Doetsch shocks

Jim LaGuardia · Post by **Jim LaGuardia** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 1:38 am

I recently installed a set of Doetsch (made for the Pinzgauer)shocks on a 710, what a nice test ride

Here's a couple of shots.

By the way Scott at E.I now carries these in stock for immediate delivery at the same price as direct ordering from Doetsch(which takes 3-4 weeks).
They even come with stickers

pcolette · Post by **pcolette** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 7:37 am

I can second Jim's opinion of the Doetsch shocks. I put them on about 8 months ago and they've performed very well (and still look great!

) Glad to hear that Scott now stocks them. One tip - if your mounting bolts look at all questionable, replace them at the same time. Both my original rear lower bolts were slightly bent when I took them out.
Paul

Erik712m · Post by **Erik712m** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 8:43 am

Jim, looks really nice. does one have to remove the old ones to see if they need replaced? are my thrity year old shocks still good?

pinzinator · Post by **pinzinator** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 1:44 pm

I've heard a lot of good reviews about this shock. It is also rebuildable in the future at a fraction of the cost of a new one.
I could not find them on the EI website, however.

MarkPinz · Post by **MarkPinz** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 3:59 pm

Discovered mine were bad about the second time offroad after purchasing. The Pinz was bucking badly over the woops at Pismo dunes kept the speed low to avoid whiplash

Tried to get the Doetsch at the time couldn't find anyone selling them? Had the Ranchos now for three years seem to be working OK.

David Dunn · Post by **David Dunn** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 5:04 pm

Gee, what a funny truck.... 2 coil springs to hold the truck up, a battery ground strap to hold the suspension together and a crock pot for brakes....doesn't look like any Pinz I know.... and the tranfer case is on the wrong side , to boot!

texas pinzgauer · Post by **texas pinzgauer** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 5:08 pm

How much are a set of 4 of these and how much are a set of Rancho's by comparison?

Jim LaGuardia · Post by **Jim LaGuardia** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 5:35 pm

I believe they are under a hundred bucks apiece, but specifically valved and built for the Pinz. The Rancho shocks are a little less, but may cause shock bolt failure due to valving

Erik712m · Post by **Erik712m** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 6:07 pm

Just keep rubbing it in dave. wounder if the keys are the same. can we take from jims on a little joy ride late in the night and hold it for ransom

pcolette · Post by **pcolette** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 7:45 pm

texas pinzgauer wrote:How much are a set of 4 of these and how much are a set of Rancho's by comparison?

The Rancho 5000 are $78 each, Rancho 9000 adjustable are $118 each. I paid $99 each for the Doetsch and as pinzinator said they are rebuildable should you need to.

Paul

David Dunn · Post by **David Dunn** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 8:06 pm

Erik Maybee wrote:Just keep rubbing it in dave. wounder if the keys are the same. can we take from jims on a little joy ride late in the night and hold it for ransom

Sorry Erik,
Like everything else.... the Pink Cow has real keys, real locking steering/ignition, real door locks, and protected by Rule 308

In Commonwealth Countries, it's Rule 303

pinzinator · Post by **pinzinator** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 1:16 pm

I spoke with the factory and they said that the shock is designed to be installed upside-down. In other words, the chrome rod points up. Jim, have you ever heard anything about this?

pcolette · Post by **pcolette** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 2:44 pm

Pinzinator,
I ran into this same issue when I installed mine. The factory (Bobbi) told me they could be installed either end up. Due to the small access hole for the front upper body mount, the shock could only be installed with the chrome rod end up.

It's been over a year and they work fine. Just my experience. I'd be interested in Jim's and anyone elses comments too.

Paul C.

rubicon4wheeler · Post by **rubicon4wheeler** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 4:06 pm

pinzinator wrote:I spoke with the factory and they said that the shock is designed to be installed upside-down. In other words, the chrome rod points up. Jim, have you ever heard anything about this?

I'm curious about this too. Many hydraulic shocks have an "up" and a "down" and they will lose some of their damping in one (or both) directions of travel, creating a "dead spot" in the shock's travel and adversely affecting handling. I've experienced this firsthand with a set of Rancho shocks, and can verify that it's important to not run shocks that are oriented the wrong way.

Many gas shocks are able to be run either end up, but it depends on how the valves are designed. If the Doetsch Tech shocks were designed to operate either direction, then it shouldn't be a problem. However - especially when a shock is designed for a particular vehicle - the compression and rebound damping are usually not the same. So proper orientation would be important to maintain if this is the case.

Can Doetsch Tech or Expedition Imports verify if there are different rates of damping for compression & rebound? And which direction these shocks are optimally oriented?

pinzinator · Post by **pinzinator** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 4:28 pm

Given a choice, I would rather that they point up, that way they can be installed on all 4 corners. If installed normally they would be limited to rears only, if that is the proper direction. I have them in the rear, and was considering installing them up front when I made the call to Doetsch. Reversing the rears is easy. You can verify the proper direction at Doetsch by calling 619-442-7300, the reply I got today had been posted previously. I don't know the name of the woman.

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