Bilstein/ lovells combo 4wd direct

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

Hi guys, I have been racking my brain for months about my new suspension choice, I've narrowed it down to either the bilstein/ lovells combo from 4wd direct just under $1400 with the addition of the steel stone guards delivered (but also need to factor in wheel aligent, or just over 1,800 for the OME fitted/ balanced. From everything I have read they are both good set ups. My two questions are
1) is for a novice in the spring and most things 4wd how hard is the change out to do DIY? Considering I will have to assemble the struts/ springs.

2) 4wd direct has advised to go a hd lovells spring in the front medium in the rear(I have the OL steel bar, Aj's sliders & bash plates) is this possible going to be to harsh? I'm tossing up weather to go a winch and dual batts down the track but am looking for an interim raise to fix my low front end since te installation of my bar.

Most of my driving is on the blacktop but am wanting to do a fair bit more offroad now as the girl is more setup. 2008 d4d auto
Have been searching the forum/ google and so many different set ups and opinions,

My main aim is to improve the handling on and off road but to also hopefully gain ground clearance.

As a novice an this being my first real build just trying to choose wisely the first time.

Cheers

Craig

[Guest Close Guest]

The rears are easy as. The fronts will require a very good set of spring compressors or take the parts to a suspension shop and ask them to assemble the strut.

According to the suspension database http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...nsion-Database the HD lovells have a very high spring rate which is more suited for winch and dual batts. I think you would be better with the TFR-118 and then tweak the seat of the Bilsteins later on when you add the winch and dual batts to raise it back up again.

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

Beautie thanks Andrew, I thought the hd's might be a bit much for my needs at this stage, it's funny when you read everything so much it actually gets confusing! I have been waiting as long as possible to do te suspension cause if I can help it I only want to have to do it once..

[Guest Close Guest]

I found this thread
http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...springs-fitted
The King Spring HD is similar in spring rate to the Lovells HD but the Lovells HD are slightly shorter.
You can form your own opinion from that thread.

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

Beautie thanks Andrew, I thought the hd's might be a bit much for my needs at this stage, it's funny when you read everything so much it actually gets confusing! I have been waiting as long as possible to do te suspension cause if I can help it I only want to have to do it once..

Dammit.... So this raises another question, am I really only going to need the lovells tfs 119's or the tfr119's, don't want a big nose down action but also want to maintain lift once I do load her up for camping etc

[Guest Close Guest]

You would want the TFR-118 to get a raise at the front. A TFS-118 is to maintain factory standard height.

As for the rear, the TRR-119 would be suitable if you wanted the back raised.
The TRS-119 would be for achieving standard height.
Although in both cases, the spring rate is higher than factory but the same length so I'd expect a small lift if you went with the TRS-119.

I would go with the TRR-119. If you had fully loaded drawers and carry a fridge all the time, the Kings KTRR-102HD might be more suitable as it has a higher spring rate and 10mm longer. Either that or stick with the TRR-119 and add airbags with the airbags pumped up for when you are fully loaded.

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

Thanks for the info and advice Andrew, might start looking at suppliers for the kings side, had a quote from climax suspension which included them pre assembling the struts for me, might look back at these guys, price was also pretty reasonable... Ahhhh so many choices never an easy decision

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

Would be easier to have a stockist local, but alas not that lucky, that was also another reason I am tempted just to go OME, drop it off pick it up done.... But I hear so many good things about bolstein

[ZORDO Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close ZORDO]

There are a few guys on here running bilstein/ dobinson set up.
Dobinson have a wider range of coils & are QLD made.

Bilsteins are a far better shock than OME
Cheers

[stu#71 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close stu#71]

I didi the 4wddirect option recently on my 90 series (thread somewhere). Very happy with their recommendation (hard front, med rear). Did the 2" lift option, very happy as I got nearly 80mm (the orig shocks were sh1t tho). They were great to deal with, very helpful and had me weighing all kinds of stuff in the rear end to make sure they had it right.

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

Yea zordo, they have a factory in rockie so is another option but I'm def keen on bilstein tho.

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

I didi the 4wddirect option recently on my 90 series (thread somewhere). Very happy with their recommendation (hard front, med rear). Did the 2" lift option, very happy as I got nearly 80mm (the orig shocks were sh1t tho). They were great to deal with, very helpful and had me weighing all kinds of stuff in the rear end to make sure they had it right.

Hi stu, yea they got me to do the same, and have been quite helpful, but with no winch or dual batteries I think that the hd's might be a bit to stiff.

[stu#71 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close stu#71]

I think they recommended the hard springs in the front due to my heavy diesel engine (1KZTE 3.0L diesel). I have no winch etc either if that helps?
No complaints here...

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

I know I will be happy with the shocks so worst case can sorce them for a good price, it's if I get the springs wrong it's hard to change them out especially doing DIY, so this is my biggest concern with getting it right. Would be awesome to have the 4wd support like you guys do in the bigger places, That's why this forum is invaluable! Incredible amount of knlowledge and the fact it's all to do with our beloved prado's makes it more target based. :-)

[Hpycmpr Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hpycmpr]

It would be worth your while contacting John form Zordos who has posted in this thread, he supplied mine (dobinsons bilsteins ) combo. Being a tight arse, I rang everywhere for prices he was the best even freighted from qld to Vic. I fitted myself, the back is fine but the front is a bit of a pain, and you will need access to a spring compressor.