I think what spike is saying is these cheap shocks will be fine for my type of driving mostly on the road, and while off road it is stuff my 5 year old daughter would enjoy mostly dirt roads and small hills and stuff. I wouldn't take an escort down some of these "dirt" roads but nothing too bad. I wouldn't mind having the capability to climb over big rocks and have a few inches of extra clearance to go swimming with but I would have to explain to the woman where the extra few hundred dollars is going, and I already know her response would be "will the cheap ones work?". So I am looking at all the possibilities.

 

Mike when you are on a budget and need new shocks and your truck see's moderate off road those Gabriel shocks will do jsut fine.
Why spend the money on OME's when you are not also replacing the springs?
For the average person who off roads only a couple of times a year those shocks will be just fine.
If he's doing rock crawling every weekend, then no, they wont work.

 

You will want the better shocks, even for in town driving. Gabriels are not sturdy enough to keep the top heavy rover stable.

I threw bilsteins on mine @ $260. Mostly in town driving, and it is a night and day difference over stock. You will be wobbly with the Gabriels.

 

okd-I have those Gabriel shocks for a year now and no problems, the truck is stable as ever, even with my worn out springs.
Even towing my utility trailer and light off roading no problems.
Dont let them fool you, they may not be as good as Bilstiens but they are a good shock.

 

Not trying to knock them, or anything. But you have only had them a year. I am just one to recommend what has been proven to last. Not saying there aren't others that may work.

I had a buddy with a base model CTS that put gabriels on as a replacement, and it was a waste of money. After 8 months, he had to replace them because his car was all over the road.

You are the first person I have heard of that put Gabriels on a Disco. Didn't even know how long, until you said it. I have just heard form several people that Bilsteins are good and they last. I also have them on my vehicle. I know they work

 

Bilstiens are good, but when you are on a budget and just need something that works...and they work great.
A CTS and Disco are two different animals, I dont need to control body roll in hard coners, I drive a Disco, it does not corner hard. But it rides smooth as silk.

 

Before I changed shocks, I felt like I needed to control body roll just changing lanes. Personal preference. If you like driving a dishwasher on a pile of Jello, fine.

Thanks for explaining that a Disco was not the same as a CTS. I had no idea... I was trying to convey from first hand experience that Gabriel, as a brand, was not a good OEM replacement. They are not as heavy duty as factory. If you go back with OEM LR Shocks, the Bilsteins are better and around the same price.

 

I like dishwashers and I LOVE Jello, watermelon to be exact.

 

OK guys take it easy, my rover feels very good to me with my as Mike say "worn out and long overdue factory shocks" so I am sure any shocks would make the ride a million times better, I was always under the impression (with any vehicle) that all the shocks do is keep the vehicle from bouncing around on the spring. Some are tight and will slow the leaning in turns and some are loose and will allow the vehicle to sway a little more(and adjustable shocks would allow either). The tension should be based on the vehicles needs and performance ie. a sportscar will have a looser shock to handle the sharp turns back and forth as to where a disco will need a tighter shock to be more absorbent on bumpy roads. And for the price yes I would think the quality (or life of the product) would be lower on a cheaper item. so its personal preference not something to argue about. I prefer the better shock but with a tough economy right now I am trying to save every penny I can.

 

RoverChris you are correct on the function of a shock, and unless you are doing serious off roading you dont need the best shock you can buy, if you want them just to want them that is fine.
For the average person the OEM aftermarket shock will do just fine.
You do get what you pay for, but for a person on a budget and with a lifetime warrenty the shocks that are on my truck will also work on yours, even if you did have to replace them once a year it wont cost you any more money.
That being said I am going to go with a Bilstien or OME shock later in the trucks life, but for right now...