Suspension for 2003 Prado
Submitted: Sunday, Oct 31, 2004 at 18:54
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KIM
Hi Guys,
Looking for advice on after market
suspension for a GXL petrol/manual. My needs in descending oder:
1) Able to withstand severe corrugations and accross country duty
2) Give a medium hight lift
3) fix up the wallowing which the latest Prado is
well known for
I've spoken to nearly all the after market dealers and have always come away with the impression that I'm being being sold on profit rather than what I want.
Hense this post. I really to hear from people who have experience with different products, what worked (and didn't).
The vehicle is in for some rough time over the next 36 months, so I must get it right.
Cheers
Kim
Reply By: Dingodell - Monday, Nov 01, 2004 at 10:12
Monday, Nov 01, 2004 at 10:12
Hi Kim, I have used driffent kinds of supension on several vehicles over the years, and have had trouble with most of them when it comes to corrigations (fade and wallowing).
The one I have used on the last 2 vehicles is Tough Dog available through Opposite Lock, the first was on a Prado and the one now is a DID Pajero, and I have to say the handling on the Prado was outstanding after fitting the T/Dog. The T/D supension handled the corrigations (gulf trip) to perfection without fade in performance.
The two vehicles had a 50mm lift.
I hope this will help.
Peter
AnswerID:
82498
Follow Up By: KIM - Monday, Nov 01, 2004 at 17:34
Monday, Nov 01, 2004 at 17:34
Thanks Peter,
The Tough dogs are near the top of the list (subject to what I hear from this thread.
Regards
Kim
FollowupID:
341607
Reply By: DrewT - Monday, Nov 01, 2004 at 15:36
Monday, Nov 01, 2004 at 15:36
Hi Kim. I looked around and settled on a (approx) 40mm lift by Guests 4WD in Melb. They used Koni shocks and Kings? springs and cost $1500? all up. 270/70/17 tyres also gave me another 15mm (approx) ground clearance. Took this setup along the
Oodnadatta track etc recently and seemed to have no fade and didn't bottom out once. Can't say i noticed any "wallowing" beforehand but then the
Oodnadatta trip was my first longish trip with the Prado
AnswerID:
82556
Reply By: Phil G - Monday, Nov 01, 2004 at 16:15
Monday, Nov 01, 2004 at 16:15
Kim,
I've owned the 90series TD Prado for 4 years; I've done heaps of corrugations - done the Anne Beadell Hwy three times in 3 years as
well as heaps of other desert trips including the
Madigan Line.
IMO, you can't go past the factory shocks for reliability. I've used them with lifted heavy duty springs and haven't had a problem. I've been away with other Prados with the big name expensive shocks, and they have had problems like damaged front shock bushes, stone holes in rear shocks etc.
AS your 120series
suspension setup is the same as my 90series, I believe this would be relevant.
Cheers
Phil
AnswerID:
82564
Follow Up By: Phil G - Monday, Nov 01, 2004 at 16:18
Monday, Nov 01, 2004 at 16:18
And just to add, I lower tyre pressures to about 18psi on my Prado in corrugations. It helps stop the vehicle and contents shaking to pieces.
FollowupID:
341599
Follow Up By: KIM - Monday, Nov 01, 2004 at 17:55
Monday, Nov 01, 2004 at 17:55
Hi Phil,
Have a couple of mates who run cattle stations in the
Kimberley and one other who operates 4wd tours along the Canning. All of them buy the cheapest shocks they can find, including tyres. They all think we city folk living on the East coast are a bunch of dills and waste money buying expensive after market equipment. So your point is valid.
I personally have never had a failure with standard shocks on all my trips up North. However, it doesn't hurt to test the
water.
Like you I tend to keep the tyre pressure down on the rough stuff.
Cheers
Kim
FollowupID:
341613
Follow Up By: Member - Jeff M (WA) - Monday, Nov 01, 2004 at 19:30
Monday, Nov 01, 2004 at 19:30
I've got 7 year old origional factory shocks on the surf, it's got 12 month new heavy duty springs on the back end and I just put the firestone air bags in
the springs, 12 months ago when the guy put
the springs in he said "are they the origional shocks?" I said yep, even the soft hard switch still works! LOL
He said "Bloody hell, they as good as new". That's with 100k on the clock and years.
FollowupID:
341625
Reply By: ginga - Monday, Nov 01, 2004 at 18:31
Monday, Nov 01, 2004 at 18:31
Hi Kim
I have a 90 series which is
well travelled on Terrain Tamer
suspension. Only problem has been a front shock which started to leak ... rang Don Kyatt (the agents) & they sent a replacement shock to my next point of call ... great service, & I'd buy them again (shocks are made in Mexico & springs are lovells (I think).
Other popular option is King springs with Bilstiens or std Toyo shocks ... really just a question of how much you want to spend.
Pretty important though that you estimate as accurately as possible the sort of weight you will be carrying (front & back) & factor that into your requirements - I have a 25% increase in my rear springs & Polyairs to get the height right when fully loaded. The greater the rate of spring increase the harsher the ride.
Good luck.
AnswerID:
82579
Follow Up By: KIM - Monday, Nov 01, 2004 at 19:41
Monday, Nov 01, 2004 at 19:41
Hi Ginga,
You make a good point. When I first purchased the truck my Bank manager was a happy little fellow. However, $9000 later his sense of humour is close to zero (Haven't told him about the other $5000 yet).
So money is an issue.
The weight issue is a lot harder to sort out. Like everyone else, I use the vehicle as the main source of transport. When I go away it is usually solo or in company with friends. I pack lightly, however, when there is 180 litres of fuel and 60 litres of
water, plus all else weight starts to build up.
Can you give me some more information on the Poyairs please?
FollowupID:
341627
Reply By: ginga - Tuesday, Nov 02, 2004 at 17:51
Tuesday, Nov 02, 2004 at 17:51
Hi Kim
Polyairs are Polyairs ... any 4WD
shop will have them; cost fitted about $450.
They are really a spring assist in that you adjust the air in them to get back the height you have lost as a result of loading your vehicle.
Alternative is springs with heavier spring rates which may be uncomfortable when there is less load being carried due to their harsher ride.
Hope that helps (There are other brands to Polyairs .. a search on ExploreOz will offer up many old threads.)
Good luck
AnswerID:
82748