Springs and shocks

Could I get some advice, as I wish to lift my prado 90 seriers turbo diesel and am looking for a good combination.

Cheers
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Reply By: snoopyone - Friday, Apr 08, 2011 at 22:02

Friday, Apr 08, 2011 at 22:02
Ask on the Prado forum to get some definitive replies


AnswerID: 450738

Reply By: mynance - Friday, Apr 08, 2011 at 22:24

Friday, Apr 08, 2011 at 22:24
Just put 2" HD Lovell on my pajero, HD front and MD on the rear + airbags. Got the airbags from Truck Springs in Michigan $88.00 vs $320 in Australia [plus postage].

Myles
AnswerID: 450740

Reply By: Kimba10 - Saturday, Apr 09, 2011 at 12:24

Saturday, Apr 09, 2011 at 12:24
Ive had two 95 series prados 1 diesel 1 petrol, and I had both fitted with OME (old man emu ARB) medium duty springs, struts and shocks. Dont get heavy duty unless you have a winch or carry a heavy load in the rear all the time. You can fit medium range even with steel bullbar (which I had on both) if running a winch then heavy duty up front will be needed other wise the front end will not hold up. Heavy duty with out winch or continous heavy load in the rear will make it ride like a go cart when empty or even wiith a light load. Even with medium you will definately get a firmer ride and the rear end will be up a bit higher then the front but with 2 full tanks of fuel will be sitting well. I have had the back loaded to the hilt to the roof with cargo barrier in place, camper on back and the whole vehicle sat fantastic, nice and level and the ride was great, if you were to load it up on the odd occasion for trips and found the back to squat down a bit you can always add the airbag to the coils in the rear but I never needed it. I now have 120 series and will be going the OME again, was going to go bilstein and king springs but will stick with OME and the other advantage is if they fail while away from home there warranty and service after sales i have been told is great and plenty of ARB stores in Australia to get parts to you. Im sure others will have their own opinions of different brands. I should also mention that on both the 95 sereis I had I only got about 35/37 mill lift on the front, the petrol I got a full 50 mill the diesel I got 48 ml but this is also determined by how mush the original ones would have sagged over time..........
AnswerID: 450764

Follow Up By: Kimba10 - Saturday, Apr 09, 2011 at 12:27

Saturday, Apr 09, 2011 at 12:27
Should make myself clearer, refering to the 50 mil and 48ml this was on the rear end, petrol been 50 the diesel 48.............
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FollowupID: 723248

Follow Up By: 120scruiser (NSW) - Saturday, Apr 09, 2011 at 13:23

Saturday, Apr 09, 2011 at 13:23
I have a set of lovell HD sprigs and bilstein shocks for the front of a 120 prado sitting in my shed going real cheap. They only did about 10000km in the front before I sold the car. One shock needs rebuilding but the rest is perfect. They make the prado ride unbelievably smooth with the lift. I put medium rated lovels in the rear and left the standard toyota shocks but put in the firestone airbags. Best riding vehicle I have ever owned.
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FollowupID: 723251

Follow Up By: Kimba10 - Saturday, Apr 09, 2011 at 14:45

Saturday, Apr 09, 2011 at 14:45
Cheers Scott but I have already ordered the stuff, going to install myself not real hard but thankyou for the offer. I drool at the mouth every time I see that 80 of yours crusing around here, top looking vehicle, looks like you have done some work to it as well ?? Wish I found that one when I was looking, went to Melbourne to look at one was a bucket (dodgy pictures and a lieing SOAB over the phone, didnt feel like going to WA like you did lol but would have been worth it. You were never really happy with the 120 1kz diesel were you ?? I wasnt happy with the 95 diesel 1kz bit of a dog and would be worse in the 120 I would imagine with the extra weight, plus I had the head syndrome 3 1/2 g later, was lucky only lost $1500 from what I paid for it including all the mods and the head, was extremely lucky we bought it cheap. The 120's petrol 4L so sucks more round town (roughly 2L more per 100) but on the freeway there is only round 1L per 100 diff then the 1kz. Sand and beach driving we havnt done yet in the 120 but imagine it will be quit a bit more then the diesel but at least Ill have the grunt for climbing the dunes the 1kz always ran out of puff and the old 2.8D hilux, forget it lol. Regards Steve
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FollowupID: 723261

Follow Up By: 120scruiser (NSW) - Saturday, Apr 09, 2011 at 15:03

Saturday, Apr 09, 2011 at 15:03
Your right Steve.
I wasn't happy with the 1kz but it was a beautiful car to drive in. In hindsight I should have waited for the 1kd but what can you do. The 80 is good. I have put a rear locker in it and some other bits and pieces as we are planning a couple of bigger trips with the camper in tow.Vic high country in November this year and then the cape hopefully next year. And I think that will just about be it for the 80 as she has 310k on it now anyway the finance minister has approved the purchase of a 76 series wagon once we are settled in our new house. I near fell over backwards when she said "OK". The vic high country trip is open to any friends. we are leaving on saturday the 19th of November this year. Let me know if you wish to tag along. my contact is still lonards@hotmail.com.
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FollowupID: 723263

Follow Up By: Kimba10 - Saturday, Apr 09, 2011 at 15:27

Saturday, Apr 09, 2011 at 15:27
Would love to take you up on the offer but we are saving for a big trip next year, I've got long service leave up so taking a month & 1/2 off work and doing a trip with caravan in tow. (might be longer but at this stage only planning 6 weeks) Will need plenty of extra $$ for the 120 to tow 20 footer so fuel won be cheap LOL thats where the diesel is good but I live with the extra cost. Only had the 120 for 6 weeks so just starting to do the mods, suspension, snorkel, muddies on steel wheels, rear locker, etc etc as the wife rolls her eyes, not again lol, least she loves the 120 over the previous 4b's so makes spending money on it easier lol. Regards Steve
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FollowupID: 723268

Reply By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Saturday, Apr 09, 2011 at 15:07

Saturday, Apr 09, 2011 at 15:07
I owned two of the 90series diesels. I kept the original shocks and struts and fitted heavier, lifted springs to both. I got about 35mm lift at teh front and 50mm at the rear. I did this because there had been a lot of problems with aftermarket front struts - they tended to chew out the bottom bushes, and some fitters replaced these bushes with the Toyota rubber bushes from the start. Bilsteins were the worst but they were also the stiffest shocks. Also the rear shocks sit forward of the axle, so you need a brand that has some protection.

ARB got it figured out fairly early and I know a few people who got many good years 4wding from their setup. And I'll second what Kimba says - don't go the heaviest springs - I saw one 90series come out of the workshop with 65mm of front lift because he'd fitted them - would chew out the CVs pretty quick.

If you are planning on fitting your own, the top nut on the rear shocks is very difficult to access - I welded a 14mm socket to a piece of flat steel to make my own tool for these nuts. Others cut a hole in the floor. Need a good set of spring compressors for the fronts - the springs are relatively small and the twin prong compressors don't fit.
AnswerID: 450775

Follow Up By: Kimba10 - Saturday, Apr 09, 2011 at 15:21

Saturday, Apr 09, 2011 at 15:21
Second what Phil says about rear shocks, PITA mainly passengers side was the worse on my diesel grande as it ran stability control on the grande and there was an extra brake line, was either for the traction control or stability not sure but didnt have stability or traction control on my 97 petrol grande and was a lot easier for ARB to fit, for the diesel grande they put a hole in the floor and when done placed a rubber grommet in place which is a good idea anyway if the shock should happen to fail made it a whole heap easier to access if needed. 120 looks a whole heap easier, I Hope ??? Regards Steve
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FollowupID: 723266

Reply By: Member - Doug T (NT) - Sunday, Apr 10, 2011 at 01:57

Sunday, Apr 10, 2011 at 01:57
Only one way to go....my opinion and I know Noel K would back me on this, we are both happy with OME .
My full set of springs are nearing 6 years and don't even look like sagging.

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AnswerID: 450816

Reply By: andoland - Sunday, Apr 10, 2011 at 19:33

Sunday, Apr 10, 2011 at 19:33
King springs and bilstein shocks are widely regarded as one of the best combinations. I had them on my 90 series and they were brilliant. I had extra heavy duty which were pretty hard on the road when empty but great offroad which is what we wanted.
AnswerID: 450869

Reply By: Allfour4x4 - Monday, Apr 11, 2011 at 21:28

Monday, Apr 11, 2011 at 21:28
Yep, we have the Kings/Bilstien combo as well. Had it fitted by Michael ???(can't remember now) NS4WD at Artarmon - Sydney. Fitted them just after buying in 2000...we fitted an ARB steel bullbar that really showed the shortcomings of the front suspension! Has done around 150,000 now and all still good!! From memory they used to valve the shocks to suit the Prado and tweak something to save the bush wearing.
I'm guessing if yours still has the standard setup you'll see a huge difference.
AnswerID: 451001

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