2013 suspension upgrade

Submitted: Tuesday, May 13, 2014 at 15:44

ThreadID: 107757 Views:3795 Replies:3 FollowUps:7

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Suspension

There is an unfortunate but realistic fact about purchasing a new 4WD - it won't come fitted with a suspension system designed to carry the kind of load you'll pack for a serious outback trip.

D-Max Dave

Hi All
Just had a 40mm, 0-300kg rear leaf spring, winch & bar rated front coil Tough Dog suspension installed on my 2013 DMax Dual Cab, for those that are interested here are the results.
I hope they may be of some help to others deciding on a suspension upgrade.

Stock Suspension
With no accessories, gear, passengers or trailer attatched (measured from bottom of rim up to gaurd:
Front passenger side.....755mm
Front Driver side..........760mm
Rear passenger side.....770mm
Rear drivers side..........767mm

Stock Suspension
With no gear, passengers or trailer attatched (measured from bottom of rim up to gaurd)
PLUS Steel Bar, Canopy, Winch, Drawer System.
Front passenger side.....745mm
Front Driver side..........750mm
Rear passenger side.....750mm
Rear drivers side..........755mm
So 10-15mm drop in front, approx 20mm drop in the rear.

Tough Dog Suspension
With no gear, passengers or trailer attatched (measured from bottom of rim up to gaurd)
PLUS Steel Bar, Canopy, Winch, Drawer System, and Aux battery in tub.
Front passenger side.....790mm
Front Driver side..........790mm
Rear passenger side.....790mm
Rear drivers side..........790mm
So 25-30mm lift in front (from stock height), approx 20-25mm in the rear (from stock height).
No too bad a lift considering the extra weight.

Tough Dog Suspension
With no passengers, approx 120kg gear in tub, trailer attatched (ball weight approx 110kg)
(measured from bottom of rim up to gaurd)
PLUS Steel Bar, Canopy, Winch, Drawer System, and Aux battery in tub.
Front passenger side.....790mm
Front Driver side..........795mm
Rear passenger side.....760mm
Rear drivers side..........765mm
So 0-5mm lift in front (from stock), 5-10mm drop in the rear (from stock).

So after the 40mm lift the car when fully loaded (no passengers) and with the trailer hitched sits pretty much level (no appreciable rake from rear to front), the front has in fact lifted approx 40mm and the rear has dropped 10-15mm.
I was hoping to maintain a bit more height in the rear when loaded.
Having said that the car drives very well, much nicer than the stock suspension, less body roll and no nose diving on braking.
I think in retrospect i should have gone for the 300kg constant, which may have held the rear up a little better albeit at the cost of some comfort.
I will look into ways to stiffen the rear a little, maybe just another leaf, or maybe a SAX spring helper.
Cheers
Dave

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Reply By: Top End Az - Tuesday, May 13, 2014 at 16:11

Tuesday, May 13, 2014 at 16:11

Hi Dmax Dave
I have the LS Terrain with everything you have except the drawers. I went for the constant 300kg set up with ARB Old Man Emu. They put an extra leaf spring in the rear end for LS Terrain models (fom 5 to 6 leaf springs). I got about 35-40mm on the front and about 50mm on the rear.

I've got noticeable rake in the rear. However, ride around town is not harsh, in fact quite comfortable. Offroad, and especially on corrugated dirt roads it is very comfortable compared to stock.

AnswerID: 532408

Follow Up By: Top End Az - Tuesday, May 13, 2014 at 16:21

Tuesday, May 13, 2014 at 16:21

Apologies, make that 65mm in the rear increase.

I took my measurements using the same method as you did.

The base model and LS-U model stock vehicle comes with 6 leaf springs from memory. On the LS Terrain Isuzu remove one of the leafs to make the ride around town more comfortable.

Hope this helps.

FollowupID: 815671

Reply By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Tuesday, May 13, 2014 at 21:32

Tuesday, May 13, 2014 at 21:32

Good write up Dave,
What angle are your front driveshafts? Any chance of a photo?

AnswerID: 532420

Follow Up By: D-Max Dave - Tuesday, May 13, 2014 at 22:08

Tuesday, May 13, 2014 at 22:08

Thanks Phil
here are some photos

CV angles post 40mm lift

post 40mm lift

FollowupID: 815694

Follow Up By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Tuesday, May 13, 2014 at 22:14

Tuesday, May 13, 2014 at 22:14

Thanks Dave,
The angle looks OK - shouldn't chew out the CVs. It would be sitting 30mm above standard in that photo - so about perfect. An extra leaf in the rear springs might help.

FollowupID: 815696

Reply By: Nutta - Wednesday, May 14, 2014 at 21:49

Wednesday, May 14, 2014 at 21:49

I put the 300kg tough dog in my 012 colly and i can honestly say it raised it around 70mm, drives much better and barely drops with a couple 100 k on the tow bar, that also includes canopy, ladders and a truck load of tools.

The dmax and colly being the same yours should be pretty good, seems strange.

AnswerID: 532465

Follow Up By: D-Max Dave - Wednesday, May 14, 2014 at 22:11

Wednesday, May 14, 2014 at 22:11

Nutta
Did you get the 0-300kg or the 300kg constant, I believe there is a fair bit of difference, the 0-300kg is not as stiff as the 300kg constant and supposedly better for everday use.
cheers
Dave

FollowupID: 815752

Follow Up By: D-Max Dave - Wednesday, May 14, 2014 at 22:14

Wednesday, May 14, 2014 at 22:14

Tommorrow im going back to OL to see what they can do, they were going to contact Tough Dog today and get options, hopefully its just a matter of adding a leaf which may infact be the only difference between the 0-300kg springs and the 300kg constant spings.
Cheers
Dave

FollowupID: 815753

Follow Up By: D-Max Dave - Thursday, May 15, 2014 at 16:09

Thursday, May 15, 2014 at 16:09

Ok, had my snorkel installed by the guys at OL Ipswich, while I was there we discussed my Toughdog suspension and how that in my view I should have retained more lift after loading up the car.
They agreed and have spoken to Toughdog to work out a solution, Im not sure where that will lead but the guys at OL are doing there best to get the car how I want it.
It sounds like the Toughdog people are going to say we chose the wrong leaf spring set for the car, even though it was chosen based on their advice.
Time will tell !
cheers
Dave

FollowupID: 815790

Follow Up By: Nutta - Thursday, May 15, 2014 at 20:51

Thursday, May 15, 2014 at 20:51

Hi Dave, I'm pretty sure mine is the constant as I told them i would always have plenty of weight in it at all times, i wouldn't consider it too stiff either, it actually rides pretty good.

I also got the OL bulbar and it has some unusual white marks coming through the paint, they said if it gets worse to let them know, seems like really mild corrosion, anyway, cheers.

FollowupID: 815808