Terrafirma Shocks ....shocking quality

Just removed a set of +2" terrafirma shocks from the rear of my d2 as after 5 months and approx 6000 miles mostly on road the bushes have failed and caused the shock to contact the mount knocking over every small lump and bump. Comparing to the cellular dynamics i removed the eye bush on the terrafirma appears too narrow allowing the eye to move and be displaced over to one side destroying the bush. To be honest i am very disappointed with the terrafirma stuff. The damping is very poor allowing the d2 to bounce like the shocks have blown and thats with terrafirma springs too. I read lots of good things before i bought a set but to be honest the britpart stuff was way better quality and has a longer warranty. Wonder if terrafirma are cutting quality now they have made a name for themselves in the market? Needless to say they are going back for a warranty claim. Lets see what they have to say.........

Don't know anything about Terrafirma so can't comment, but I never ever heard a bad thing said about Old Man Emu shocks or suspension components. Well, apart from a few whinges about the price, but at least you know you're getting your money's worth by paying for quality.

Money no object I wouldn't bother looking anywhere else.

Just consider that many branded names are being copied and made in China, these fakes are being introduced for many consumable parts for many popular vehicles, and Land Rover are a popular vehicle in the world market.

Are yours original or are they simply fakes sold by an unsuspecting retailer in good faith.

Don't know if they are genuine of not. They were bought from a large internet retailer who has been around for many years so i'd hope they are buying through the proper channels. Just waiting now for a response to the claim i submitted. Will post the outcome. Cheers

If you have any suspicions about them being copies, contact the manufacturer so they can ascertain if they are genuine or not, they will act if they are fake, and most likely give you a free set for your trouble, and to protect their brand image and quality.

Land Rover has one of the most commonly faked aftermarket components from China.

i have fitted quite a few sets on D1,D2, and have had mixed results we have had to change some bushes on both models and the quality of the paint and casings are very poor rusty in a few weeks,,, :shock: ,some of the welding looks poor...britpart stuff ,,gaz shock never had a problem,,,,

Marvellous! Having just posted that I'd never heard a bad thing said about Old Man Emu (OME) shocks, at the LRO Show at Billing over the weekend I heard of three seperate instances where OME shock absorbers have failed. Just like London buses ...

tuggy wrote:

i have fitted quite a few sets on D1,D2, and have had mixed results we have had to change some bushes on both models and the quality of the paint and casings are very poor rusty in a few weeks,,, :shock: ,some of the welding looks poor...britpart stuff ,,gaz shock never had a problem,,,,

Agreed, i was very happy with the britpart cellular dynamic i replaced with terrafirma stuff, only because i lifted it and wanted +2" shocks. The britpart stuff was cheaper and better made, i know they get a slagging on many boards but i genuinely believe they are trying to turn the brand around. Comparing the two side by side the britpart had a thicker eye and bigger bush, the shock tube was a much more chunky and the the terrafirmas on the front had stupid plastic tube top covers that were not straight and within 2 hours had rubbed all the paint off one side of the front shocks.

I had considered ome Tom but way too expensive for my needs. If i was crossing the sahara then maybe but at the moment i am looking at the bearmach tuff back shocks. anyone heard anything about these? I always rate bearmach stuff quite highly and its my preferred aftermarket brand for non genuine parts.

I have put the Tuff Back all round on my D2 with Bearmach Blue H/D springs and they are doing fine, good drive on and off road. I had heard about the poor quality of the Terrafirma and instances of failures with EMU shocks.

I used a set of Scorpion shocks on my last conversion, well made, cheap compared to most large brands, and still working very well.

I'll stick with the standard Land Rover item thanks

mike

I have heard similar things. Some love the Terrafirma some hate them.

For the money, pro comp is not too bad. Tough Dog, TJM and Old Man EMU are tough contenders tho.

Jason

I think I am with Mike, I have genuine bushes, dampers and hd springs all round. Fitted two years ago. If I was to change to another I would go for Koni.

I think I will be tweaking the suspension this year, since fitting the roof tent it seems a bit loose. Probably try extra damping first.

What was the outcome on the claim by the op?

Dan

Well i am unsure what to think to be honest. Returned the shocks to the company i bought them from and they "lost" them before they could return them to terrafirma/allmakes. I got a full refund and am looking for options at the moment. I did ask if they were proper terrafirma shocks and they assured me that they are all genuine terrafirma products. I would not recommend them though as i still have the front one on and the damping is rubbish. think i will try the tuffback by bearmach as i've never had problems with bearmach stuff. Just wish i could get some de carbon as they are my all time favourites.

Rough Country all the way here, they seem well made and they fit a wide range of different vehicles which is good if you drive something other than a Land Rover.

Although that said I did fit Disco spring to the back of the Frontera better compression rate for towing and heavy loads.

I have heard others having a gripe about Terrafima shocks but like said above they were bought over the Internet and could have been cheap copies.

I have been on the receiving end of fake clutch components which ended in the springs failing after less than 2,000 miles I got a refund on the bits but it still cost me in time and labour.

All you can do is put your faith in renown suppliers and hope then are not being duped by their wholesalers

That is not good! Hopefully it was jsut a one off as I have loads of Terraiirma stuff sitting n boxes ready to go on one of the Range Rovers!

Rough Country shocks get my vote as they are the only shocks we have fitted that have survived a whole trip They were a little on the soft side fully laden is my only complaint - more sag than the standard shocks.

jellybenitez wrote:

Just wish i could get some de carbon as they are my all time favourites.

Did you know that De Carbon shock absorbers are all but identical to Bilstiens? I was told by the importer that, if the story is correct, that the two partners, brothers or whatever that founded Bilstein shocks had a falling out, so one partner, brother or whatever went off to found De Carbon shocks , that seemingly are every bit as good as Bilstein but at half the price. Urban myth ... who knows? I too have always found De Carbons to be very good, plus have a good rep.

The story is apparently true, and I used to race on De Carbon shocks and they were the only items to last a single season, even Billy's didn't last a full season.

You used to comp??? You live and learn. What club - AWDC, NORC or an ARC club?

Club rallying and rally cross which hammers them when you do 80+ through a rutted forest track..

Bilstiens Shocks are a good shock absorber. We have used them on the Rear axle of pick ups for years. The next step up for us is Koni.
The Bilstiens cope with the weight well with from chequer plated bed liners, pick up hard tops with fully laden racking systems.
To date we have not had any failures.

Jas