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Ironman Foam Cell Pro - Whitey's Valving - Review

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  • Ironman Foam Cell Pro - Whitey's Valving - Review

    Fitted the Ironman Foam Cell Pro's that were re-valved by Whitey on my recent trip to Nth QLD. Initial thoughts on the 25km drive back to my parents place after having them fitted was, Wow! What a difference these things make. Body roll and nose diving now a thing of the past. The Prado was now a pleasure to drive. I managed to get the wife in the passenger seat for a little run down the road once it was done. Wife said that she wouldn’t know the difference with the new suspension. My parents live in a rural area where the roads are a little on the unmaintained side. The wife noticed the difference as soon as I left the driveway. Cane rail crossings and a bit of a dirt road expedition and she was impressed as well. The car was still empty at this stage (5psi in the rear bags) so we were looking forward to feeling how it felt on the 1800km drive back to NSW via the Leichardt and Newell highways when fully loaded.

    The trip back was great. Car was loaded up with some extras from my parents and was sitting heavy in the rear. Two adults, three teenage kids, luggage, 40L Waeco and a 2kva generator. I forgot to add some more air to the rear bags so they were only running 5psi for the return trip.

    Whilst the ride is now firmer than standard it is still comfortable to travel in empty or loaded. I am yet to put the camper trailer on the rear but with what I have experienced so far I really doubt it will make much difference. Rear is sitting at 835/830 now and the front at 780/775. A bit low in the front but once I have the adjustment spanner that will be resolved.

    Thanks to Whitey and all involved in the build-up and testing of this suspension. Really great work by all and my thanks for transforming the Prado.

    Baz.

  • #2
    Hey Barrie,

    Thanks for the review, good to hear it's comfortable over long distances as well!

    ...that c-spanner will appear sometime soon, and we'll get that front height where it needs to be!

    Best

    Mark
    Whitey
    Shockie Maker of the Month Award
    Last edited by Whitey; 16-07-2017, 05:59 PM. Reason: Queen's English
    2006 GXL petrol auto. ARB deluxe bar x3 HID IPF's, ARB alloy roofrack, ARB awning, BFG A/T, Safari snorkel, Piranha breathers, Pacemaker extractors, custom Ironman 45710FE 436-569mm with Dobinsons 350, custom Ironman 45682FE 383-618mm with Dobinsons 487, Firestone kevlar 60psi airbags, 30mm extended Roadsafe links, AMTS bashplate and recovery points, ABR Flyer with Powersonic AGM.

    Comment


    • #3
      Nice to hear how these are working. What Springs are you running?

      Cheers,
      Nova

      Comment


      • #4
        After starting on the job myself gave up and took it to a local suspension guy that I've used lots over the years. Certainly a lot easier with a hoist, took about 4 hours plus wheel alignment.

        Ride is as good as all the reviews say, almost doesn't feel like a 4WD. The biggest surprise is how compliant the ride is over bumps, was expecting to get bounced around a bit. While it is definitely firmer and doesn't dive under brakes, the ride is actually very compliant and smooth without the wallowy feel of the OEM suspension.

        Amazing bit of design and execution by Mark, well done and thanks.
        [B]Steve[/B]

        2010 Silver GXL Prado 150, D4D Auto, with a few non standard bits

        Comment


        • #5
          Dobinson 352's on the front and 327's in the rear with polyair bags. When it warms up a bit down here (ACT area) we will throw the camper trailer on and head to the coast.

          Comment


          • #6
            A few days in and everything has settled in perfectly so the spring choices by Whitey were pretty spot on; the rear has settled to 830 (started at 845) and the front to 780, which I'll adjust up in a few weeks.

            I also suspect that the fuel tanks and in particular the fuel tank on the left side play a part in the readings if you try to get to get a precision greater than about +/-5mm, which is not surprising given that they are 90l and 60l (I think?).

            Biggest difference in handling is how flat and composed the vehicle sits in corners and under brakes. I thought the cornering was more a function of sway bars but it seems that both are improved by the more refined low speed compression dampening. Really looking forward to loading the old girl up and hitting some tracks later in the year.
            [B]Steve[/B]

            2010 Silver GXL Prado 150, D4D Auto, with a few non standard bits

            Comment


            • #7
              Heads up some spanners have arrived & they will be posted next week
              Cheers
              4WD SUSPENSION & BODYLIFTS 0418780611 A/H PH/FAX 07 33512692- [COLOR=#ff0000][SIZE=5]Bilstein, Ironman & Roadsafe Distributor [/SIZE][/COLOR]

              Comment


              • #8
                Just finished 'testing' the suspension on a trip fully loaded and towing a heavy trailer on some pretty bad tracks. The shocks passed with flying colours, although I now have a collection of new rattles.

                Standout is how progressive the shocks are on big hits, washouts etc, they just soak it up very smoothly with no wallow or bounce. I gave them a really hard workout on a particularly bad track, they got fairly hot I'd say around 50-60C, the big difference between these and my previous shocks is that they didn't fade and kept working with full control. With my old gas shocks they felt like they 'locked out' once they got hot, but the Ironman Pros just kept working.

                I found myself driving faster on some of the corrugated sections without realising that I was doing it and particularly noticed the lack of front to back wallow. Great result, thanks Whitey!
                [B]Steve[/B]

                2010 Silver GXL Prado 150, D4D Auto, with a few non standard bits

                Comment


                • #9
                  Thanks for the nice review krypto. Looking forward for a set in next group buy. Go go go Whitey!

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Originally posted by mopk47 View Post
                    Thanks for the nice review krypto. Looking forward for a set in next group buy. Go go go Whitey!
                    I highly doubt there will be another opportunity. Ironman are no longer supplying shocks to Whiteys Mate that was getting them. Some new dealership agreements or something.. Business political reseller stuff, you know what I mean.. So obtaining stock might be difficult.

                    In saying that, I have heard rumours of one of the last made revalved sets of the original shock group buy might be coming up for sale soon. New and still in boxes.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Perhaps Whitey might be willing to share the valving specs if you contact him.
                      [B]Steve[/B]

                      2010 Silver GXL Prado 150, D4D Auto, with a few non standard bits

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Originally posted by krypto View Post
                        Perhaps Whitey might be willing to share the valving specs if you contact him.
                        Whitey owns the intellectual knowledge to the specs, he is in no way obliged to share them. Whether he would or not is unknown.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Sounds like some top secret stuff,
                          Are they just a re valved set of Ironman shocks or am I missing something ?

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            The secret is in the valving and the physics and math required to get it suited to the Prado.. Its not an off the shelf option, and Whitey spent much time in perfecting this to be perfect on the Prado. So yes you could say that it is secret stuff and a smart man always holds his intellectual knowledge close to his chest.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Kings seem to have there valving sorted very well for local conditions, I wonder how these would shape up

                              Comment

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