Suspension

Submitted: Friday, Jan 29, 2021 at 14:43
ThreadID: 141024 Views:8789 Replies:7 FollowUps:15
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Hi folks, I am thinking about upgrading the suspension (40ml lift) on the Ford Everest.
I tow a 17ft van and drive the odd gravel and corrugated roads.

Brands for consideration are, OME Ironman, Pedders.
I am open for sugestions.
Cheers, Baz
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Reply By: Peter_n_Margaret - Friday, Jan 29, 2021 at 14:53

Friday, Jan 29, 2021 at 14:53
What do you hope to achieve?
Why would a 40mm lift make it better on corrugations?
Cheers,
Peter
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Follow Up By: Member - Kia1 - Friday, Jan 29, 2021 at 14:58

Friday, Jan 29, 2021 at 14:58
I am after a stronger suspension and some more clearence when off road.
Thanks for your input
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Reply By: GarryR - Friday, Jan 29, 2021 at 14:58

Friday, Jan 29, 2021 at 14:58
If you went for Pedders, you can recieve a GVM upgrade certificate. If you use the other two, you will need to go to an engineer, jump hurdles etc to get the GVM upgrade cert. I originally went with OME through ARB, and they stated at the time they could not give the upgrade cert. I am not sure whether things have changed in the last 3-4years. For some reason, Pedders seems to have tied things up in this area. If you are going to spent that sort of money for upgrading, you might as well go with someone that offers you the GVM upgrade cert and placard to be placed on the door frame. This subject will also open a can of worms.
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Follow Up By: Member - Kia1 - Friday, Jan 29, 2021 at 15:00

Friday, Jan 29, 2021 at 15:00
Thanks, great info.
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Follow Up By: Member - Jim S1 - Friday, Jan 29, 2021 at 16:54

Friday, Jan 29, 2021 at 16:54
Does Baz need a GVM upgrade ? I thought a 40mm lift was within regs.

Cheers
Jim
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Follow Up By: GarryR - Friday, Jan 29, 2021 at 17:21

Friday, Jan 29, 2021 at 17:21
Hi Jim, thanks, that is a bit of a technical question. Baz does state that he wants to upgrade his suspension by 40m, which will alter the vechiles GVM. An upgrade is an upgrade, a lift is an upgrade. You would not do one end and not the other in my recogning. If you are upgrading 40mm , that is certainly not keeping it std. As I stated up, this subject has been raised many times, and certainly opens a can of worms in how you interprid it. As said, if you are going to spend that sort of money to give the vechile a 40mm lift ,which is certainly not manufactures std, would you go for a compliant GVM upgrade and satisfy all the various road law enforcement mobs. I am sure he does not want to put spacers in place to achieve his 40mm lift. Now that is not compliant Thanks for your comment Jim, I tkink I know where you are coming from
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Follow Up By: OzzieCruiser - Friday, Jan 29, 2021 at 19:07

Friday, Jan 29, 2021 at 19:07
A normal 40mm lift will not change GVM.
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Follow Up By: Member - LeighW - Friday, Jan 29, 2021 at 19:16

Friday, Jan 29, 2021 at 19:16
X2, you can do a 40mm lift by just installing raised springs, it does not increase the GVM. If you want to increase the GVM then an engineers certification is required.

I raised my Prado to the legal limit no engineering certificate required, I then wanted to raise the GVM so contacted an engineer who looked at what I had preciously done to the car and was happy to raise the GVM to the max axle loads.

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Follow Up By: Member - McLaren3030 - Saturday, Jan 30, 2021 at 08:15

Saturday, Jan 30, 2021 at 08:15
My last three vehicles dating back to 2004 have all had 50 mm suspension lifts, all OME through ARB, all came with a GVM upgrade with an engineers certificate and the required compliance plate.

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Follow Up By: GarryR - Saturday, Jan 30, 2021 at 09:14

Saturday, Jan 30, 2021 at 09:14
Hi Macca , That is interesting, as the ARB dealer that I dealt with for the last 2 sets of upgrade stated that even though their product matched another brand that had compliance plates, ARB would not supply plates. I will admit these conversions were done post vechile purchase not pre purchase. May be there is a difference. I was told that a compliance plate could be issued if a saw an engineer and he ok'd the vechile after all the tests at a cost of about $700-. ( that is here locally in Vic). not sure on other states. My sil got compliance on his new 200 series pre purchase, but now has trouble getting new compliance plate for extra upgrade - hence he is leaving it the way it is. Thanks for that info Macca, I shall now make a call or 2 before I do any more, as i need to replace some components due to wear.
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Follow Up By: Notso - Saturday, Jan 30, 2021 at 09:46

Saturday, Jan 30, 2021 at 09:46
If you do the "Upgrade" pre rego, it comes under Federal Rules, if post rego it's under state rules!
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Follow Up By: Member - McLaren3030 - Saturday, Jan 30, 2021 at 10:05

Saturday, Jan 30, 2021 at 10:05
Hi Garry, out of curiosity, which ARB dealer did you deal with? I am also in Vic. I dealt with the ARB in Deer Park. You are correct with respect to the “extra” fee involved for the certificate. But it was all included in the price of the upgrade.

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Follow Up By: GarryR - Saturday, Jan 30, 2021 at 12:19

Saturday, Jan 30, 2021 at 12:19
Hi Macca, I have sent you a personal message
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Reply By: Member - Core420 - Friday, Jan 29, 2021 at 21:10

Friday, Jan 29, 2021 at 21:10
If you lift the suspension by 40 mm, check first that your CV joints can handle the increased angle as it may significantly reduce their reliability and longevity.
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Follow Up By: Member - Kia1 - Saturday, Jan 30, 2021 at 11:40

Saturday, Jan 30, 2021 at 11:40
OK, will do, thanks
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Reply By: Frank P (NSW) - Friday, Jan 29, 2021 at 23:56

Friday, Jan 29, 2021 at 23:56
Having done a significant lift on my BT50, I have reduced it somewhat at the front end in deference to the CV joints. I do a bit of real off-roading but not nearly extreme enough to warrant the original big lift I had. I left the rear end where the load is alone.

The car is now better to drive and I don't have to worry so much about shock-loading CV joints that are at extreme angles.

If I were to build my vehicle again, I would still go for a GVM upgrade with heavier but standard or near standard height. For normal touring I think lifts are over rated and over sold.

Lovells sell type-certified suspension and GVM upgrade kits so you don't need to go through the proving process, but you still need to get an engineer's certificate - in NSW anyway.

GarryR's post about Pedders supplying the certificate and SSM plates is the the first I've heard of that - unless it's pre first rego where it's standard with a type-approved kit. Post first rego, AFAIK all states require an engineer's certificate.

That's my understanding anyway.

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Follow Up By: Member - Mark C (QLD) - Thursday, Feb 04, 2021 at 20:52

Thursday, Feb 04, 2021 at 20:52
They won't do it for the Everest. I had to see an engineer and he said he could go to the axle limits which takes the Everest GVM from 3100kg (standard) to 3250kg, for $1550. ARB or TJM or Pedders would not do Everest. If you wanted to go more it would cost Approx $1/kg so 3300 would cost $3300 plus the engineering of the upgraded axles and suspension. approx 5-7000 dollars. that was if you could find someone to design and do it.
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Reply By: Kenell - Saturday, Jan 30, 2021 at 08:15

Saturday, Jan 30, 2021 at 08:15
I drive a 76 series cruiser. Like you I find myself on corrugated roads with a hybrid camper in tow quite regularly. I also sought a suspension upgrade for this reason and the fact that I have added things like bullbar, winch, duel batteries and so on that challenge the factory suspension. I also didn't want boiling shock absorbers on the corrugations. I went EFS springs and shocks which resulted in a 50mm lift which was incidental to my requirements. I wasn't seeking the lift as such. I was told that I could get the new suspension certified by an engineer for GVM upgrade if I wanted to spend the money but I didn't bother. My camper weighs less than 2t. The suspension is now over 100,000ks old and I am still happy with it.
I have had OME suspensions in previous vehicles too and I understand it has improved a lot in recent years although I never had any issues with it.
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Follow Up By: Member - Kia1 - Saturday, Jan 30, 2021 at 11:55

Saturday, Jan 30, 2021 at 11:55
Thanks Kenell, for your info, that sounds much the same as my requirements.
I also would like a bit more clearence on some tracks in the bush.
Baz
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Reply By: Member - Mark C (QLD) - Friday, Feb 05, 2021 at 13:06

Friday, Feb 05, 2021 at 13:06
I now have ARB, OME suspension upgrade with 40mm lift. Front springs 200kg (as I have no winch but are bullbar). Rear I had 200kg variable rate springs with airbags but found that it was only level (towing 2200kg AOR Quantum) with 45-50psi in airbags. I have since replaced the rear springs with 300kg constant and run airbags at 20-25psi now and sits beautifully when towing. Springs are fine around town with airbags at 5psi and have good clearance for sand and rocks when needed.
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Follow Up By: Member - Kia1 - Friday, Feb 05, 2021 at 20:20

Friday, Feb 05, 2021 at 20:20
Thanks Mark for your input. your answer is the best so far in regards to what I was looking for.
I will look into the same set up. At the moment the dealers have suggested for my everest a kit EK4007A1
which sounds similar to what you have.
All is looking good at the moment.
Cheers, Baz
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