GraemeS
Member Since: 17 Mar 2008
Location: NSW
Posts: 706
  
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Having just taken delivery of a D4, I've found the ride much harsher (esp the front) than what I recall a D3 was like during a test drive 18 months ago. I wont do anything for a couple of months when I hope a bull-bar will be available which will add some weight and the shocks may have softened a little, but can anyone confirm that the shock mountings for the D3 are the same as the D4? My wife has a back injury and whilst the ride is very good on most surfaces, its still harsh enough on rough sections to want to make it better. Even without considering my wife's injury, I don't like feeling corrugations on sealed surfaces.
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 22nd Dec 2009 2:59 am |
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disco4x4au
Member Since: 19 Jan 2006
Location: Perth
Posts: 409
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If the D3 you test-drove had 17" or 18" rims, you'd notice the difference moving up to 19" rims. They tend to make the ride a little firmer. I think the shocks are different in the D4, but visually they look identical to the D3. Hopefully someone else can answer with a little more authority.
Cheers,
Gordon ex - 2006 D3 TDV6 SE, silver, with lots of stuff - R.I.P.
ex - 2009 D3 TDV6 SE, silver, had lots of stuff too!
Now - 2010 RRS 3.0 TDV6, rimini red, 18" rims + Cooper LTZ, rear eLocker, Spider tuning box, GOE protection plates and rock sliders, GOE 3way shortened rods.
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| 22nd Dec 2009 3:04 am |
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LeighW
D3 Decade
Member Since: 31 Jan 2006
Location: Brisbane, AUS
Posts: 916
 
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First off I do not know if the top and bottom fittings are exactly the same on the D3 and D4 shock absorbers. Whilst I sympathise with your needs to have the utmost smooth ride, GraemeS, I did read that the shocks were uprated in accordance with the revised suspension settings.
What this means is that even if they do have the same fittings there might be an issue of altered performance characteristics due to the damping rate being changed. There may be warranty or legality issues by changing to a shock that was not designed for the model. (Interestingly, Bilstein have released a damper for the D3 that comes closer in performance description to the one fitted on the D4. It supposedly smoothes out some of the offroad ride with a small loss of onroad smoothness.) Added closing bracket - pedantic or what?
By looking at the problem in a different way you might like to try quality sheepskin covers (not the thin kind) and see if that can reduce the immediate effect that your wife experiences with her back injury.
HTH, Leigh LeighW
The old girl is on her third engine...
* first ran a bearing (design failure in original engine)
* second had a failure of the water outlet on top of the engine (pls check yours)
Last edited by LeighW on 23rd Dec 2009 11:12 am. Edited 1 time in total
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| 22nd Dec 2009 3:46 am |
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GraemeS
Member Since: 17 Mar 2008
Location: NSW
Posts: 706
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The D3 we drove was fitted with 18" rims and the sole purpose of the drive was to feel how it rode over pot-holes and rough patches.
I found the D4's tyres were at 40 psi after having been sitting around all afternoon and even though the weather was quite warm (36C), the tyres were obviously over-inflated. I'll find out how it goes with lower pressures when it gets registered in a week's time.
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| 23rd Dec 2009 9:58 am |
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Martin Krutli
Member Since: 17 Apr 2007
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 229
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Graeme,
I haven't driven a D4 so can't make coment there, but can say that tyres make a huge difference. The BFG's I'm running with 65 series profile are much less harsh than the standard 60 (x 18) series profile - even though they are At's and have stiffer side walls. Similarly pressures will impact.
Cheers,
Martin MY08 TDV6 SE. White/Alpaca. BFG265/65/18 At's
Autologic, Trackside Dual Battery syst., Remote GME UHF, 4X4 Intelligence rear wheel carrier, Boab removable rear drawer system w National Luna fridge, Mitchell Bros hitch.
Rasta Plate. 110L LRA long-range fuel tank.
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| 28th Dec 2009 7:41 am |
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GraemeS
Member Since: 17 Mar 2008
Location: NSW
Posts: 706
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Hi Martin,
That's good to know since those tyres are at the top of my list if I can get some 18" to fit. I thought they might be just as bad as the 19s for ride comfort but obviously not.
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| 28th Dec 2009 9:41 am |
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Martin Krutli
Member Since: 17 Apr 2007
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 229
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Hi Graeme.
Given the relationship of tyre profile to ride comfort (all other things being equal) I would suspect the D4 running on 55 series to ride slightly harsher than a D3 on standard 60 series. Obviously shocker calibration will have a majoer impact here as well. My previous 4WD was an NM Pajero (independent suspension) on which I also ran BFG's. I raised the suspension approx 60mm and had Tough Dog big bore shocks fitted. These shocks had quite different compression and rebound rates than standard and gave significantly smoother ride, (particularly on dirt) with a slight trade-off of more body movement on windy roads.
I'm very happy w the BFG's on the Disco to date. Have covered 40,00K's and probably around 50% worn.
Cheers. MY08 TDV6 SE. White/Alpaca. BFG265/65/18 At's
Autologic, Trackside Dual Battery syst., Remote GME UHF, 4X4 Intelligence rear wheel carrier, Boab removable rear drawer system w National Luna fridge, Mitchell Bros hitch.
Rasta Plate. 110L LRA long-range fuel tank.
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| 28th Dec 2009 12:02 pm |
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GraemeS
Member Since: 17 Mar 2008
Location: NSW
Posts: 706
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I really need to know if D3 shocks will fit a D4 as the ride leaves my wife in agony, and that's without straying from sealed roads. The ride gets worse as the shocks warm-up and I think the ride is horrible for such a heavy vehicle.
Is anyone able to confirm that the large and small O-rings for the air spring are the same part numbers D3 & D4, and perhaps whether the bolts for the bottom eyes are the same part number? If they are, I'll probably take a punt and order a set as this vehicle is not good to us the way it is.
Thanks
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| 4th Mar 2010 2:11 pm |
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The Transformer
Member Since: 22 Jan 2010
Location: Leicestershire
Posts: 1791
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I am sure there was a post on here somewhere where someone complained to the dealer about the hard ride and they changed the front ARB for a D3 one which helped a lot.
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| 4th Mar 2010 6:03 pm |
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GraemeS
Member Since: 17 Mar 2008
Location: NSW
Posts: 706
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That was probably my post as I changed mine. It stopped the front of the vehicle from following the wheels into depressions although the rear needs changing too now.
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| 4th Mar 2010 9:04 pm |
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GraemeS
Member Since: 17 Mar 2008
Location: NSW
Posts: 706
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I've ordered a set of 2009 D3 shocks so am hoping they will fit. I'll find out soon enough.
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| 1st Oct 2010 12:26 pm |
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Bodsy
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Member Since: 06 Nov 2006
Location: In the Clubhouse
Posts: 21361
 
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Will be good to find out as I'd quite like to go the other way for a slightly firmer ride  Bodsys Brake Bible
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| 1st Oct 2010 12:32 pm |
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GraemeS
Member Since: 17 Mar 2008
Location: NSW
Posts: 706
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MY09 D3 front shocks DO fit the D4. The D3's casing is 4mm shorter so allow slightly more bump-stop clearance and the D3's air-spring seat is 4mm lower so perhaps provide slightly firmer ride due to the bags being slightly more extended. The air-spring seat position cannot affect vehicle ride height.
Ride difference will be revealed today. Hopefully the D3's will be more supple and wont be like the D4's that stiffen-up considerably as soon as they warm-up a little.
Info on the rear fitment later. Home of LLAMS, for LRs and Jeep GCs
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| 16th Nov 2010 9:26 pm |
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