[Moph]

Been looking at shock options to suit my RUF. Currently have 60mm (driver), 65mm (passenger) and 75mm (rear) bumpstop clearance at rest. As far as I can work out I need shocks with the following specs:

FRONT - 295 / 495 (stock 256 / 415)
REAR - 305 / 480 (stock 283 / 442)

Now the general consensus seems to be VS Commodore wagon rears up front and Hiace / Hilux 2WD rears in rear. Going from Monroe's book that gives me:

FRONT - 15-3137 VS wagon rear - 307 / 517 (Stud - Ferrule)
REAR - 15-1590 Hiace/Hilux 2WD rear - 302 / 493 (Ferrule - Ferrule)

The Hiace / Hilux rears look about spot on for the rear so will be going with them. Up front though I want to avoid having to fab new shock mounts, so running the Commo shocks is going to mean that I'll need at least 15mm bump stops, valving will be set for the rear of a 1450kg wagon and total shock extension will be 210mm. Is there any reason why nobody is running Feroza / Rocky rears up front? Likely no need for bump stops, valving is set for rear of an 1150kg 4wd and total shock extension will still be 200mm...

15-3034 Feroza/Rocky rears - 297/497 (Stud-Ferrule).

[v.w.dave]

Sounds .ike you might be onto something mate. They do seem to be the better option.

[want33s]

I think it comes down to price.. Commo shocks are usually dirt cheap at Supercrap etc.

[Moph]

Munroe = ouch. $165/pair is the cheapest price out of Supacheap, Auto One and Malz. Same price for Feroza/Commy/Hilux shocks. The Munroes are their 'premium' GT-Gas series rather than the Original series - but are they likely to ride much better than budget Gabriels?

Gabriels about $45 ea ... not on special atm Problem is the only Gabriels catalogue I can find is a vehicle application book only and doesn't give compressed/extended lengths, so I can't be as sure that I'm ordering what I want.

I don't mind spending the dough if it actually achieves a better ride. Know bugger all about shocks though....

[Moph]

Repco have Munroes sale for $145/pr, so $290 all up vs $180 for the Gabriels. More money than sense so am going to get the Munroes. Going 15-3034 for the fronts (Feroza 297/497 S/F) and 15-1590 for the rears (Hilux 302/493 F/F).

Looks like even the Hilux ones I'm using are different to normal - seems most people go with 15-0252 310/510 F/F. Will post back how I get on - hopefully my calcs are right! Just not keen on spacing bumpstops right out and losing on-road bump absorption for the sake of 15-20mm extra droop.

[tanshi]

for 290 a pair you could probably almost get doetsch tech ones from low range including shipping. from the US

[Moph]

Nope that's $290 for all four corners. $145 per pair.

[tanshi]

ahh my mistake

[mcwilly]

I paid 260 a pair for ome they seem pretty good

[MrRocky]

The shocks on my 89 rocky t/d were 3 way in cab adjustables, standard fitment. They worked quite well and had soft, med and hard settings.

[Moph]

Oooooh.... purdy

Extension seems a little less than specified ... I measured 192mm for the fronts (spec 200mm) and 183mm for the rears (spec 191mm), but it may be that they go a bit further under load than when worked by hand.

Valving of both shocks feels similar worked by hand ... they're about 25-50% stiffer than my original fronts, and 5000% stiffer than my original rears which are completely shagged.

Now to fit 'em up! Hopefully won't come back to the computer feeling like , or ....

[Moph]

MrRocky wrote:

The shocks on my 89 rocky t/d were 3 way in cab adjustables, standard fitment. They worked quite well and had soft, med and hard settings.

These are just bog stock non-adjustables. Can get air shocks for the Rocky I think but wasn't interested in spending more coin.

[mcwilly]

Is that the correct length for a ruf doesn't seem that much longer then standard.

[Moph]

mcwilly wrote:

Is that the correct length for a ruf doesn't seem that much longer then standard.

Don't know if it's the correct length for "a ruf" ... I think though they're the right length for "my ruf".

I say that because I don't have the skills or time to fab new shock mounts, so need compressed shock length less than (distance between mounts with axle flexed and on bump stop - 25mm hard landing margin). Could put in big bumpstop extensions to increase allowable compressed shock length *but* on road handling is still important to me and I want to keep the 60mm odd bumpstop clearance I currently have.

So measured up front and rear and worked out maximum compressed length of 295mm (front), 305mm (rear). Found two sets of shocks that had the right end fittings and compressed length and looked up the extended length - 497mm (front), 493mm (rear). Flexed up the Zook without shocks as far as possible - distance between shock mounts 470mm (front), 430mm (rear).

So the shocks I've picked have short enough compressed length to work with my setup with no or minimal bumpstop spacing, and enough extension to cover my measured flex plus 30mm extra front, 60mm extra rear. If I'm sacrificing a little droop (possible - wasn't able to get the wheel hanging when flexing it up) then that's fine - I can't fit a longer shock in there without spacing my bumpstops which I don't want to do.

Sorry if that's long winded. The setup is hopefully right for me but unlikely to be right for everyone.

[mcwilly]

I was just unsure of wat was needed for ruf.

[Moph]

mcwilly wrote:

I was just unsure of wat was needed for ruf.

I think the general consensus is slightly longer Hilux shocks rear (310/510) and VS Commo wagon shocks front (307/517). These give a bit more extension than mine but have a longer compressed length, and hence need bumpstop extensions to work. No 'right' answer I don't think.

Well mine are in and I've been for a pretty lengthy test drive. I'm happy as with the RUF - seems more stable on the highway, and cornering is more progressive despite being a bit tippier. The 31's mean 100kph is now the top of it's happy zone - 110kph is stretching it, even with the 6.5's. Flexed the shocks up on my local test pile and they were fine - full flex that I was getting sans shocks, and plenty of leeway (1" +) left on all shocks. They valving is a tad on the hard side but there's not many options there without spending almost double on shocks.