Why Dual shock set up?

[sflash868]

I sure I share this problem with a million other guys who own defenders. I lifted my truck, i took off the sway bars, i put long travel bilstiens on, changed the skinny mud terrains that came with the truck and now the car sways back and forth. Honestly, I don't care about on-road performance as much, you can't have a car be great at both. While i was in Moab I almost flipped my car numerous times due to the amount of sway it had, so i'm looking to remedy the problem. SO here is the set up: front shocks are valved 275/80 as are the rears and i have OME heavy duty springs. I know the rear shocks are too soft as they should be 360/80 but what about putting on double 275/80? DAP makes a nice dual set up and fox shocks makes those position sensitive shocks that could possibly act like sway bars. Can anyone tell me what the advantages/ disadvantages are of dual shocks. The back of my d-90 bucks a lot with stuff in the trunk, which is evidence of a soft suspension, but when driving on dirt roads the soft suspesion is nice and smooth. Can dual shocks let me keep the soft ride without the bottoming out and swaying? I have seen some pictures on this website of people with dual shocks on their d-90's.. any input?

[mikeslandrover]

Dual shock set-ups are usually to combat fade issues due to fast, heavy load or bumpy track for a prolonged period. The shocks on my 110 faded big time in the Sahara last summer. Made for an interesting time :rolleyes They recovered once cooled down :)

Shocks don't stop body roll they only slow it down. stiffer springs, lower ride height & lower center of gravity will reduce roll. Or you could fit anti roll bars!

[TDI Guy]

Is your problem while wheeling in off camber positions or body roll at higher speeds? Who did the anti rock system here on the board? I remember it somewhere?

[sflash868]

It only mainly happens off-road and when there is a mild load in the trunk. For example, if a tire drops of a ledge the whole truck just swings back and forth for a couple of seconds. When drivng down the road the rear bounces up and and down when i go over bumps. I know the rear shocks are too soft and they have to be revalved. Fitting sway bars would limit the travel of the suspension off-road and i don't think they make an off-road sway bar for land rovers like they do for jeeps. I was thinking there was some way to tweak this with dual shocks in the rear. When i had OME shocks with the OME springs, the ride was great on and off road. I changed the shocks a year ago and now it's the way it is, so i know i messed it up. I just don't know how to combat the valving/ # of shocks question to fix it

[Bowtracer]

I was informed by Bilstein that the correct valving for my 110 would be == 400/100?!?!
For what its worth I am setting up my suspension right now & plan on the 7100's but the valving is still a question.
I will buy your bilsteins!! HA HA!

[mdmccallum]

Or you could go back to the OME shocks. I have the same setup except that I use the OME shocks. No problems here.

[sflash868]

The problem with the OME shocks is they aren't very long. The 7100 series I have on the truck now allow for awesome articulation, which the old set up didn't. I am gonig to revalve the shocks and see what happens, but if I were to put duals in the rear, should they both be valved 360/80 or should they total to 360/80

[mikeslandrover]

The problem with the OME shocks is they aren't very long. The 7100 series I have on the truck now allow for awesome articulation, which the old set up didn't. I am gonig to revalve the shocks and see what happens, but if I were to put duals in the rear, should they both be valved 360/80 or should they total to 360/80

Have you thgought about lowering the top shock mount at the rear? Mine are lowered 2" and made a huge difference.
Presumably if you valved both shocks to total 360/80 it would be the same as one shock valved 360/80 but neither shock would be working very hard and you'd get no more damping effect than with one shock valved the same. The shocks would be unlikely to overheat though.

[sflash868]

I guess i will just revalve the rear shocks and see what happens. I need the higher shock mounts to fit the bilstiens because i did not lift my truck. Has anyone heard of somesort of off-road sway bar that is made for Land Rovers? Thanks for all the info..

[mikeslandrover]

What sorts of weight do you carry when you off-road? Is it low down?
Last summer I had my 110 heavily laden for our little Sahara adventure including the roof rack, it was truely scary untill I repacked and took the heavy things off the roof rack and put them low down between the wheel boxes :)

[sflash868]

I try to keep things as light as possible and as low as possible. I didn't do the gas on the roof, tools on the roof, type thing, everything was located low down in the car. MOst of the stuff i carry off-road isn't that heavy: tools and sometimes a multimount winch. chair and cooler i guess. So not that much.

[mikeslandrover]

Go for the re-valve then.