ANOTHER broken OME shock!

[AZROVER]

I don't know what I'm doing wrong here. About a year ago my passenger rear shock broke on the highway about 4 months before the warranty expired. ARB replaced it no charge, but I didn't know how bad it was until I removed it from the truck. The shock was in two pieces, sheared at where the piston meets with the upper part of the shroud. Yesterday on my way home from back packing the left rear did the exact same thing, just a bit more dramatic. the last time, the shock stayed within the housing an managed to go quite a ways before really causing any problems. This one is a bit different. I have two parts of an OME shock, one bolted to the bottom another to the top. What am I doing wrong here? I've never heard of this happening especially with OMEs, and I've done it twice in about a year. I'm going to contact ARB again to see If they will replace this one almost a year after warranty just because of the magnitude of the failure. I'm not that hard on them, there was barley any load in the truck and I was on a well maintained forest road going the speed limit. Any "experts" feel free to tell me what happened after you examine the pictures.

Not done yet. When I got out to examine any damgage after I heard the first noises,(there was no visible damage and nothing was loose at the time), my buddy got out of his door and noticed that the rear passenger door wouldn't shut. The screws had fallen out, not sheared. thank fully I had a bungee in the car and attached it to each of the door armrest in the back which gave us quite many a laughs on the way home on any left-hand turn. I went out to finally inspect today and noticed that all my door locks say GM on them? What the hell is that?

-Hank

[p76rangie]

Are you using Poly bushes on the shock. If so, they can cause any shock to break on a Rangie/disco.

[Disco Mike]

With all the different Rover clubs I have been in over the years, I can't remember hearing of a OME shock breaking, yes, once in awhile a seal may fail, I had one that failed and it was replaced for me, but no breaks.
Mike

[XtremeMarine]

GM door locks? WTF!!! I need to go look at mine. Holy schnikes.

[AZROVER]

I'm using the bushes that came with the shock new, I believe they are the poly bushes. I had never heard that being an issue. What kind of bushes should they be?

[p76rangie]

You should only use Rubber bushes.

[Wortho]

Poly bush'es will only cause an issue with the pin on the bottom of the shock where it's welded to the body and only after repeatedly maxing out the shock, breaking the shaft is unheard of, till i saw this anyway. Your better off with rubber anyway and yes the OME bushes are fine with the shocks.
So to answer your question, the only way to know what is going on is to take it back get it replaced(which they will do) and make sure they investigate why and how it happened, pictures on the net can't help, getting a qualified face in front of it will, get them to check your vehicle too.

[Searcaigh]

Mate of mine had the attachments shear off both rear OME shocks on his D1 a couple of weeks ago

http://www.me4x4.org/index.php?name=...ewtopic&t=1254

[p76rangie]

I have just fitted Bilstiens to my Rangie. Had Konis, they are a good shock but I have had trouble with longevity with them. I had a set of near new OME shocks sitting around and decided to fit them when the Konis went again. I found the OMEs too soft and pretty useless. They were also knackered after a very short time. So I am now giving Bilsteins a go.

[Roverhound]

Originally Posted by p76rangie

I have just fitted Bilstiens to my Rangie. Had Konis, they are a good shock but I have had trouble with longevity with them. I had a set of near new OME shocks sitting around and decided to fit them when the Konis went again. I found the OMEs too soft and pretty useless. They were also knackered after a very short time. So I am now giving Bilsteins a go.

Which Bilsteins did you go to? The nice thing about the 7100's are they are re-buildable and re-valveable.

[p76rangie]

Originally Posted by Roverhound

Which Bilsteins did you go to? The nice thing about the 7100's are they are re-buildable and re-valveable.

Didn't write down the part number, but they list an original replacement and a heavy duty. I got the heavy duty.

[p76rangie]

Originally Posted by p76rangie

Didn't write down the part number, but they list an original replacement and a heavy duty. I got the heavy duty.

Found the part number B46-0243

[Wortho]

I found the OMEs too soft and pretty useless.

Which shocks did you have? there's a couple to chose from and thats a pretty blanket statment.

[p76rangie]

Originally Posted by Wortho

Which shocks did you have? there's a couple to chose from and thats a pretty blanket statment.

Shocks are very personal and that's how I found them. There are actually two to choose from. They were nitrochargers medium duty shocks part number N45F. The heavy duty shock would have provided a bit firmer ride, but either are basically a cheap Munro shock.

[Phlawed]

OMG, a OME possibly not the greatest thing in the world? Everyone duck and run! Fireworks ahead. LOL sorry had to throw that in. Hell, I have not even heard of the forums worst shocks in history of mankind "ProComp" breaking like that. HAHA!