Broke 2 shocks in 2 outings, any ideas why?

[marky]

Just got back and settled in after a good day out laning, but to put a bit of a damper on things I managed to brake a brand new decarbon shock. I'd only just replaced it after breaking the last one while out laning 2 weeks ago. :(. the bottom threaded part has sheared off both times has anybody got any suggestions why this could be happening.

[Range Rover Blues]

I'm thinking the same, it sounds like it's either just sheared off becuase it tat, or becasue it's got over-stressed when you've been articulated.

[marky]

Wow thanks for the quick replies chaps. It has been lifted, but not with spacers, +2"110 Decarbons and +2" springs all round. The previous owner worked for an expedition place and has looked after the truck, he often took it pay and play and seemed to know what he was talking about when i contacted him to find out what shocks they were. As for fitting the replacement, I made sure I put it on how I took it off. I've owned my disco for about 6 months, its my first 4x4 and i'm loving it, Ive been out  regularly but its just the last 2 outings have resulted the same way! Could it be anything to do with the anti roll bar as the rubbers are very worn and I was thinking of taking it off completely.

[Range Rover Blues]

ARB shouldn't make any difference to the shocks, if anything it will limit the travel which we suspect has damaged the shock.. It's been the same corner both times hasn't it?

Is it front or rear?

[marky]

Yeah, its the rear drivers side both times

[marky]

No, nothing like that, but the wife takes the bumps a bit quicker than I do :'(

[Ruprick]

Hi.
The ARB does make a difference.
I know someone who broke 2 rear shocks (both off side) within about a month and this was because the ARB caused more strain on the shocks as the angle of the axle was all wrong for the length of shock and spring.
Take the ARB off and you shouldn't have anymore troubles.
(Unless you get airborne like I did a while ago :oops: :oops: :oops:)

HTH Cheers, Al

[marky]

Now i like the sound of that 

[Sharpshooter]

Do you have the extended bump stops??

[marky]

no,I dont think so

[davidlandy]

the domed bush washers on the bottom could be the wrong way round - this restricts the shocker movement on the bush under articulation and can cause snapping.

[Guardian.]

with the bit left on the shock, does it look atall bent  or sheared?

[DiscoDan]

Hi.

You could ring David at Llama 4x4 who is very informative on this matter, something to do with the shoulder on the shock stud.

Hope this helps, Dan

[Range Rover Blues]

MINE HAS 2"LIFT SPRINGS AND DECARBONS AND ARB'S NO PROBLEMS AT ALL.  DONT SEE HOW THEY COULD CAUSE A SHOCK TO BREAK.

Ditto, except that Blue has twin rear ARB and the LSE has the ARB from hell under there.  I've ripped the ARB mounts off before now but I can't see how they can put extra strain on the shockers, if anything by limiting articulation they should save the shocker some grief :-k

[clbarclay]

What bushes are you using with the dampers?

[marky]

Thanks for all the helpfull comments so far I although I dont think I ve found a solution yet.I ve tried ringing scorpian racing (who make decarbons, according to delphi?!) and they said they'd ring back!? I replaced the latest shock exactly the way a professional had fitted the previous one (bottom washer smallest face upwards etc). I ve also considered replacing with a different make but thought that something must be wrong (or can be improved) for this to happen in the first place. I cant really tell whether they have bent, theres only about 1mm left. Why would I want extended bump stops, wouldnt they limit artiulation?

[Muddyblue]

I did the same a couple of years ago , broke two shocks in two months , put it down to manufacturing fault as both were same batch code , checked others of same code against a different batch , the weld looked "dodgy" . Mine were Pro-comp though but just a thought ? .

[marky]

The top bushes look like original, same in the botton mount. Now you ve just reminded me, heres where the problem may lie, the shocks are +2" 110 (just right for artic and comfort, according to the previous owner?  I wouldnt know being a newbie) and to make it fit with what came in the box i was left over with a large washer and a rubber, exactly the same setup as the professional install. looks fine to me though, no problems with other side?

[Range Rover Blues]

I think I had some bits left over with mine, it's possible they are for the top mount though, worth looking.

I'd be taking the new one back for a refund, if you fitted it the same as the good one on the paseneger's side that's still going strong then I reckon you did right, I do remeber they fit together a bit differently to the Pro-Comp which TBH are what i tend to fit, I like DeCarbon but I end up fitting Pro-Comp :?

Oh, don't ever bother with polybushg damper bushes, unless you want to feel every pebble on the road :-.

[clbarclay]

Oh, don't ever bother with polybushg damper bushes, unless you want to feel every pebble on the road :-.

Genuine blue (aka comfort) Polybush bushes for the eye end atleast are fine, though some of the other polyurethane bushes leave a lot to be desired. I found the deflex bushes to be a particuarly amusing, they are over sized to say the least and with the old style damper mounts (big split pin rather than a nut holding the bush on) I couldn't physically fit them if I wanted to. A friend with the later style of mounts did manage to screw them on, this was taken not long afterwards in the middle of wales



That picture shows half the story, as he had in fact done exactly the same to the other side at the same time. I know they dampers are procomps, though I suspect the fact there was virtually no movement left in the bush had a lot more to do with these failures.

[marky]

Should I be fitting extended bump stops or replacing the bushes, or is it just a simple case of over tightening the bolts - if so how tight should they be. I'm about to refit the old one from the passenger side to see if the same happens to that. I thought that it may have just been a common newbie mistake, but I can't seem to find any conclusive answers anywhere. Looked on other forums (although only posted here) but still no luck.
Also, Ive been looking at things like long travel shocks, extended mounts, spring spacers etc, but moneys a bit tight at the moment. Would any of these remedy the problem or would it be pointless until I solve this. Thanks for all of the imput so far

[Thrasher]

I've had decarbons fitted to Piglet for nearly 9 years now. Never had one break. I can only assume there is either an issue with your axle (twisted maybe?) causing undue stress on the mount point, or, as pointed out, the domed washer is being fitted upside down.

I still run with anti-roll bars and no extended bump stops.

[Niel]

Just got back and settled in after a good day out laning, but to put a bit of a damper on things I managed to brake a brand new decarbon shock. I'd only just replaced it after breaking the last one while out laning 2 weeks ago. :(. the bottom threaded part has sheared off both times has anybody got any suggestions why this could be happening.

Knackered bushes allowing the axle to twist.

[marky]

What sort of issue, how would Iknow if the axles twisted, looks ok.Which bushes would they be then?

[Niel]

What sort of issue, how would Iknow if the axles twisted, looks ok.Which bushes would they be then?

Any of the bushes in the suspension, esp. if several have gone soft.

[marky]

Ive just put my old passenger side shock back on and noticed that the thread  IS slightly bent. Does this point towards worn bushes? I think i might be getting close to an answer

[davidlandy]

if the thread is bent then i reckon that shows that the shocker isnt able to move enough

[Tommo]

hang on a second, which way up do the washers go??? everyones said 'the right way up' but no one has said which way is the right way up! got me all worried!

[Range Rover Blues]

That's a good question.  For off-road I prefer to fit them convex side inwards, you'll find them easier to fit that way too, if you fit them concave side in the thread might not reach for a start unless you can comress the bushes.

IIRC DeCarbon have a definite stop on the thread when you are tightening up which Pro-Comp don't have, it's oftne said to tighten the bushes just enough to eliminate play in them, you can always nip them up if they start to wear.

[davidlandy]

mine are fitted -

top mount , the nut tightens onto the concave side of the washer

bottom mount , the top washer has the concave side facing upwards toward the shocker body, then the bush, thru the axle then the other bush then the next washer with the concave side facing downwards then the nut.

hope this makes sense!