When replacing the rear shocks, do you have to use shocks with vds? or can you use without?

Variable Damping is more marketing than practicality. Are you really likely to change the settings each time the load changes?

A couple of years ago Land Rover admitted that the rear shocks for most of their full sized, air suspension vehicles were almost identical and recommended that 'one size really would fit all'. HOWEVER the hardened steel, load spreading washers and the 'Strut Top Mounting Plates' that are fitted to the top ends must be transfered from the old shocks to the new ones as they are rarely supplied when shocks are ordered from non Land Rover suppliers. Hint - a rattle gun will shock the top nut loose.

A small cut into the carpet under the rear seats gives easy access to the top mounting plate nuts to make replacement very easy. And you can't see the cuts in normal use. See https://arnottinfo.com/manuals/SK-3122.pdf (don't cut out the great big rectangle, just cut an 'X' next to the cargo ring. No need to deflate air suspension, but may need a jack under the wheel hub to lift swing arm up when fitting new shock.

Cheapest I know of (for early L322) - https://www.firstfour.co.uk/product/monroe...l322-pair/
(This is only about 15% the price of OEM). I fitted these in 2014 and they are fine.

bye. 2003 TD6, EGR delete, vortex crankcase breather update, performance chip, UHF 2 way, Android head unit, crash camera on dash, always-on rear view camera to mirror screen, LED DRL`s, Electric trailer brake controller. FSR replaced. Pulling 3T caravan all about Australia

That's brilliant info, I really appreciate it.

Hang on! If you replace a CVD with a non-CVD then the other 3 shocks will be left at their maximum firmness because adaptive dynamics only softens shocks if the electrical connections to all suggests that the solenoids are all working. CVD firmness adjustment is not a mechanical adjustment on the shocks, instead utilising a fluid bypass valve (LR's implementation) controlled by a pwm signal from the adaptive dynamics ecu to continually adjust damping using various inputs to its algorithms.

I think the top two posts are talking at cross purposes...

09>MY onwards all need CVD shocks as that was what they left the factory with and fitting an earlier model shock will leave a fault light on the dash and will fail an MOT...