Used Land Rover Shock Absorbers

All used Land Rover Shock Absorbers listed on Breakeryard.com are tested, original (OEM) manufacturer parts and come with a 14 day money back guarantee. Breakeryard.com list cheap new OES or aftermarket car parts at discounted prices and used OEM car parts up to 80% cheaper than main dealer prices for Land Rover from premium breaker yards from across the UK.

About Shock Absorbers

Most modern cars have shock absorbers or hydraulic dampers as part of their suspension system. Usually combined with coil springs the shock absorbers primary function is to smooth out the cars ride and dampen any bounce generated by the springs as the car travels over the ground.

The shock absorber is constructed of hollow metal tubing which is sealed with end caps creating a chamber or cylinder which is filled with hydraulic oil or fluid. A piston located inside the chamber is connected to a rod which passes through seals at one end. The piston is able to move up and down the chamber but due to narrow passages in the piston the oil slows or dampens its movement.

The chamber end of the shock absorber (bottom) is bolted to the axle, trailing arm or strut while the piston rod end (top) is bolted to a reinforced section of the bodywork. This braces the suspension of the car slowing any bounce due to the resistance provided by the shock absorber.

There are several different types of shock absorber but the most common are either telescopic or strut. Telescopic shock absorbers are used with most suspension systems including trailing arm, wishbone, leading arm and swing axles. Strut shock absorbers or inserts are similar in design although are an integral part of the coil spring. The most common system of this type is the MacPherson strut which can be used on both front and rear wheels.

Shock absorbers generally have a fixed life expectancy although this can vary significantly depending on driving style, distance covered and terrain. They are generally non serviceable although should be checked regularly for early signs of wear or failure. The common point of failure is the seal where the piston rod exits the chamber. As the seals wear they are likely to allow oil to leak which will eventually reduce their efficiency resulting in poor ride and road holding. Other checks should include signs of damage from road debris including significant dents to the chamber; corrosion, pitting or scoring of the piston rods which will cause premature seal wear or damage to the mounting bolts, brackets or bushes.

When replacing shock absorbers it is generally recommended to so in axle pairs to ensure balanced suspension performance across the width of the vehicle.

Land Rover trivia

• The Range Rover designer hated what he had made. Charles Spencer "Spen" King CBE, was focused solely on designing a large V8 engine, and then just drew a box around it to show where the engine would sit. It annoyed him for the rest of his life, and he insisted that he'd only put 0.1% of development time on the car shape. He also hated that they would be used for anything other than farming, saying, "...to use them in the school run, or even in towns and cities at all, is completely stupid."
• When the Pope was visiting the UK in 1984, Land Rover designed him a customised Popemobile to use in the country.
• In the 1950s, you could buy yourself a Land Rover with tank tracks instead of wheels. Known as the Cuthbertson Version, it was intended for use by farmers and was tested by driving across the Scottish Highlands.
• The Queen loves Land Rovers and is reported to have owned as many as 30 different models in her life. It was in a Land Rover Defender that her majesty terrified the then Crown Prince Abdullah with her wild driving skills.
• One of the most unique vehicles ever was the floating SUV designed and built by Land Rover. Unfortunately, the Floating Ninety Defender led many drivers to believe that their own Land Rovers could also float, and many cars were driven into lakes as a result.