Opinions On These Suspension Setups

[Dueler120 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dueler120]

G'day,
Well its time for my rig to get her 2" suspension lift and I would like peoples opinions on the below setups. My rig will have the following constant weight of bullbar+winch, dual battery's, under carriage bash plates, rock sliders, roof rack, dual wheel carrier rear bar, draw system with large recovery bag and tools, 50l fridge. When camping it will also carry a rooftop tent, 50l drinking water and a variety of tables, chairs, gas cookers etc for camping and up to 3 passengers. Its not intended as a tow vehicle but will have a 3.5m dingy on the back from time to time. The vehicle is being built to tour the Kimberley eg. Gibb River Rd and I also plan to take it through the middle and up to the Cape.

This is the OME setup quote:
"4 x Nitrocharger sport shock absorbers, 100kg-150kg front coils and 150kg-400kg rear coils using poly air bags to help carry the extra load. This complete package including air bags will cost $2125 fitted or without air bags $1700 (fitting the airbags at a later date would cost $525)". Pirce comes with stone guards but no wheel alignment as they recommend getting one done after 500k's once everything settles in.

And here is the Koni/ Lovells Springs setup:
"Koni HT Raid shock absorbers front and rear with the Lovells springs. The Konis are thicker bodied, rebound adjustable, rebuildable, hydraulic units which are made specifically for heavy weight applications doing lots of four wheel driving. They are made stronger then other shock absorbers with up-rated seals and all the rest of it to last longer while working harder. The Koni/Lovells kit will cost $2,490 supplied, fitted and wheel aligned.

We can also supply and fit Polyair helper airbags that sit inside the rear coils to assist with extra weight carrying and occasional towing. These aren’t necessary but do help and would cost an extra $500 on top of the kit."

I plan to fit my bullbar, rack, rear bar etc around the 20th and will be keen to pull the trigger on the lift asap. Im leaning towards the OME setup due to the warranty coverage.

Thanks in advance,

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

Would recommend fitting your lift after you have got your bull bar and other accessories in if you could. I might be wrong but I still think that who ever fits your lift should do a wheel alignment after the lift is in, and then if it needs it down the track then get it done again. From the amount of gear you are carrying though you are going to need a heavy rate coil that is for sure.

Have you looked at what the coil rates when comparing these two kits you are interested in? Also have you considered Bilstein as another alternative for shock absorbers just to throw another brand into the mix??

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

I've been quoted $1740 for the same rated OME spring set up you have listed (#885 springs front & #896 springs rear). One place tried $2300, so strangely enough won't be getting the job. I'm not booked in until the 27th, so I will be a few weeks until I can comment on how it goes. I do have less weight on board than you for the moment, so it won't be comparing apples with apples......

Interestingly, the OME "2 inch lift" is specified by ARB as approx 25mm front & 40mm rear on average (or so I'm told......), so it will be interesting to see where it ends up.

I'll share the measurements on my lift when it's done.

Cheers
Darren

[Dueler120 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dueler120]

Would recommend fitting your lift after you have got your bull bar and other accessories in if you could. I might be wrong but I still think that who ever fits your lift should do a wheel alignment after the lift is in, and then if it needs it down the track then get it done again. From the amount of gear you are carrying though you are going to need a heavy rate coil that is for sure.

Have you looked at what the coil rates when comparing these two kits you are interested in? Also have you considered Bilstein as another alternative for shock absorbers just to throw another brand into the mix??

PLAYDOH,
Yeah I'll have all the weight on before it gets lifted. Have had a few other quotes with mixed reviews. Researching these two brands people have had mostly positive things to say. I have spoken extensively with both these shops detailing the weights and use of the vehicle like in my opening post. If I went with the OME I'd have a wheel alignment done the next day.

[Dueler120 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dueler120]

I've been quoted $1740 for the same rated OME spring set up you have listed (#885 springs front & #896 springs rear). One place tried $2300, so strangely enough won't be getting the job. I'm not booked in until the 27th, so I will be a few weeks until I can comment on how it goes. I do have less weight on board than you for the moment, so it won't be comparing apples with apples......

Interestingly, the OME "2 inch lift" is specified by ARB as approx 25mm front & 40mm rear on average (or so I'm told......), so it will be interesting to see where it ends up.

I'll share the measurements on my lift when it's done.

Cheers
Darren

Cheers for the reply Darren,
Was your setup including bags and wheel alignment?

Thanks,

[ondaboat Coopers Pale Ale Find all posts View Profile Close ondaboat]

Howdy Dueler 120

I have 884 (50-100) in the front & 896 (150-400) in the rear with the nitrocharger sport shocks, with a fair bit of weight onboard and really like the set up compared to OEM. They really say not to go to 897 (constant 400) in the rear unless you have a rear wheel carrier and I'd certainally agree with that as it very firm when not packed to go. I am in the process in installing firestone airbags to help witn the camper trailer. The front sounds right for you with the 885 (100-150). Have attached some other OME info.

PART NO: OME883 (0-50KG) X
FREE HEIGHT: 375MM
SPRING RATE: 590lb/in

PART NO: OME884 (51-100KG) X
FREE HEIGHT: 390MM
SPRING RATE: 590lb/in

PART NO: OME885 (101-150KG) X
FREE HEIGHT: 395MM
SPRING RATE: 590lb/in

REAR COILS:

PART NO: OME895 (MEDIUM LOAD) X
FREE HEIGHT: 390MM
SPRING RATE: 260lb/in

PART NO: OME896 (150KG - 400KG)
FREE HEIGHT: 390MM
SPRING RATE: 318lb/in

PART NO: OME897 (CONSTANT 400KG)
FREE HEIGHT: 390MM
SPRING RATE: 387lb/in

Regards Adam

[Dueler120 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dueler120]

ondaboat,
Mate really appreciate your detailed response! Food for thought for the rear springs as she will be loaded up on long trips.

Thanks again

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

Cheers for the reply Darren,
Was your setup including bags and wheel alignment?

Thanks,

My quote includes:
front coils
front struts
rear coils
rear sports shocks
OME shock stoneguard kit
front wheel alignment
fitting

No air bags on mine.

Cheers
Darren

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

I have the OME setup and happy with it, 885's in the front and 895's with airbags in the rear. The main difference between the 2 setups you mention is that the Lovells have a shorter but much stiffer spring, probably giving you similar lift but with a harsher ride. Not really a setup I would look at, better a longer softer spring for my money!

Its probably a Broome thing but the prices seem pretty steep, you could probably save a bundle fitting it yourself if your half way handy with the spanners, rears are a piece of cake, and fronts aren't overly difficult either!

Some good threads in the suspension section on DIY installs.

Cheers Andrew

[Dueler120 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dueler120]

I have the OME setup and happy with it, 885's in the front and 895's with airbags in the rear. The main difference between the 2 setups you mention is that the Lovells have a shorter but much stiffer spring, probably giving you similar lift but with a harsher ride. Not really a setup I would look at, better a longer softer spring for my money!

Its probably a Broome thing but the prices seem pretty steep, you could probably save a bundle fitting it yourself if your half way handy with the spanners, rears are a piece of cake, and fronts aren't overly difficult either!

Some good threads in the suspension section on DIY installs.

Cheers Andrew

Thanks AJ120,
The prices are actually shops in Perth. Most things on the car I do myself but for my situation with work, my home being in Broome and the car hiding in Perth where I work on her its hard to find consecutive days to be there in the shed setting it all up ready for the end of year trip back north. Im running out of excuses with the missus as to why I cant come home and have to be in Perth playing with the car!

Cheers for your advice, I rekon its the OME going under the rig.

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

From an insiders perspective, i would go the Koni's. I'm not trying to tell you this to sell them to you, just as an opinion.

They are a pretty awesome thing. We offer a moneyback guarantee on them if people are not happy with them & i'll be 100% honest in saying that we have never had to refund anyone. I have seen the Koni 90 series still going strong on a customers 75 Troopie tour vehicle after 700,000kms of outback torture. We have a customers Kenworth truck that has gone over a Million kms on them.
They offer 2.5 turns of adjustment from soft to hard & you would be lucky to need to adjust them 1/4 turn every 60-80,000kms.
We usually go 1/4 turn at a time & they feel like new again.
We rebuild them in-house & they are a bit of a work of art inside. They have a pretty extensive high & low speed valving system that can be re-valved to suit each individuals requirements.
They should be the last shock you should ever need to purchase for your car as long as you own it.

Just my two cents.


Regards, Jason.

[Dueler120 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dueler120]

From an insiders perspective, i would go the Koni's. I'm not trying to tell you this to sell them to you, just as an opinion.

They are a pretty awesome thing. We offer a moneyback guarantee on them if people are not happy with them & i'll be 100% honest in saying that we have never had to refund anyone. I have seen the Koni 90 series still going strong on a customers 75 Troopie tour vehicle after 700,000kms of outback torture. We have a customers Kenworth truck that has gone over a Million kms on them.
They offer 2.5 turns of adjustment from soft to hard & you would be lucky to need to adjust them 1/4 turn every 60-80,000kms.
We usually go 1/4 turn at a time & they feel like new again.
We rebuild them in-house & they are a bit of a work of art inside. They have a pretty extensive high & low speed valving system that can be re-valved to suit each individuals requirements.
They should be the last shock you should ever need to purchase for your car as long as you own it.

Just my two cents.


Regards, Jason.

Thanks Jason,
PM sent.

[Heath74 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Heath74]

Just on the air bags, they are worth about $300 retail. And if you are replacing the springs anyway, there should not be much of a labour charge to fit. The only labour required would be running the air line to the back of the car, so maybe 30 mins work.

Re the shocks, you don't hear many people complaining about Konis, or bilsteins for that matter. So I think either would be a safe bet.

[BrettM Member Find all posts View Profile Close BrettM]

I just ordered the same ome set up from ARB in Rockingham, fitting my self price is $1400 and $1600 for them to fit I will be doing it my self as I have all the gear to do it my self

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

Supply only? I thought it would be cheaper, anyone that has had it fitted I bet they r quoting more than $200? Normally around 300+ I thought.


Hutch- 2012 Prado 150, some TJM Kit.