallity of ironman is a bit hit and miss. I put a 40mm lift in the wifes new GV and within a week one strut was fucked. Their after sales service is awsome as they replaced it without question and even fitted it at their cost. But they didnt send it off to get the front end allignment redone. If you do fit ironman struts get the front end checked asap. Our camber was so far out the adjustable castor bolts are at their maximum and its just within acceptable limits.

I've heard that some place before...

[MacDaddy]

Built4thrashing wrote:

nissvit wrote:

I've had dobinsons once and went back to OME. The dobinsons seized after about 6 months, so couldn't recommend them to anyone.

Up here ironman seems to be the brand that are being pushed at the moment, bought at set recently and when we pulled them out of the packaging one had a damaged shaft ( small rust pitting). I took it back to the sales place and had a new one that arvo, but might be something to check if anyone gets some.

The sales guy reckons he hadn't seen any similiar problems with any other ironman shocks..

as far as how the ironman work, dunno, havn't fitted them yet.

The quallity of ironman is a bit hit and miss. I put a 40mm lift in the wifes new GV and within a week one strut was fucked. Their after sales service is awsome as they replaced it without question and even fitted it at their cost. But they didnt send it off to get the front end allignment redone. If you do fit ironman struts get the front end checked asap. Our camber was so far out the adjustable castor bolts are at their maximum and its just within acceptable limits.

Hmmm ok... Yes they do have excellent after sales service, and warranty claims are done very quickly...
With any Suspension lift, not just 2in or bigger, it is a good idea to get camber bolts fitted as well. they are around the $100 mark, and they allow for a much better wheel alignment adjustment, and you wont be at the limits of stock adjustment...

[shandy92]

mate, ill be getting a set of dobinson struts for my swb vit. have a search as i asked the same thing a while back, and as usual it got turned into crap. it seems that no one had run dobinson struts in a vit, or maybe there not speaking up.

they are a 40mm extended strut like the OME.

Mitch

[tombutt]

i have dobinsons one failed after it was fitted for 30kms but was replaced with out a worry ive have them in the car now for 10 000ish kms and they seem to be going fine

[trite]

i run OME in my vit and its such a nice ride very happy with it....got mine from arb for like $880 for the lot.

[uppitt]

thanks for the replies. I'm only after the struts, not a full kit, my Vit is already lifted 4" in the rear (probably only 3.5" now) and 2.5" in the front, for many years....been through 2 sets of struts (OME)...and will probably give Dobinsons a go now. The last set of OME only lasted 40,000km which I thought was too short. I have Rancho shocks in the rear, and they simply never break....if only Rancho made struts ! My current OME are not leaking , but the passenger side is just not riding well at all and every bump is a thud..so it seems like it's failed internally.

[Built4thrashing]

if you suspension is topping out it can cause prem failure of the struts. Maybe you need to run a strut shaft spacer

[tombutt]

would sound like they would be topping out with 2.5 lift in the front and only 40mm longer struts