Over the last 15 years we have tried various types /makes of suspension.

The only shock absorber that we have found to deal with the rigours of off road and security training and just driving around on East African roads are Bilstein.

They are not the cheapest, initially, but when fitted correctly I reckon they outlast the others by many miles.

The fittings on the other brands we have tried have worn out pretty quickly. This then causes damage to the mounting points on the vehicle. And to the shock itself.

Bilstein fittings (washers and bushes) easily outlast the shock (many years) which means you fit and forget. Great for a fleet that takes many hours of looking after. And cheaper in the long term!

From the driving side of things, in my opinion, they give superior handling in all driving situations.

If you break one then you’ve done something really bad.

For shocks at least, the search is over. We have made it policy to only fit Bilstein dampers.