I am considering replacing my standard rear shocks with Monroe adventurer heavy duty units, but for the moment leave the front shocks standard. Does anyone have any experience using heavy duty shock absorbers on the rear axle?
2012 Qashqui rear shocks
- Thread starter bluesman1955
- Start date
bluesman1955 said:
I upgraded my shock absorbers on a SWB Pajero installing Pedders units. However I only went for updated heavy duty ones as I carried a lot of kit on the back when on off roading trips. But when the car was lightly loaded and on normal roads the ride was not as comfortable as with the OEM shocks.
I can’t see the point in upgrading from the makers specification which is designed to suit the car under a range of driving and loading conditions. However if your rear shocks are worn then I would replace them with better quality ones that are specified as direct replacements. One other point. Is it your shocks or springs that are worn. Often softening of the springs will have a knock on effect on the shocks. When I put new springs on the Pajero the ride heightened by about 20 mm back to OEM specification.
There should never be any need to update suspension or dampers over the manufacturer's specifications.
If you think your vehicle is in need of such work, then your first action should be to find out if any part of the car is worn or damaged.
Otherwise check to see if you are overloading it, or asking it to operate beyond the conditions specified by the manufacturer.
Generally, such modifications are principally to suit a person's ego, or to disguise the fact they did not purchase the vehicle they wanted or needed.
If you think your vehicle is in need of such work, then your first action should be to find out if any part of the car is worn or damaged.
Otherwise check to see if you are overloading it, or asking it to operate beyond the conditions specified by the manufacturer.
Generally, such modifications are principally to suit a person's ego, or to disguise the fact they did not purchase the vehicle they wanted or needed.
One other aspect to be considered are that the shocks are tuned and designed to work with the springs. On my Pajero the foam filled shock absorbers were fitted along with a new set of matched springs on the rear. The front had torsion bar suspension so just the shocks were replaced but they were matched to the rear set.
shock absorbers vs coil springs:
uprated shock absorbers will reduce the level of bounce and stiffen up the ride, but it won't change the ride height, I don't see the need for uprated shock absorbers for towing purposes, the suspension may be taking more load, but the work rate will stay relatively the same so providing your existing shock absorbers are in good order then i'd leave them alone,
uprated coil springs on the other hand will deal with the extra weight on the back axle so you may benefit here and they will work perfectly ok with your existing shock absorbers, however....when your not towing the ride will be quite firm at the back, and unless your a compulsive caravanner who spends 90% of the time dragging your van around then your probably best leaving the car set up for normal driving rather than for when your towing.
uprated shock absorbers will reduce the level of bounce and stiffen up the ride, but it won't change the ride height, I don't see the need for uprated shock absorbers for towing purposes, the suspension may be taking more load, but the work rate will stay relatively the same so providing your existing shock absorbers are in good order then i'd leave them alone,
uprated coil springs on the other hand will deal with the extra weight on the back axle so you may benefit here and they will work perfectly ok with your existing shock absorbers, however....when your not towing the ride will be quite firm at the back, and unless your a compulsive caravanner who spends 90% of the time dragging your van around then your probably best leaving the car set up for normal driving rather than for when your towing.
Whilst towing undoubtedly does place extra loading on the car the car manufacturers has specified the maximum towed weight and the maximum nose load, but they also specify the maximum permitted load on each axle. Provided that load is not exceeded the standard springs and dampers will carry all teh dynamic loads that towing imposes.
There is no need to uprate springs or dampers from teh standard specification.
Some more modern tow vehicles have both motion and position sensors on their suspension which are calibrated to the vehicles standard springs and dampers, if you change either then it changes the dynamics of the vehicle and it may corrupt some of the vehicle stability programmes, actually making the vehicle less safe.
There is no need to uprate springs or dampers from teh standard specification.
Some more modern tow vehicles have both motion and position sensors on their suspension which are calibrated to the vehicles standard springs and dampers, if you change either then it changes the dynamics of the vehicle and it may corrupt some of the vehicle stability programmes, actually making the vehicle less safe.
As the others mostly say you should not need the upgrade but if you detail your outfit more and the reason why you want to do this it would help. Generally the car is regarded as a decent towcar and if there is a problem it could be elsewhere.
Do be aware that you must inform your insurer of the change and this could increase the premium. I would speak to them first about this and failure to do it could invalidate the policy.
Do be aware that you must inform your insurer of the change and this could increase the premium. I would speak to them first about this and failure to do it could invalidate the policy.
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