Just remembering 25yrs ago when I started driving having to replace the shocks on a few of my cars and doing the bounce test on each corner before each MOT to see if I had a potential fail.

I remember viewing shocks as consumables in the same way as brake discs and tyres. Admittedly my earlier cars were bangers but I'm never had problems or heard people talk about replacing their shocks in recents years.

So do modern shocks last a lot longer nowadays? Has anyone had to replace their FL2 shocks?

I am still on the originals and the FL2 is 9 years old in March!

Same here I haven't changed a shock absorber on a car since the early 80's. 3 x FL1 2 manual + 1 auto
5 x FL2 4 manual + 1 auto
Now Discovery Sport P250 MHEV SE

Havent yet on the fl2. But have on other modern cars. Ford focus etc. Think it just depends how hard you drive em. The focus was in my yobbo days and i took roundabouts till the tyres squeeled. Oddly always the nsf that went. Lol

I would hope the FL would have something heavy duty rated fitted seeing what it might be expected to do, than something say fitted to a normal Fode Forcas??

Yes more than likely. Just answering the question do modern shock absorbers last longer. In my opinion technology has come on but lifespan is affected by stress put on components.

Had a rear one fail on my 08 plate F2 at 80,000 miles 1998 300TDi Auto Disco, never to be forgotten.
2008 Auto TD4 Freelander2, now gone?
2013 Auto SD4 Freelander!
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Of course components are finished now to a much higher standard and closer tolerances and finer finishes can be achieved straight off the machine, which is why we dont have the extended running in procedures like we did back in the old days now.

I was also wondering about the original question as my car is 6 years old with 65K clocked. As a follow on is there a prefered make of replacements? Bilstein, Monroe??
I suppose, to answer my own question, the OE KYB shocks seem to do a pretty good job. But are they hellishly expensive

'the OE KYB shocks seem to do a pretty good job'
I think your shocks have already been changed if they are KYB

Nope. According to something I read on a Landrover site somewhere I forget where sort of place......the OE ones are KYB.

KYB = Keep You Bouncing

LOL. A bit like the Showa shocks on Hondas in the 80s that had "FVQ" on them. Soon became know as "Fade Very Quickly".

I work for BWI (used to be Delphi) and we were the OE supplier for dampers. (and upper body mounts)
We also supply the active dampers on the evoque and the airspring modules and active roll bars for Discovery, Range Rover and Range Rover Sport.

blacktiger wrote:

the OE KYB shocks seem to do a pretty good job. But are they hellishly expensive