Suspension Measurements 2

[AJ120]

I'm guessing this is above the standard 750mm ie 800mm to 810mm?

yes, over standard measurements. in standard form the CV's are angled slightly upwards, with a 50mm lift they are about the same angle but going down, so not much change in cv angles, just direction.

Cheers Andrew

[pjorek]

Up to 50mm lift is fine, 60mm maybe ok, anything over that and a diff drop is probably needed. My lift is only 50mm but I have a half size diff drop as this gives me about a perfect CV angle.

Cheers Andrew

I'm guessing this is above the standard 750mm ie 800mm to 810mm?

[AJ120]

I take it you manufactured your own 'half size diff drop' AJ?

Certainly did.

Cheers Andrew

[Madkore]

I take it you manufactured your own 'half size diff drop' AJ?

[AJ120]

What's the general consensus, at what height at the front do you fit diff drop kits?

Up to 50mm lift is fine, 60mm maybe ok, anything over that and a diff drop is probably needed. My lift is only 50mm but I have a half size diff drop as this gives me about a perfect CV angle.

Cheers Andrew

[pjorek]

What's the general consensus, at what height at the front do you fit diff drop kits?

[mjrandom]

The springs were TDC974H to suit a steel bullbar and dual battery (AGM). The ride height at the front was not excessive settling down to around 785 or thereabouts from memory. I doubt very much whether topping out was an issue either as the car has not been worked hard and for the 4 months up to failure hadn't been off road. As you can see from post #258 there is very little weld and what weld there was had almost no penetration and was badly executed. Even the other strut had very little weld holding the bits together. Comparing that to the OME replacements there is at least a 4mm fillet.

Interesting what you say about the part numbers. My receipt shows the latest gear. The suspension was fitted from new (via dealer) in Jan 08. I was going to go to the shop and place the failed strut firmly up the arse of the owner but as he went broke this time last year that will be a little difficult. I spoke with the franchise owner and I guess I could have pushed the point, maybe would have had I known how old the parts were but at the end of the day the susepension was 4 years old and there is no way I could justify anything other than a hissy fit.

I went to this shop because they offered me the combination of different suppliers that I was after rather than a one stop ARB or TJM shop. The shop was relatively new but had quite a few good references. And was being supported by the original franchise owner who has been around the ridges for a long time and definately knew his stuff. The number of mistakes and poor workmanship from this place I have found astonished me over the years I have owned the 120. Things like a compressor wirded with 4mm wire from the relay to the compressor, relays and fuses just fitted in wherever without any common sense to the wiring. And it goes on.

Recently been using another shop which does good work. I used to fit everything myself but as time gets harder and harder to find that is a problem. I do know that I have more attention to detail that most and I have the gear and skill level, just the time eludes me.

[wholesalesuspension]

Hi guys, i have been reading this one with interest.

The shock pictured in the failure here is an old 35mm Bore shock. This is identifiable, as the spring seat locates on inside of the Spring & all of the 40mm Adjustables locate outside.

Tough Dog have not sold this shock since 2006.

In speaking to Tough Dog regarding this one, they have told me that since this shock, they have continually upgraded the shock with the Post size now up to 22mm O.D & have then since further upgraded the lower eyelet thickness around the bush to 5mm.
They did ask me what coil was fitted with the strut?

Failures like this are usually only seen by us in-house when a spring has been topping out.
Koni have recently gone down this same Beefing-up route after some failures with the 82 Series front struts in raised applications.
They will not sell 82 Series for Raised vehicles anymore & will only use the bigger 88 Series.
We have a bit of a unique setup in the Prado's & Hilux's & place a hell of a lot of stress on the lower posts & eyes on the shocks, this stress goes up further in a raised application.


Regards, Jason.

[matt150]

Cheers mj it does look a little nose up, but its fine.

[mjrandom]

Rear springs done and settled at 825mm with full tanks and 4psi in the polyairs. Front now at 810mm. It hasn't been back for its check up and that won't happen now until we get back from the Fraser coast so I am thinking after a bit of sand bouncing the front will come down a little more.





The steps are pretty much parallel to the ground so it still looks (to me) a bit nose up, easily fixed with another 3psi in the polyairs but I couldn't be bothered. I think I just got used the to stance of the Toughdogs which were only about 10 mm lower in the front but it makes a difference.

Compared to the Toughdogs before they died the front is firmer though not harsh and still nicely damped and the rear pretty much the same though I fancy a little softer springing and damping. Again that is subjective as the Toughdogs were adjustable and set fairly firm. I do wonder what the shorter front springs and 5mm spacers would have done though, a little lower but not sure how much, might have to do a static measure and then do the calcs and see.

Happy with the ride and more importanty the financial controller is happy so what does it matter what I think?

At least someone has gone to the trouble of welding the front struts this time!!!!!!!!!!!!!

An interesting point is that the lower joint on the Toughdog struts are a heim or rose joint while the OME are rubber bushed which I guess is more the norm. Felt no harshness associated with the rose joint which is strange because an ex track car I had a while back was rose jointed and on country Queensland roads everyone's fillings would shake loose.

And finally after asking Polyair if I could buy replacement hose clips a post bag arrived Friday which was a full fitting kit. For nix. Thanks guys very much appreciated.

[rhs58]

Here's my stats:
2008 Prado 120 D4D as per signature below - Fuel at 1/2, ARB Bar and Dual Batts, Rear drawers and fridge in back etc
Original Toyota susp in 2008 - F 750 R 770
Installed OME in 2008 - lot of touring including Plenty, Tanami, Gibb River Rd, High Country etc etc Lots corrugations, quite a bit of towing off road van approx 2.2T.
Front 884/N140S after 1000km settled to 790, after 100,000km and 3.5years 775
Rear 896/N142 at 1000km 820, at 100,000km 820
Rear shocks leaking oil after 100,000km but seemed to be working ok, and have just swapped out all 4 to OME Nitrocharger Sports
F 90000 and R 60005. Left the springs.
We'll see how it goes.
So far so good.

[matt150]

Cheers mate.

[mjrandom]

Matt, your wish is...... just a wish. Here is a quicky, will post a daylight shot over the weekend.



The rule is just over the 1m mark at the bottom of the guard where it is sitting and about 160 at the rim. I am running 275/65 17s BFG A/Ts so a bit bigger in diameter than the OEM Grandmistakes.

mybo give some thought to polyairs or the other brands out there. Very useful for occasional loads. By the way I sent an email to Polyair using contact us on the webpage explaining my situation and asking if I could buy a couple of the clips, had a response this afternoon two are in the mail!

The change out cost me fitting only so I cannot complain about that since it was my fault the 895s were fitted.

Had a longer drive this afternoon and it felt ok but a bit ponderous but then I spent nearly 6 hours in the Clubbie yesterday and my bicycle would feel topsy turvy. Mrs took the 120 for a run (it is aferall hers) and pronounced it fine.

PS: Resizing 36MP to 0.5MP in Photoshop is a little scary, where did the photo go? Oh there it is...

[mybo]

Fair enough MJ, you got me thinking now and I realised my measurements above are with pretty much empty tanks and no third row seats in...
Just measured again with pretty much full tanks and the seats and I'm back to just under 820mm (which is about right for 260lb/in spring rate of the 895s). Looks like I'll have to keep an eye on things when I load up :|

[matt150]

OK just fitted the 896s and 835 at the rear now with 4psi in the polyairs and full tanks. Happy person. Minor issue with my polyairs I need to sort out though, one of the hose clamps has corroded and needs replacing. Have to source one and chuck it on.

Mj can ya throw upa pic of the car and up close of back wheel and wheel arch ?