How to tell if OME shocks and struts need replacing

[Offroader Member Find all posts View Profile Close Offroader]

Does anyone know a good rule of thumb in determining the service life of OME nitro chargers? What should I be looking out for? My set are a good 4 years old now and have seen plenty of moderate off road work over about 90 000 km. Because performance tends to decrease slowly over time, sometimes it's hard to notice if the units need replacing when you drive the vehicle all the time. The only thread I could find indicated that feeling the shock tube for heat was one way to determine its condition, but this seems inconclusive. It's also pretty hard to do a bounce test with 896 springs on the rear.

[MickL Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close MickL]

Re: How to tell if OME shocks and struts need replacing

My fronts were pretty much stuffed at 45,000ks of what I would call heavy use. The rears still OK.

If you can't do the bounce test then find some speed bumps at the local shopping center to drive over. The springs sound settle it one smooth motion, not wallow multiple times after the bump.

It should drive smooth and level along average roads, if it drives like a boat (Ie; wallows and every little uneven surface) then they are probably well past their best.

Excessive nose diving under brakes is another sign, so is a lot of body roll.

Mick

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Re: How to tell if OME shocks and struts need replacing

Thanks Mick. Will take it for a spin in local shopping centre to test. Judging by the kays you got out of them, mine might be getting a little tired.

[MickL Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close MickL]

Re: How to tell if OME shocks and struts need replacing

Mine did a lot of outback and off road km's. The rears where still fine when compared to a new shock but the front struts offered a lot less resistance when compared to the new ones.

I upgraded to the new Nitrocharger "Sport" range of shocks/struts and they are a real step up in valving compared to the standard Nitrochargers (Which are still available).


Mick

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Re: How to tell if OME shocks and struts need replacing

Read my thoughts exactly, I've been looking at the OME Nitro Charger "Sports " edition over the standard units. Seems like they've put a fair bit of R & D into tweaking the internals to improve performance. My front shocks bounce 2 1/4 times before returning to rest. Probably not cactus at this point but could do with a freshen up.

[chester Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close chester]

Re: How to tell if OME shocks and struts need replacing

get under and have a look my origional ones i knew were stuffed cause 3 were leaking oil

[Auto-Craft Inactive Find all posts View Profile Close Auto-Craft]

Re: How to tell if OME shocks and struts need replacing

If they are yellow, and have a picture of an EMU on them, then I would say they definately need replacing 8)

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Re: How to tell if OME shocks and struts need replacing

Auto-Craft-

I reckon 100 000 out of the OME shocks isn't bad at all. I certainly have not had any complaints with them and one of them has a dent the size of a 20c piece in it. Are the Billies really that much better than the new OME sports shocks?

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Re: How to tell if OME shocks and struts need replacing

Auto-Craft-

I reckon 100 000 out of the OME shocks isn't bad at all. I certainly have not had any complaints with them and one of them has a dent the size of a 20c piece in it. Are the Billies really that much better than the new OME sports shocks?

100,000 should be half way there, and if your happy with them, thats great.

The new "sports" have a nice plastic dust cover :mrgreen:

But unless you have tried them, back to back, then you should be happy with the OME, but yes the Bilsteins are much better than the OME, they do what they do differently, buit like saying the Prado, and Pathfinder should be the same thing, box with 4 wheels, but only one is a Toyota :wink: