Lifespan of OME shocks and coils?

[Christophe Noel]

What would you Rover experts estimate is the average lifespan of OME shocks and coils? This on a DII not used very aggressively off road, and seldom loaded with too much kit. I've had mine for nearly 4 years and 25,000 miles. I'm just curious what the lifespan should be and what to look for when they start to go.

 

[Scott Brady]

The coils should last a decade of regular use. The shock, about half that with your driving style and use.

 

[kellymoe]

I have been wondering the same lately. My ride has become significantly more exciting on winding highway roads. I'm thinking it's time for a set of new shocks. I have about 7 years on mine right now with many miles of abuse. Time for some new HD shocks.

 

[UnfrozenCaveman]

The OME springs on the Disco have got to be eleven or twelve by now, and they're still springy.

The shocks....six or seven years unless they break first

I've broken a couple of Bilsteins(?) at the rear, but not an OME.

 

[Christophe Noel]

Thanks guys for the quick replies.

 

[Antichrist]

I have been wondering the same lately. My ride has become significantly more exciting on winding highway roads. I'm thinking it's time for a set of new shocks. I have about 7 years on mine right now with many miles of abuse. Time for some new HD shocks.

Yeah, I've got about 9 years on my 95 Disco and about 170k miles on them. I was planning on replacing them this spring.

 

[JSQ]

I would say way less if your truck is heavy.
I run OME 763s and 764s on the Disco1 and replace them about every 3 years. My shocks are LTRs so I rebuild those around the same time.

The truck runs at around 6,000 lbs on a long trip.

 

[David Harris]

I would say way less if your truck is heavy.
I run OME 763s and 764s on the Disco1 and replace them about every 3 years. My shocks are LTRs so I rebuild those around the same time.

The truck runs at around 6,000 lbs on a long trip.

Cool . . .

 

[kellymoe]

Jack hits it on the head. My truck is heavy as is and then ad all the gear that is kept in it on a regular basis, and then on trips I at least double that weight. It's no wonder mine are due for a change.

 

[kellymoe]

Normally I change all 4 shocks at once but since my rear shocks were shot I decided to do it in stages. I have had really good luck with OME and was planning on using them again until I went to British Pacific and saw the massive Terrafirma shocks for the D130. They are huge compared to the HD OME and are almost $30 cheaper than OME. After BP gave me a pretty good deal I decided to try them out with the promise that if they crapped out BP give me my money back. BP makes no claim that they are equal or better than OME, just cheaper. I installed them in just a few minutes today and already I notice a firmer ride. I have a trip out to Eureka/ Saline Valley in a few weeks and will put them through there paces then.

I'll try and get some comparison pictures posted soon.

 

[kellymoe]

A few comparison shots.

 

[benlittle]

Damn, those are massive. Why are they like 4in shorter than the OME?

 

[UnfrozenCaveman]

I have a trip out to Eureka/ Saline Valley in a few weeks and will put them through there paces then.

Have a great trip...we'll look forward to a full report :coffeedrink:

 

[kellymoe]

Damn, those are massive. Why are they like 4in shorter than the OME?

Overall I think they are a bit shorter than the OME's. Since my truck is not the rock crawling machine I want to think it is I am willing to lose a bit of travel. My main reason for getting these monsters is the need for stability of the heavy loads I carry in my truck at all times and even more on trips. I also took the risk and got these because BP told me if I wasn't happy I could return them no questions asked. I decided to give them a shot and let BP know how they hold up over time.

 

[kellymoe]

Have a great trip...we'll look forward to a full report :coffeedrink:

I'll try and do a TR when i get back, it's a father son trip with a friend of mine and his kids and my son. I'm looking forward to it.


Ben,
I just checked the Terrafirma catalog and realized the shocks i got are the extended shocks for a truck with a 2+" lift so they should be about the same as the OME's I had on there.