Suspension upgrade: 50 mm lift & Fournales Suspension' Oleopneumatic dampers... Verdict after 26 000 km (20% off-road) EN/FR

[Dok]

-- English

I did contact a dozen of companies in various countries for springs, dampers, air suspension...
Based on my specifications my choice went to a French company called "Fournales Suspension".

I don't have a single regreat except making my Fournales' dampers upgrade choice earlier.
At least now I can compare both since I've done half of my kilometers with the stock dampers & half with the Fournales'.

I could write for hours about those dampers just to talk about the benefits of the height (& weight) adjustment but the only point to remember is that those dampers give you a whole new vehice to drive.

Safer, more comfort and improve traction... Even at high speed on road and off road.
The worse the conditions, the greater the benefits.

For example, no more tailgating and the car is not (no longer) diving in case of direction switch.

If any of you come across me (right now in France between Alps & Normandy) and want to give it a try, I'd be delighted to do so.

-- Français

Amélioration des suspensions : Réhausse de 50 mm et amortisseurs oléopneumatiques de chez Fournales Suspension... Verdict après 26 000 km (20% hors route)

J'ai contacté une douzaine de sociétés dans différents pays pour des ressorts, des amortisseurs, des suspensions pneumatiques...
Sur base de mon cahier des charges, mon choix s'est porté sur la société française Fournales Suspension.

Je n'ai pas un seul regret, si ce n'est d'avoir fait mon choix d'upgrade plus tôt.
Au moins maintenant je peux comparer les deux puisque j'ai fait la moitié de mes kilomètres avec les amortisseurs de série et l'autre moitié avec ceux de Fournales.

Je pourrais écrire des heures sur ces amortisseurs juste pour parler des avantages de l'ajustement de la hauteur (et du poids) mais le seul point à retenir est que ces amortisseurs vous donnent une toute nouvelle voiture à conduire.

Plus sécurisant, plus confortable et avec une meilleure traction... Même à grande vitesse sur route et hors route.
Plus les conditions sont difficiles, plus on mesure les bénéfices.

Par exemple, plus de talonnage et la voiture ne plonge plus / "vire à plat" en cas de changement, même brutal, de direction

 

[TelRidan]

Did you look at Nimbus oleo-pneumatic suspension as well? They're game changers for me. Much better manners on and off road.

Nimbus Oleo-pneumatic Suspensions

Nimbus makes oleo-pneumatic suspensions for Defender, Land Cruiser, Grenadier or Jeep Wrangler, offering unparalleled comfort and traction on all terrains.

nimbus-suspensions.com

The personal service and dedication to technical advancement is second to none as well.

 

[Dok]

Did you look at Nimbus oleo-pneumatic suspension as well? They're game changers for me. Much better manners on and off road.

Nimbus Oleo-pneumatic Suspensions

Nimbus makes oleo-pneumatic suspensions for Defender, Land Cruiser, Grenadier or Jeep Wrangler, offering unparalleled comfort and traction on all terrains.

nimbus-suspensions.com

The personal service and dedication to technical advancement is second to none as well.

Yes, I looked into it and exchanged emails and phone calls. Same principle, but Fournales offered the possibility of height adjustment, which they said they didn't do.
And then I did trust friends using Fournales dampers for dozens of years with not a single issue rather than a brand new company!

Also last time I looked on Nimbus web site they say there doing 2 rear reinforcement of shock absorber mounts.
Fournales Suspension did provide 8 = All top and bottom rear and front

 

[parb]

Care to give a review of the nimbus? I just read about them on expedition Portal and they sound pretty great but a bit expensive...

 

[Dok]

Haven

Care to give a review of the nimbus? I just read about them on expedition Portal and they sound pretty great but a bit expensive...

Haven't try Nimbus because I decided to go with Fournales Suspension instead... But should provide the same effect.
I could never have imagined such an improvement in the Grenadier's behavior with those dampers.

I still can't believe how fast I can go over crappy terrain and feel like I'm just wandering around with wheels stuck to the ground

Since the upgrade, my friends did gave a nick name to my car: "bip bip / load runner"

https://www.fournales.fr/concept-technique/

 

[WanderingSniper]

I just took a look and the concept sounds great. In your photo though you still have springs, but in the translation I read these take the place of both springs and shocks. Why did they keep your springs?

 

[Zimm]

Yes, I looked into it and exchanged emails and phone calls. Same principle, but Fournales offered the possibility of height adjustment, which they said they didn't do.
And then I did trust friends using Fournales dampers for dozens of years with not a single issue rather than a brand new company!

Also last time I looked on Nimbus web site they say there doing 2 rear reinforcement of shock absorber mounts.
Fournales Suspension did provide 8 = All top and bottom rear and front

I wanted to look into theses, but unfortunately, I noticed the US web sight is down. I wonder if It's still available here.

 

[Dok]

I just took a look and the concept sounds great. In your photo though you still have springs, but in the translation I read these take the place of both springs and shocks. Why did they keep your springs?

Belt and suspender... In theory, you could do without them, but it hardens and makes the whole suspension more reliable.

Disclaimer: I'm not a specialist. I'm just discovering things and I listened to what the owner, who has 40 years' experience with motorcycles, 4x4, airplanes, .... had to say!

 

[TelRidan]

Graeme Bell does a way better job of reviewing the shocks than I could do as far as writing of their benefits, but I share @Dok's enthusiasm for the technology. Bell put on the Nimbus shocks and he even mentions the capability of the shocks to hold up the vehicle without springs.

Nimbus Oleo Pneumatic Shock Absorbers Review - Get Ready for the Flying Carpet Effect - Expedition Portal

Nimbus specializes in advanced oleo-pneumatic suspension systems designed for off-road vehicles like the classic Land Rover Defender, Grenadier, Jeep, Toyota Land Cruiser, and Mercedes G-Class.

expeditionportal.com

 

[Zimm]

I took it to be, this system behaves much like the hydro/pneumatic system found on the Lexus lx470 (100 series). On the system the spring carried the majority of the weight, and ride height adjustments were with the shock, that could also bear load. I had mine set up with an override for a while while running 33's and it was fabulous. I only deleted it when I went to 35's, and ride height and desire range could no longer be accommodated. The downside being, if you lost the system, you could bottom out as the coil could not bear 100% of the weight.

I wouldn't be surprised if one could design a system around these that utilized a softer main spring and you achieve an even better ride.

 

[parb]

I wanted to look into theses, but unfortunately, I noticed the US web sight is down. I wonder if It's still available here.

Looks like they lost their US distributor.

The concept is interesting. I just learned that this style shock was developed for the Concorde landing gear by the founder of the company.

 

[Dok]

You can still contact them in France

 

[TyHenne]

-- English

I did contact a dozen of companies in various countries for springs, dampers, air suspension...
Based on my specifications my choice went to a French company called "Fournales Suspension".

I don't have a single regreat except making my Fournales' dampers upgrade choice earlier.
At least now I can compare both since I've done half of my kilometers with the stock dampers & half with the Fournales'.

I could write for hours about those dampers just to talk about the benefits of the height (& weight) adjustment but the only point to remember is that those dampers give you a whole new vehice to drive.

Safer, more comfort and improve traction... Even at high speed on road and off road.
The worse the conditions, the greater the benefits.

For example, no more tailgating and the car is not (no longer) diving in case of direction switch.

If any of you come across me (right now in France between Alps & Normandy) and want to give it a try, I'd be delighted to do so.

-- Français

Amélioration des suspensions : Réhausse de 50 mm et amortisseurs oléopneumatiques de chez Fournales Suspension... Verdict après 26 000 km (20% hors route)

J'ai contacté une douzaine de sociétés dans différents pays pour des ressorts, des amortisseurs, des suspensions pneumatiques...
Sur base de mon cahier des charges, mon choix s'est porté sur la société française Fournales Suspension.

Je n'ai pas un seul regret, si ce n'est d'avoir fait mon choix d'upgrade plus tôt.
Au moins maintenant je peux comparer les deux puisque j'ai fait la moitié de mes kilomètres avec les amortisseurs de série et l'autre moitié avec ceux de Fournales.

Je pourrais écrire des heures sur ces amortisseurs juste pour parler des avantages de l'ajustement de la hauteur (et du poids) mais le seul point à retenir est que ces amortisseurs vous donnent une toute nouvelle voiture à conduire.

Plus sécurisant, plus confortable et avec une meilleure traction... Même à grande vitesse sur route et hors route.
Plus les conditions sont difficiles, plus on mesure les bénéfices.

Par exemple, plus de talonnage et la voiture ne plonge plus / "vire à plat" en cas de changement, même brutal, de direction

View attachment 7870918

It looks really cool! You spoke about reinforced supports, but I don’t see them on your picture, just the stock Grenadier hardware. Were they added later on?

 

[Dok]

It looks really cool! You spoke about reinforced supports, but I don’t see them on your picture, just the stock Grenadier hardware. Were they added later on?

If you zoom on the bottom bracket you can see the 2 spacers that fits over the bolt on each side.
The spacers fit the original bolt

 

[TyHenne]

Yes, I can see the spacers. I was looking around, and my buddy Sven has sent me pictures of his setup with the Nimbus Suspensions, which seems to be utilizing the same style support reinforcement as yours with OEM nuts and bolts, but apparently they have switched him to 12.9 grade hardware with a flat surface in the center, he told me it was to prevent those supports from rubbing against the threaded part of the bolt, and offer more durability.

Did they provide you with lengths and travel?

I’d be curious to see what their temperature ratings are. I wasn’t able to find much technical information about their specs, and haven’t gotten a reply to my call or email.

I’m still on the edge about which one to pick. I’ll pull the trigger soon. Thanks for the information. I’ll keep you posted on the final decision.


View attachment GRENADIER-ON.jpeg