Springs and shocks

Ask on the Prado forum to get some definitive replies

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

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..........

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.

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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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.

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.