Hi all,

I've noticed a weird little quirk with my 06 4.2 (non adaptive dampers).

After driving for a 4 hours yesterday on mostly A-road, when I came into town like the rear suspension was very "crashy" over bumps. This morning when I went out it was nice and smooth again.

I'm running 255/55/20's and it felt more like a change in damping rather than just the tyres warming up and getting firmer.

Am I due a set of rear dampers? 2006 L322 Vogue SE 4.2

Here is the theory - when new the shocks are filled with pressurised nitrogen to prevent gas bubbles appearing in the oil as the shock is working. If this leaks out over time then the shocks will loose effectiveness as they are used on a journey and feel harsh and crashy. The rears are cheap enough and easy to do so may be worth a try - how many miles on them? 2012 TDV8 Vogue (L322)

Thanks mate, that makes sense.

Not sure how many miles are on them, the car has done 240k though.

I'll change them and see if that helps. 2006 L322 Vogue SE 4.2

Agreed, as the damper fluid is worked through the damper valve it heats up and this can cause issues with thermal expansion which creates stiction and harshness.

New dampers is as good a place to start as any. V8 or else ...

Floopy wrote:

Thanks mate, that makes sense.

Not sure how many miles are on them, the car has done 240k though.

I'll change them and see if that helps.

I had this so changed the hub bushes and front and rear shocks and bags as well as wheel bearings and it improved but not a great deal so changed the rear subframe bushes which I did about 5 years ago and 100k miles ish now the rear subframe bushes showed little wear with a big pry bar but when \i took them out they were knackered inside anyway after changing them did a run to Bordeaux and it was a different car and no nasty crashing so I think it is not one thing but a bit of everything the shocks may be on their way out and it is amplified by the other worn bushes
Not sure if that helps