Pedders quality???

Michael,

I have Pedders Trac Rider foam cell shocks and coils on my 80 Series and haven't had any major problems and they have been on for 2 years now.

One thing to consider is that as far as I am aware most of the shocks sold in Australia come from the same manufacturers in either the USA or Mexico and are simply repainted and rebadged in Australia for the various aftermarket suppliers, who then add their little bit extra onto the price. When looking at the shocks just because it comes from a particular company might not make them any better than some of the cheaper ones (ie Monroe).

Bilsteins I beleive are manufactured in Europe. It's something to think about.

Pedders take the factory settings and add 10%, for shocks, and a % for springs as well, not what you would call a tailored package.

Personally, I would run Lovells springs, [weigh bridge front axle, rear axle, total and idea of load carried to order springs] and Bilstien shocks on a hilux, [unless loaded heavy, or towing heavy then I would use Koni] the shocks will need stone protectors in the rear, as Billies are monotube, I would use the 6 series yellow canister if available for that model.

Use toyota shock bushes and spring shackle rubbers, and fit greasable shackles, as they also improve the ride.

Like anything you only get what you pay for.

I don't like pedders,

You get what you pay for. I've heard certain suspension companies shaft some people according to rumours.

Just fitted OME to my truck, and its like a new car.. new springs, shocks, and steering damper, brilliant. I went LTR shocks, which arent probably for most people, (round $200ea cost price)...

As other dude said, IMWO you pay for what you get... Saving few hunge$ now, may not work 12 mths down the track. Then again different applications, like the bloke here with 80 series, he is happy with them. But yours is 100'kgs lighter than his 80 series, so maybe they wont work on it.

OME stuff is more specifically designed for offroading, maybe more than Pedders would being a business designed more towards cars than 4wds... Pedders probably wouldnt get much call for offroad kit like OME wouldnt get for cars. As Darren points out, it isnt really 'designed', but 'made' for offroad cars.

I think the issue with suspension is, that there are so many variables.
- Driving styles
- Weight of truck
- Style of truck
- The tires - size, profile etc
- Engine type
- Usage
- Towing or not
- Type of Terrain you encounter - wether that be deep sand, hard packed outback roads, etc...
- Probably a dozen more things...

had pedders on 80 series raised 60mm approx and thought initially were fantastic(having been raised from bump stops)
12-14 mths later all corners sagging again
changed to koni shocks/king spring combo and were on for 2yrs and still going great guns when sold
to many other good combos around to settle for pedders especially seeing it looks like u do a bit of touring

I have had pedders gas shocks on a valiant and a campervan. They failed simultanuasly on the valiant and on the camper one failed and then the other - overpriced rubish

War office an me met a couple once on our trip up Cape York , he had fitted new Pedders all round before leaving Melbourn . By the time he had reached the top , he had no shocks left , they had all failed . He had to wait till new ones arived befor he could continue there trip . I have since been told that thay are rebadg,ed Monrows . I wouldn,t touch them for off road travling .

Mikeand mary,
Go the King springs/Koni shocks setup as foggy says, koni's are adjustable to SUIT YOU and any other drivers and last exceptionally well, I had this combo on a Bundera for years - no problems and have fitted the same to my LC 8o.
My parents had a Nissan Skyline several years ago, fitted Pedders shocks, not long after one of the rear shocks actually BROKE off at the base - the car only did local sealed road driving. We have never fitted pedders products again.

Regards

Greg

I have a Ford Escort Rally car in New Zealand that I rallyed for 25 years. Fitted second hand Bilsteins to the front around 1985 and Pedders to the rear around 1995 - still no problems with the shocks. My son is rallying the car now. It has done an awful lot of events over some tough terrain for a rally car with 100% reliability from the suspension - never had a problem.

Amazing how you can keep an old car for so long, give it a hard time and it still goes well.

Would I buy Pedders again, probably, would I buy Bilsteins, definetly yes if I could afford them. I would also buy Koni's but wore out a set of Monroes on the front of the rally car before the Bilsteins went on.

Stevesub

Mike, as an alternative to the Pedders and OME, have a look at the 4Way Suspension's Tough Dog range. Their coils (so leaf springs too, probably) are made by Kings Springs and I don't reckon you can get better than Kings.

Tough Dog