Tough Dog has been “making tracks across the world” since 1984, and have grown rapidly as a result of the excellent reputation their quality gear commands. Today, Tough Dog products are sought after the world over, and the distribution network spans 28 countries around the world. With some of the harshest conditions right here in Australia to test out products, the gear that makes it to the market is a cut above the rest.

Tough Dog’s pioneering attitude to R&D has resulted in them leading the way with several unique products. The Return To Centre and the ‘SV’ adjustable steering damper are two great examples of the results of the team’s unique thinking when it comes to making the best offroad suspension system available.

STEERING DAMPERS

EXT HEAVY DUTY STEERING DAMPER

The Tough Dog EXT steering damper is our affordable, heavy duty replacement damper.

Designed for mild applications as a replacement damper when the OEM gear just isn’t quite cutting the mustard, this damper will give you control and feeling back in your steering set up. With a 35mm internal bore and our Foam Cell insert to fight against fade in harsh use situations, this damper is the perfect companion for anyone looking to gain a new lease on life from their steering.

• Superb road handling characteristics
• 35mm bore for heavy-duty use
• Eliminate shimmy
• 2 Year/40,000km warranty (conditions apply)
• Large range to suit most 4WD applications

RTC Steering Damper

Sir Isaac Newton might never have owned a 4WD, but he certainly knew what he was on about when he wrote his 3rd law of physics.

“For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” Every time something fights your steering, the Return To Centre damper is right there with the equal and opposite reaction to keep you on track. Tough Dog steering stabilisers are the only award-winning RTC steering damper on the market. We paved the way for return to centre dampers in Australia. Our designs are customised for each application. Using the return to centre principle, the coil over spring forces the steering damper to return to the neutral position, helping to eliminate steering wheel kick on uneven surfaces. The return to centre damper aids drivers in their fight with the steering wheel over rough terrain, taming the erratic steering movement without compromising overall steering feel and response. Take the fight out of your steering today with an RTC damper.

• Reduces shimmy and shake
• Reduces fatigue on a long drive as the coil steers you straight.
• Returns the steering wheel back to centre, especially when oversize tyres are fitted.
• Available for manual and power steer vehicles
• 2 Year/40,000km warranty (conditions apply)

XHD RTC steering damper

This damper is designed for those extreme use applications like vehicles with oversized tyres and large suspension lifts. Taking the principle of the return to centre damper to the extreme, this damper certainly packs a punch when it comes to straightening out your steering.

When a vehicle is fitted with a suspension lift greater than 100mm, the geometry of the front arms, and the length of travel required from the damper will change, requiring a larger, longer heavier duty damper. Our XHD dampers come will with all the brackets required to mount the damper as well as instructions on correct configuration of the coil and collar arrangement. Some modification may be required to ensure correct fit. Suitable for vehicles with a suspension lift of 4” / 100mm or more. Available for 80/100 series LandCruisers, Nissan Patrol GQ/GU & Ford F250 models. Tough Dog also offer their pioneer ‘SV’ adjustable steering damper in larger sized to suit vehicles with more than 100mm of lift. View the ‘SV’ damper here.

• Superb road handling characteristics
• Return-to-centre principle especially for oversize tyres
• Eliminate shimmy and assist in blowouts
• Reduced driver fatigue on long distance driving
• 1 Year/20,000km warranty (conditions apply)

SV Adjustable Steering Damper

Our award winning ‘SV’ adjustable damper is the only one of its kind to offer users the ability to adjust the damping force to suite driving style and vehicle requirements.

It is especially effective on vehicles with oversized wheels, or increased wheel track that experience steering shimmy. The damping force is adjusted until the wheel shake is ‘tuned’ out of the equation. Let’s face it, every vehicle is different, and even small factors like tyre wear can affect the overall performance of the steering. With the SV unit, those factors are no longer a problem because a change in steering feel is just a dial turn away. SV dampers are available for most vehicles up to 50mm suspension lift, and for some vehicles up to 150mm of lift.

• Superb road handling characteristics
• 35mm bore for heavy-duty use
• Eliminate shimmy
• 2 Year/40,000 km warranty
• Large range to suit most 4WD applications
• 2 Year/40,000km warranty for 0 – 100mm lift applications (conditions apply)
• 1 Year/20,000km warranty 100mm+ lift applications (conditions apply)

TOUGH DOG SHOCKS

Nitrogen Gas Charged Shock Absorbers

Tough Dog Nitrogen Gas shock absorbers have been designed with control and comfort in mind.

Nitro gas shocks are built with multi stage velocity sensitive valving to ensure the shock is capable of performing at any speed. As the shock moves faster to absorb small bumps in the road like corrugations, the valving in the shock responds to maintain the ride control characteristics. These shocks are perfectly suited to light and medium four wheel drives and vehicles with leaf sprung suspension.

• 35mm Internal bore and piston with twin tube design
• Low pressure nitrogen gas to eliminate fade for better performance and comfortable ride
• Double chrome-plated shaft
• High temperature, all weather fluid
• Custom designed for each application
• OEM or longer length shocks to suit standard or raised 4WDs for maximum articulation, comfort, safety & durability
• 2 Year/40,000km warranty (conditions apply)

41mm bore foam cell shock absorbers

Tough Dog’s award winning Foam Cell shock is our best selling shock for all round performance. Whether you head bush on the occasional weekend or for the majority of the year, Foam Cell shocks will handle your application.

The ‘Foam Cell’ that makes all the difference is a micro-cellular foam insert that helps to drastically reduce the effects of shock fade, allowing your shocks to perform better for longer, even on the harshest of corrugations. Cavitation and Aeration are the undoing of any shock absorber. As the shock is worked harder, the oil and gas in the outer chamber begins to mix and form bubbles, lowering the viscosity of the oil. When this aerated oil passes through the valve, there is reduced resistance, stopping the shock form performing correctly. The Foam Cell insert, with its trapped gas micro cells takes up the empty space in the shock normally taken up by air or nitrogen gas. This eliminates the possibility of bubbles forming, allowing the shock to get on with the job with an unparalleled resistance to shock fade.

• Large 41mm internal bore
• Twin tube design
• High temperature, all weather oil
• 18mm, double chrome-plated rod
• Additional welding on all studs & eyerings
• Multi stage Velocity Sensitive Valving
• Rod wiper seal and multi lip seal
• Hydraulic rebound stop
• 2 Year/40,000km warranty in 0-50mm applications. (conditions apply)
• 1 Year/20,000km warranty in 50mm or higher applications. (conditions apply)

40mm bore adjustable shock absorbers

The 40mm adjustable shock brings the ability to fine tune your ride control to just about every 4WD user. The shock offers 9 different stages of adjustment, to fine tune the ride characteristics to your personal preference and application.

In reality, very few vehicles serve only one purpose. Most 4WD’s today are the family car, off road toy, touring escape, towing rig or tradesman’s work platform all rolled into one. We demand so much of our vehicles, and every situation will need something just a little bit different. As well as being fully adjustable, these shocks are equipped with our Foam Cell technology, minimising aeration and cavitation to maximise the shocks ability to resist fade, and perform reliably in harsh and demanding conditions. Our adjustable shocks are built tough for the Aussie outback, and incorporate an ABS plastic dust shield as well as an external dust wiper seal to protect the shock’s internals from grit which can damage the oil seals around the chrome rod. When fully extended, the shock is at its most vulnerable to damage from side load. The internal bump stop and piston rod guide ensure the shock is supported at the extremes of its travel. These tough units are available for a wide range of applications.

• 40mm internal bore
• 60mm external casing
• 18mm chrome-plated rod
• High temperature, all weather oil
• Foam cell
• 9 Stage external adjustment
• Additional welding on all studs and eye rings
• 2 year / 40,000km warranty (conditions apply)

45mm big bore adjustable shock absorbers

These tough puppies are the largest bore externally adjustable shocks available on the market. There is nothing that can compare to the 45mm bore in a 70mm outer casing. This is one serious shock.The 9 stages of adjustment mean you can control the firmness of your shocks easily, and adapt to the conditions as required. Choose a firmer ride for your highway travels, and then dial them down when it’s time to get down to business. 45mm big bore adjustables are designed for big lift applications up to six inches over factory in some vehicles. Our adjustable shocks are built tough for the Aussie outback. As well as the Foam Cell insert to combat shock fade, the 45mm adjustable also incorporate an ABS plastic dust shield as well as an external dust wiper seal to protect the shock’s internals from grit which can damage the oil seals around the chrome rod. When fully extended, the shock is at its most vulnerable to damage from side load. The internal bump stop and piston rod guide ensure the shock is supported at the extremes of its travel. Our big bore shocks also have a DU bushing fitted internally to protect the seals from damage caused by side load at full extension.

• 45mm internal bore
• 70mm external casing
• 22mm chrome plated rod
• High temperature, all weather oil
• Foam cell technology
• 9 Stage external adjustment
• Additional welding on all studs and eyerings
• 2 Year/40,000km warranty in 0-50mm applications. (conditions apply)
• 1 Year/20,000km warranty in 50mm or higher applications. (conditions apply)

53mm bore ‘Ralph’ shock absorbers

The Tough Dog ‘Ralph’ shock is the largest 4WD shock on the market. We redesigned shocks originally intended for prime movers to suit 4WD applications.

The Ralph shock has a massive 53mm bore and 22mm chrome piston rod, all housed in a 70mm casing. These big dogs carry so much oil, they will run cool over even the toughest of terrain. If you drive a fully laden off road tourer, these are the shocks for you.

• Huge 53mm bore
• Twin tube design
• High temperature, all weather oil
• 22mm double chrome-plated rod
• Additional welding on all studs & eye rings
• Multi stage Velocity Sensitive Valving
• Rod wiper seal and multi lip seal
• Hydraulic rebound stop
• 3 Year/60,000km warranty (conditions apply)
• Year/40,000km warranty in 100 Series IFS (conditions apply)
• year warranty in mining applications (conditions apply)

PANHARD RODS

Adjustable panhard rods allow the axle to be re-centred under the vehicle after the height has been modified. Tough Dog panhard rods are bent from a single solid bar for strength, and are adjustable to cover a broad range of vehicle heights.

DIFF LOCATOR

Designed especially for the Toyota Hilux solid axle front, this adjustable diff locator removes preload from the driver’s side spring caused by the suspension lift. This allows for maximum articulation and spring life.

OFFSET KING PINS

Camber adjustment on live axle LandCruisers and Patrols can require an offset camber pin to be fitted. Available in 0.5, 0.75 and 1 degree of offset, these pins can help eliminate excessive and uneven tyre wear.

TRANSMISSION SPACERS

Designed to reduce tail shaft angle and remove driveline vibration that arises from an out-of-phase drivetrain. The universal joints in a vehicle’s tailshaft must operate at the same angle to operate harmoniously. If the angle of one universal joint is different to the other, or the universal joints are forced to operate on an angle larger that within tolerance, the resulting vibration can be felt through the vehicle when driven. To restore the universal joints to harmony, Tough Dog spacer kits are available for vehicles that commonly suffer from vibration.

          CASTER CORRECTION BUSHES

Castor is the angle to which the steering pivot axis is tilted forward or rearward from vertical, as viewed from the side. Castor is important for vehicle steering response and stability. When a vehicle is lifted, the castor angle is adversely affected because of the change in the angles of the front radius arms. Tough Dog provide a range of products to adjust camber from two degrees through to seven degrees to ensure a reliable straight steering feel is maintained at any lift height provided in the Tough Dog range.