Tobias Posted February 6, 2017 Share Posted February 6, 2017 (edited) Hi I realised over the weekend that the rear right shock absorber was broken (as I thought). When testing by bouncing it was evident that the rear left wasn't doing any good either. Upon closer inspection it showed that they both have unscrewed themselves. Apparently the rod has come unscrewed from the piston. On both! These are fairly new OME 60039 dampers fitted to a Defender 130. They were fitted by the previous owner and I have no receipts so I guess a warranty claim is out of the question. It is a reputable brand and many swear by them. How could this have happened? Any possible mistakes when mounting? I can not imagine that, but it's better to ask... Production miss? Did they forget the loc-tite at assembly? Thanks Tobias Edited February 6, 2017 by Tobias Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil110 Posted February 6, 2017 Share Posted February 6, 2017 Might be worth a good will claim? Presumably that is a production date stamped into the body of the shock? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowie69 Posted February 6, 2017 Share Posted February 6, 2017 I would drop them an email at the very least, they are, or certainly used to be one of the brands to look after their customers. Bit weird though, as you say, perhaps a bad batch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
honitonhobbit Posted February 6, 2017 Share Posted February 6, 2017 Made in China now - at a price Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowie69 Posted February 6, 2017 Share Posted February 6, 2017 Oh well, never mind... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotts90 Posted February 6, 2017 Share Posted February 6, 2017 That's a weird one...have t seen the cheapest of the cheap do that! I was looking at OME to replace my terrafirmas when they expire. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
honitonhobbit Posted February 6, 2017 Share Posted February 6, 2017 I'd go Bilstein B6's at about the same money Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tobias Posted February 6, 2017 Author Share Posted February 6, 2017 Thanks for the comments I have sent a message in through their web page. Couldn't attach any photos. Will post here if they reply. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dangerous doug Posted February 6, 2017 Share Posted February 6, 2017 6 hours ago, honitonhobbit said: Made in China now - at a price Mine have made in Mexico clearly stamped on them..... i do t know if that's a good thing but I do hope that the change of factory doesn't mean a drop in quality. They are a good shock but are too expensive to just replace after the piston decides it wants a devorce. it might be worth an email to the uk distributor in hope they might lean on OME to get a better result Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davo Posted February 7, 2017 Share Posted February 7, 2017 So - if I've got it right - the top and bottom halves just unscrewed themselves as they were bouncing around? (Ok, you can take that in another way but it's a serious question.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tobias Posted February 7, 2017 Author Share Posted February 7, 2017 (edited) 2 hours ago, Davo said: So - if I've got it right - the top and bottom halves just unscrewed themselves as they were bouncing around? (Ok, you can take that in another way but it's a serious question.) Exactly! More clearly, it seems the piston, which sits in the bottom part, unscrewed itself from the Piston rod, which is part of the top part. In both rear shocks! Within driving distance of 30-100km of each other! Tobias Edited February 7, 2017 by Tobias Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davo Posted February 7, 2017 Share Posted February 7, 2017 Wow. Quality control reaches confusing new lows. I'm curious because I need new shocks and trying to work out what will actually last is like researching a thesis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowie69 Posted February 7, 2017 Share Posted February 7, 2017 Bilsteins get many votes in the Audi world... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted February 7, 2017 Share Posted February 7, 2017 54 minutes ago, Bowie69 said: Bilsteins get many votes in the Audi world... So does tailgating at 90 with your foglights on, but that doesn't make it right I'm very happy with the Bilsteins on the 109 though, made a world of difference over the ProComps. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowie69 Posted February 7, 2017 Share Posted February 7, 2017 Shhh you, I have a classic Audi.... Tailgating is not a requirement of ownership once the car is more than 20yrs old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotts90 Posted February 7, 2017 Share Posted February 7, 2017 3 hours ago, Bowie69 said: Bilsteins get many votes in the Audi world... I have fitted Bilsteins (usually B8) to most of my faster cars throughout the years. Never had an issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ex Member Posted February 7, 2017 Share Posted February 7, 2017 Bilsteins if you want a firm ride. Konis if you want a comfortable ride. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orgasmic Farmer Posted February 7, 2017 Share Posted February 7, 2017 Checking out the Bilstien B6s on Paddocks and there seems to be a different spec for Pre and post TD5 model numbers. And a £10 price difference. Assuming fitment is identical (AFAIK), what changed in the damping characteristics between the 2 to justify 2 different models and such a price difference? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retroanaconda Posted February 7, 2017 Share Posted February 7, 2017 Rear lower fitment certainly changed around Td5 time - later ones have a slightly longer pin and use two cone-shaped bushes that sit in captive cups on the axle with a pair of free washers to cap them. Earlier ones use the traditional 'doughnut' bush and two pairs of free washers. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davo Posted February 8, 2017 Share Posted February 8, 2017 7 hours ago, Red90 said: Bilsteins if you want a firm ride. Konis if you want a comfortable ride. I like the sudden outburst of advice! As above is what I've come across so far. Expensive way to test, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ex Member Posted February 8, 2017 Share Posted February 8, 2017 On the plus side Konis have a lifetime warranty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil110 Posted February 8, 2017 Share Posted February 8, 2017 depends on how long their life is intended to be presumably? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
honitonhobbit Posted February 10, 2017 Share Posted February 10, 2017 Made in Mexico.... How old id you say they were? Argentina makes a lot of shocks - most are generic; so does Canada. But these are assembly lines. Bits are made in China, Taiwan, India, Australia etc... Like the 'Merican made Warn Winch. My 200Tdi runs Raw 4x4 Heavy Duty shocks. These were one of the best Australian shocks, then the factory in Argentina decided to swap the assembly works to Canada. So the disgruntled staff in Argentina starting sabotaging stuff... Shocks started failing when you lowered the vehicle off the jack. Suddenly the Raw 4x4 name was mud... My first set did just this - well two did; one front, one rear. Just dumped all the oil out of the seals in one big splurge. The imported honoured the sale and gave me a new set. That was three years ago. Brilliant shocks. Slightly hard, but I prefer that - don't like soft and squidgy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orgasmic Farmer Posted February 10, 2017 Share Posted February 10, 2017 Well I have just fitted some Bilstien B6s to the back of the 110. "Made in Germany" clearly stamped on them. Of the 2 TerraFirma sport dampers removed (4.5 years and approx 30K miles) one fully extended under its' own power. The other is still fully compressed and showing no sign of life! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hangover Posted February 14, 2017 Share Posted February 14, 2017 Pity, the OME shocks used to be made in Adelaide by Monroe for ARB. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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