So I have noticed my suspension is rock hard and when the car hits a bump in the road the rear end seems to skip about on the road like a shopping trolley.

There are no faults on the car and all the shocks are in good condition. It seems like the adaptive dampers are stuck in rock hard mode, any idea how to check if this is the case or gotchas I should be looking for? Christian.


Current Cars
2011 Range Rover Vogue SE
2020 BMW M4 Competition
2019 BMW X4

My RR Blog: www.facebook.com/L322Project
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There is a mahoosive long thread on here all about it  Gone to a good home: 2011 4.4 TDV8 Vogue SE Buckingham Blue with Ivory and clear glass = "Rory"
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Yeah I read that and there was no definitive answer.

I notice one member changed all his shocks (probably at great cost) only to then have the same issue return. Christian.


Current Cars
2011 Range Rover Vogue SE
2020 BMW M4 Competition
2019 BMW X4

My RR Blog: www.facebook.com/L322Project
or
https://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic61540.html

I’d check your rear shocks again to make sure… the other thread is mainly about hard suspension, not so much skipping about. I had a knackered rear shocker which caused mine to move about a bit over bumps. Failed MOT. Replaced them both and no movement over bumps any more…..

As to the hard suspension…. Well…. As has been mentioned…. Said thread….

If you think it’s a hard ride now, wait till you have Adaptive Dynamics fault on the dash… max hardness…. I’m guessing it’s not quite as hard as that.

Good luck….

 2011 Range Rover Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8

Previous cars :
2003 Range Rover Vogue TD6
1999 Discovery Td5 ES
1995 BMW M5 3.8 6 speed
1992 Range Rover 3.9 Efi Vogue
1992 BMW M5 3.8
1988 BMW 735i SE
1989 Ford Sierra XR4x4 2.9i
1981 Ford Fiesta Supersport

i second that had exact same issue and it was a knackered rear shock. 2012 Vogue 4.4 TDV8 - Current
2014 Navara V6 - Gone
2004 Vogue TD6 - Gone
Grand Cherokee - Gone
Discovery V8 (LPG) - Gone
Discovery TD5 - Gone

When I say hard suspension I mean like the shocks are locked.

Currently the RR makes my M4 suspension look like its made from jelly.

I had the shocks off a while ago and they seemed fine, not loose or oily or anything to suggest they are knackered, I don't want to just spend a shed load of money on the off chance it's a faulty shock as the other huge thread suggests the guy bought 4 new shocks and the fault still remains. Christian.


Current Cars
2011 Range Rover Vogue SE
2020 BMW M4 Competition
2019 BMW X4

My RR Blog: www.facebook.com/L322Project
or
https://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic61540.html

Check the wiring to the top of the shocks. Assuming you have a GAP IID tool is it showing any faults?. I had a faulty solenoid replaced on one of my shocks and it wasn't showing on the GAP IID but did show on JLR workshop diagnostic that the garage used 2012 TDV8 Vogue (L322)

Only suggest checking the rear shocks to help diagnose the skipping….. the hardness might be a different issue…

 2011 Range Rover Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8

Previous cars :
2003 Range Rover Vogue TD6
1999 Discovery Td5 ES
1995 BMW M5 3.8 6 speed
1992 Range Rover 3.9 Efi Vogue
1992 BMW M5 3.8
1988 BMW 735i SE
1989 Ford Sierra XR4x4 2.9i
1981 Ford Fiesta Supersport

Are the solenoids separate then?

 2011 Range Rover Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8

Previous cars :
2003 Range Rover Vogue TD6
1999 Discovery Td5 ES
1995 BMW M5 3.8 6 speed
1992 Range Rover 3.9 Efi Vogue
1992 BMW M5 3.8
1988 BMW 735i SE
1989 Ford Sierra XR4x4 2.9i
1981 Ford Fiesta Supersport

mjdronfield wrote:

Only suggest checking the rear shocks to help diagnose the skipping….. the hardness might be a different issue…

Not exactly sure to be honest… I know you could do a bounce test on normal ones, but the dampers don’t get any signal to soften up from the ECU until the car is moving… some of the casing had allowed oil to come out mine, so you could see it… or at least the MOT tester did. Maybe you need to get them off and see if they push in and out easy?

Not really helped I know…. Just saying not to rule them out for the skipping issue. Perhaps someone else knows of a sure way to tell on the CVD equipped cars?

 2011 Range Rover Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8

Previous cars :
2003 Range Rover Vogue TD6
1999 Discovery Td5 ES
1995 BMW M5 3.8 6 speed
1992 Range Rover 3.9 Efi Vogue
1992 BMW M5 3.8
1988 BMW 735i SE
1989 Ford Sierra XR4x4 2.9i
1981 Ford Fiesta Supersport

I had them off to replace the brake pipes recently. They seemed fine. Rather stiff, could not easily move the rod, like any other shocker I've ever knows really, no visible oil etc.

It was like this before removing them, not related unfortunately. Christian.


Current Cars
2011 Range Rover Vogue SE
2020 BMW M4 Competition
2019 BMW X4

My RR Blog: www.facebook.com/L322Project
or
https://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic61540.html

The de-energised state of the CVD dampers is full stiff. Not sure what the solenoid is as it was on the repair list and was only £30 so maybe it was just the wiring? 2012 TDV8 Vogue (L322)

The solenoids are inside the dampers and are not serviceable. I will have a go at metering out the dampers and see if there is any current being applied to them when driving when I get a chance.

I watched that guy's videos on YT and he's replaced loads of stuff and still not got a result by the look of things, I don't really want to go down that path if I can help it Christian.


Current Cars
2011 Range Rover Vogue SE
2020 BMW M4 Competition
2019 BMW X4

My RR Blog: www.facebook.com/L322Project
or
https://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic61540.html

Have you got someone that can drive behind the vehicle and record a video? Ideally also record from both sides, the higher the frame rate the better, it'll give you a good idea of what's going on, also check the tyres (all round) for distortion / balance / pressure / castellation.

If all looks OK on video and tyre checks, then chassis ears are the next step, don't bother buying fleabay ones, see if you can borrow or rent someone with some decent ones (and the ability to interpret the readings( for an hour which narrow down or point directly to the cause of the skipping (assuming the front end hasn't gone soft on you and is unsettling the back).