Performance vs Adjustable Bypass vs DSV
Outback Armour Shocks and Struts Sunshine Coast
Outback Armour offers three main shock-absorber choices for many supported 4WDs: Performance, Adjustable Bypass and Digressive (DSV). The right range depends on how the vehicle is loaded, where it is driven and whether you want a fixed suspension tune or the ability to alter damping yourself.
Find Suspension for My 4WDThe Ute Shop can help select the correct springs, shocks and struts for your vehicle and professionally fit the suspension at our Warana workshop on the Sunshine Coast. Product availability and specifications vary by make, model, variant, axle and application.
Which Outback Armour shock range should I choose?
| Range | Damping | Best suited to | Main difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Performance | Fixed conventional multi-disc valving | Daily driving, touring, towing and general 4WD use | Straightforward general-purpose upgrade with no user adjustment |
| Adjustable Bypass | 20+ stages of externally adjustable internal-bypass damping | Changing loads, mixed roads and drivers who want to tune comfort versus control | Adjustment dial changes damping response without replacing the shock |
| DSV / Digressive | Fixed digressive valving | Corrugations, rough roads, remote touring and sustained severe off-road work | Heavy-duty 65 mm construction, foam-cell design and heat-focused components |
Performance suits most general-purpose builds; Adjustable Bypass suits drivers who regularly change cargo, accessories or terrain; DSV is the fixed heavy-duty choice for repeated corrugations and demanding off-road conditions.
Outback Armour Performance shocks and struts
Performance is Outback Armour’s fixed-valving general-purpose range. It is intended to provide stronger, more controlled damping than a tired or lightly specified original setup while remaining straightforward to own – there is no external dial to adjust.
Typical Performance-range construction
- 60 mm twin-tube body on the verified example products
- 36 mm or 40 mm high-flow performance piston depending on the application
- Heavy-duty multi-disc valving
- Nitrogen gas over semi-synthetic oil to help reduce fade at higher temperatures
- 18 mm hard-chromed piston rod and high-temperature multi-lip Viton seal on verified examples
- Vehicle-specific strut legs, spring seats, bushes and fitting hardware where applicable
Best suited to: daily driving, weekend touring, towing and general 4WD use where the vehicle setup is reasonably consistent and the owner wants reliable fixed damping without regular adjustment.
What “fixed valving” means
The damping curve is set inside the shock absorber. The driver does not select softer or firmer settings externally. The shock is still velocity sensitive – it responds differently as piston speed changes – but the tuning cannot be altered with a user control.
Outback Armour Adjustable Bypass shocks and struts
Adjustable Bypass adds an external control to Outback Armour’s internal-bypass damping system. Outback Armour states that applicable shocks and struts provide more than 20 stages of velocity-sensitive damping adjustment, allowing the driver to change the balance between comfort and body control.
Why choose Adjustable Bypass?
- Tune the suspension when accessories or cargo loads change
- Use a more comfort-focused setting for lighter loads or rough surfaces
- Add damping control for heavier loads, towing or more demanding terrain
- Fine-tune front and rear behaviour to suit personal ride preference
- Retain a compact twin-tube design without an external reservoir on the verified examples
Outback Armour’s instructions say increasing bypass toward “−” favours comfort, while decreasing bypass toward “+” increases control. Follow the setting and servicing instructions for the exact product.
Outback Armour recommends regular use and maintenance of the adjustment dial to preserve long-term operation. The dial changes damping; it does not alter spring rate, payload rating or GVM.
Outback Armour DSV / Digressive shocks and struts
The Digressive – or DSV – range is Outback Armour’s fixed heavy-duty option for harsh off-road conditions. Outback Armour specifically positions it for constant corrugations, rough mining roads, outback stations and other environments where heat, repeated impacts and body movement must be controlled for extended periods.
How digressive valving behaves
Digressive valving builds relatively strong damping force at lower piston speeds, helping control body roll, pitching and steering inputs. As piston velocity increases over sharper bumps and corrugations, the damping curve becomes less aggressive relative to speed, allowing the suspension to move and absorb rough terrain rather than becoming progressively harsher.
Verified DSV features
- 65 mm heavy-wall twin-tube body
- 40 mm high-flow digressive piston
- 18 mm hard-chromed piston rod
- NBR foam-cell construction
- Internal top-out stop and internal baffle systems
- Integrated external heat sink
- High-temperature multi-lip Viton seals plus additional wiper/scraper seals
- Extreme-duty fully synthetic Fuchs oil formulated for temperature stability and resistance to aeration
Best suited to: frequent corrugations, remote touring, heavily worked fleet or mine vehicles and drivers who want a durable fixed digressive tune rather than a user-adjustable system.
Detailed difference at a glance
| Feature | Performance | Adjustable Bypass | DSV / Digressive |
|---|---|---|---|
| User adjustment | No | Yes – 20+ stages | No |
| Valving approach | Fixed multi-disc performance valving | Velocity-sensitive internal bypass with external dial | Fixed digressive valving |
| Verified body size | Typically 60 mm | 60 or 65 mm depending on application | Typically 65 mm heavy wall |
| Verified oil / gas design | Nitrogen gas over semi-synthetic oil | Application-specific; confirm product listing | Foam cell with fully synthetic Fuchs oil |
| Ride priority | Balanced general-purpose control | Driver-selected comfort versus control | Body control plus rough-terrain compliance |
| Ideal use | Road, touring, towing and moderate off-road use | Variable loads and mixed conditions | Corrugations, heat and sustained severe use |
| Ownership | Set-and-forget | Dial should be used and maintained regularly | Set-and-forget heavy-duty tune |
The figures above describe verified examples and the overall range positioning. Body diameter, piston size, construction and front/rear availability can vary by vehicle. We use the exact Outback Armour listing for the selected part number.
Are shocks and struts the same?
Both control suspension movement, but they are not always the same type of component. A shock absorber is a separate damper. A strut is a structural suspension assembly that commonly locates the wheel and carries the coil spring. Many utes and 4WDs use front struts and separate rear shocks, although layouts vary.
Springs, load and GVM still matter
A shock absorber controls motion; the spring supports the vehicle’s weight. The correct spring rate must be selected for the vehicle’s permanent accessories and typical load. Changing shocks alone does not increase legal payload, axle ratings or GVM. A certified GVM upgrade is a separate vehicle-specific package and approval process.
Which range fits your use?
Choose Performance when…
- Your accessories and usual load remain fairly consistent
- Most driving is on-road with touring, towing or moderate off-road use
- You prefer a straightforward fixed setup without adjustment controls
- You want a capable suspension upgrade at the entry point of these three ranges
Choose Adjustable Bypass when…
- The vehicle alternates between empty, loaded and towing conditions
- You drive sealed roads, corrugations and trails and want to alter the ride for each
- You are willing to learn the settings and exercise/maintain the adjustment dials
- Personal ride preference is important and you want external tuning control
Choose DSV when…
- The vehicle regularly faces sustained corrugations or harsh off-road work
- Heat management and resistance to fade are major priorities
- You want fixed digressive behaviour that controls body movement but releases over faster suspension inputs
- Remote touring, mining, station or demanding fleet work is a major part of the vehicle’s use
Outback Armour suspension fitting Sunshine Coast
The best shock range still needs the correct vehicle-specific springs and professional installation. The Ute Shop can assess the make, model, variant, accessories, constant load, towing use, desired ride height and intended terrain before recommending an Outback Armour suspension package.
- Locally owned Sunshine Coast ute and 4WD accessory specialist
- Showroom and professional fitting workshop in Warana
- Suspension advice based on vehicle use and permanent load
- Wheel-alignment and post-fit checks can be coordinated as required
- GVM-upgrade options available for supported vehicles where a certified package is required
Request a suspension quote
Tell us your vehicle make, model, build date and variant, plus the bullbar, winch, canopy, drawers, long-range tank, towing load and other permanent accessories. We can recommend the appropriate spring load and confirm whether Performance, Adjustable Bypass or DSV is available for your vehicle.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the main difference between Outback Armour Performance and Adjustable Bypass?
Performance uses fixed valving. Adjustable Bypass provides more than 20 external settings so damping can be altered for comfort, control, cargo, accessories and terrain.
Is DSV better than Adjustable Bypass?
Not automatically. DSV is designed as a fixed heavy-duty digressive option for corrugations and sustained harsh use. Adjustable Bypass is better when you value tuning flexibility for changing loads and conditions. The correct choice depends on the vehicle and its work.
What does digressive valving mean?
It provides relatively strong low-speed damping to control roll and pitching, then the damping curve becomes less aggressive relative to piston speed so the suspension can move over sharper bumps and rough terrain.
Does the Adjustable Bypass dial change ride height?
No. It changes damping response. Ride height and load support primarily come from the springs and the vehicle-specific suspension geometry.
Do all three ranges fit every 4WD?
No. Availability, front and rear combinations, body sizes and part specifications differ by make, model, year, variant and intended suspension package.
Will upgraded shocks increase my GVM?
No. Shocks alone do not increase the legal GVM, payload or axle ratings. A GVM upgrade must use an approved vehicle-specific package and the required certification process.
Can The Ute Shop fit Outback Armour suspension?
Yes. The Ute Shop can provide vehicle-specific advice and professional suspension fitting from its Warana workshop on the Sunshine Coast.
Tell us the make, model, year and variant and what you want fitted, and we will come back with the right options and a price for the parts and the fitting.