D2 front shockers

[Jimbo]

How easy are they to change ?

The bottom bushes are shot on mine, I'm guessing that as the truck has done 65k the shocks will be on their way as well, so might as well change the whole thing - but what for ?

Stick with OEM ?

IIRC from reading other articles, you don't need spring compressors etc, as the shocks come out through the engine bay - having removed the bottom bolts, and the turret mount bolts ?

Jim

[Spooky]

No, you don't need spring compressors to do this, Jim. Just be sure that the car is securely located on substantial axle-stands before starting, as the D2 is a heavy car ... :shock:

As you said, you undo the bottom bolts, the large bolt through the top of the shock, and then remove the turret. The shock will then lift out. The difficulty is that other bits tend to get in the way of the turret removal - expansion tank, inner wings, intercooler to turbo pipework etc.  All these can be moved fairly easily.

However, to make the removal easier, collapse the shock downwards before lifting the turret up. Similarly, fitting the turret before removing the restraining strap from the replacement shock helps a lot ...

You could replace them with stock items, however I've fitted Old Man Emu shocks to mine (I lifted the car at the same time, but it makes no difference to the procedure) - N107 and N108 for the D2 ... These are available from Discoparts, Devon 4x4 etc.

Good luck!

[Jimbo]

Thanks Mike,

It all seems nice and easy - providing the bottom bolts undo, and don't shear off  :roll:

Are the OME N107 & 108's the standard size, or the 2" lift version ?

Jim

[Spooky]

The OME lift is 1.6" (nominal), rather than the usual 2". The N107 shocks fit the front, with the rears being N108.

The extended length of the shocks is actually about 3/4" longer than the stock items, so would fit whether the truck's been lifted or not.

[Xtremeteam]

BTW the bushes are about £12 each & normally change them twice before changing the shocks  

[Jimbo]

Mikey,

Are the bushes easy to change, or do you need a 10ton press ?

Jim

[Xtremeteam]

well use a 20 ton press at work & make a fair bang when they nove,or could burn them n hacksaw them out

[Jimbo]

Hmmm, not got a press - but got gas and an air-saw  :twisted:

Tried the 'bounce test' earlier, the front end of the Disco definitely bounces about a bit before settling - I'm suspecting that the shocks are on their last legs. Got a quote for 'Kayaba' replacements - 200 beer tokens for all four corners. looked up Kayaba on the web, and they're OEM fit on Audi/Ford/VeeDub etc, so can't be that bad ?

Jim