parabolics which shocks?

[piper5]

my series 3 has parabolics and procomp shocks, the shocks are now knackered can i use standard or do i need longer ones, i don't know if the procomps are longer or not they came as a kit years ago any suggestions welcome

[lightweight-love]

yeh u do need longer shocks than standard, longer on rear usually!
iv got 322546 's on rear and 318546 's on front, 2nd 3rd and 4th numbers is extended length so 322546 is 22.5 inches fully extended.
paddocks do ok price for them! aparently u can fit rear standard shocks from a 109" on front as cheaper option!? dunno if right tho!
Hope this helps, merry Boxing day!

[Range Rover Blues]

You probably want uprated shocks as the parabolics won't be self-damping like the old multi-leaves would be.

[Lucy1978]

I'm running on my original shocks and have had no problems at all.

[S188]

Procomps use a code to tell you what they are, 1000, 3000, 9000 are how good/hard they are at damping.  Used to have ES9000's (gas dampers) on my dads truck but they were a bit hard, ride not much better than leafs.  Now we run ES1000's (oil I think) and it rides very nice.  The ES letters mean they are extended shocks.

The only real merit of extended ones is they'll give you more axle travel - with paras its not hard to get to the limit of a normal length shock, longer shocks alow it to keep going a bit further - remember to ajust the check straps too so you can use the extra length.  Some people dont run check straps, personly I don't think its a good idea as the shocks and chassis mountings were not designed to be limiting the axle articulation, just to damp it.  The argument that they reduice axle articulation isn't really valid as when setup properly are practically the same length as the shocks limit.  The strong articulation limits are the bumpstops and checkstraps which can take a hammering if you offroad hard.  If you don't have checkstraps it might even be a factor to your original shocks breaking.  Front springs ofcourse dont have straps but don't need them as they don't articulate too much for vereous resions.

[Saffy]

I run my series with standard but heavy duty shocks (which are fatter) with parabolics without issue. Year of motorway use, Wiltshire roads and hard greenlaning, got bored with checking if where knackered yet like a few people said they would be, didn't even get warm.

[Bowie]

Yep, the HD ones should last a lot longer, as they are designed with the HD springs used in the military.... for an even harder, bumpier ride  :clap: