Should you fit accessories before or after shocks/springs?

[DR Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close DR]

G'day

I am fitting an ARB Steel Bar, Spotties and Dual Battery Set up to my new Prado and and I was wondering about whether it is preferable to fit these before or after replacing the shocks/springs. Does it matter?


Thanks

[Chippy Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chippy]

I don't believe there's a right or wrong.

The ideal is to be able (ie: cashed up) to do them all fairly close together.

I wasn't. I did the bar, lights, bash plate, under bonnet compressor, UHF, roof rack and dual battery - then drove around the country.

The standard front suspension has certainly sagged under the load and I'm now looking at what to bung in there.

I suppose the advantage is - I know exactly what the new setup has to carry.

Cheers
Chippy

[120GXV6 Member Find all posts View Profile Close 120GXV6]

It really depends on what type of driving you intend to do. I fitted the bullbar, winch, dual batteries etc with standard suspension and did a trip out to central Australia with my camper (mainly on the black top). On a number of occasions between Alice Springs and Coober Pedy (all off road) it bottomed out the front end and not long after I got back I had the suspension upgraded by ATS in Geelong. Maybe the best accessory on the car so far!

I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of the cracking that has occurred in vehicles is due to bottoming out and transferring the shock load to the body of the vehicle.

I would suggest if you're going to do any serious off-road work to get the suspension done first!

[MTpockets Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close MTpockets]

One of the best mods you can do is suspension. Do it right the first time. If you are doing suspension first, let the installer know what you intend on fitting in the near future (winch, duel batteries, steel bullbar, to the front and a pradopoint sticker to the rear)
Then he will advise you one way or the other. However putting all the heavy stuff on the front without suspension mods will make life difficult.
See ARB for advise, its free.
cheers

[Matt Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Matt]

im going suspension first and tyres at the same time..

in order i would go

scanguage II 8)
tyres
suspension
bar
then everthing else

[DR Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close DR]

Thanks for the advice fellas. I am getting everything done straight away and I will get the accessories fitted in the following order:

Bridgestone D694's
ARB Bar, Reece Hitch, Twin Battery, Spotties, Wind Deflectors
Shocks & Springs
DP Chip? (Not sure yet)

DR

[leachy_9 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close leachy_9]

DR,

you left the most important accessory off the list...........
PRADOPOINT.COM sticker.

Leachy