Hi gents, I had the offside front coil spring break recently so figured what the hey, may as well replace the struts while I’m at it.

I put in an order for full front end KYB shocks and springs with a company which I hadn’t realised wasn’t U.K based (starts with A, rhymes with sock) so waited bloody ages for the parts to arrive, lesson learnt I guess.

Upon arrival the packaging was incredibly battered, whacking great hole in the bottom if the box where the collar of one of the struts had broken through, I know these units get a fair deal of abuse on the vehicle, should I be concerned about the rough handling they’ve had in transit?

Second point of concern is that one of the struts, (the one that had broken through the box) is definitely stiffer than the other, I’d have thought they’d need to be the same no?, could it be bent?

On further examination strut shafts have some very light zig zag scratches on their surfaces, is this likely to damage the seals?

I’ve been waiting ages now and just want to get the job done and sorted, I’m confident of the process got the tools, itching to go but as stated I have my concerns about the parts, like are these things normal an I’m just worrying about nothing?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I would be worried about any physical damage (not paint scratched off) and also the fact one seems different to the other in terms of resistance
When testing the shocks are you holding them upright like they would sit in the car
And are the shocks adjustable? If so one may be set differently to the other

Need to prime them both by compressing them several times. After doing that do they feel the same? Landrover - turning owners into mechanics since 1948

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pinhead wrote:

I would be worried about any physical damage (not paint scratched off) and also the fact one seems different to the other in terms of resistance
When testing the shocks are you holding them upright like they would sit in the car
And are the shocks adjustable? If so one may be set differently to the other

Bobupndown wrote:

Need to prime them both by compressing them several times. After doing that do they feel the same?

The shaft (piston) should be a nice shiny chrome finish. Procrastination, mankind's greatest labour saving device!

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I doubt a second difference will make any noticeable difference to 99.9% of drivers! (Now Sold). 2008 Freelander 2 (Nazca Sand) SE TD4 Auto. Statutory write off & on WOVR for hail damage but still road legal.
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Is there just me can’t get starts with A rhymes with sock ?

Not just you SYFL2, if it started with R and rhymed with sock then I'd know - I imagine it may well be blindingly obvious but the "A" has me at as loss  2014 Freelander 2 TD4 Manual Dynamic
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Maybe German? The good Doctor of Autos.... Ok prices, questionable customer service, dire delivery

Coincidentally, German, begins with A, sounds like sock..Arschloch, vielleicht? Current driveway contents:
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Lightwater wrote:

The shaft (piston) should be a nice shiny chrome finish.

PRadd wrote:

Not just you SYFL2, if it started with R and rhymed with sock then I'd know - I imagine it may well be blindingly obvious but the "A" has me at as loss

Ok fair enough, it rhymes far better with ‘Autosock’, but as far as I’m aware that’s not an actual thing, though perhaps it should be?

I suppose the reason I posted is I’m trying to figure out if I’m being unduly concerned by the issues I’ve described with the struts, are they Non-issues / within reasonable tolerances?

I don’t want to go complaining to the company and seeking a refund/return to Germany if there’s nothing to be concerned about.

NoDo$h wrote:

Maybe German? The good Doctor of Autos.... Ok prices, questionable customer service, dire delivery

Coincidentally, German, begins with A, sounds like sock..Arschloch, vielleicht?

vielleicht, wir werden sehen.

Badger51 wrote:

I doubt a second difference will make any noticeable difference to 99.9% of drivers!

That’s a second difference with me (11st wet through) pushing down on it on my driveway, it’s the idea of a difference with 2 tonne of Freelander sat on it while driving in a spirited manner that has me concerned.