New member 120 suspension question

[mic6 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close mic6]

Hello everyone. I bought a used prado 2005 model with 3dr. It already has medium OME springs front and rear and hotbits adjustable shocks front and rear. The height is around 5cm above stock and the tires measure 265x70x17. I have to admit that the rear seems too stiff when I hit a bump on the street. Tried the softer shock setting but then the whole rear moves up and down when I hit a bump and makes things even worse.
Is the problem the shocks or the springs? I feel the front being fine. Would beilstein 5100s or king springs make any difference?
I did a lot of search here and found that king and OME springs have the same rate so no point changing to kings?

Thanks in advance

[mic6 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close mic6]

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

mic6 I think the reason there have been no replies is that the shorty 120 wasn't sold here and they are very thin on the ground. Where are you based?

In this section there is a sticky for suspension measurements and how to measure so a good start would be to do that rather than say the height is around 50mm higher than OEM.

Do you know what the actual spring model number is? I am not sure whether the shorty had the same springs or not so if you go to toyodiy you can see if they have the same part number front and/or rear.

Also how much lighter is the shorty than the long wheelbase? Is the front axle loading the same (I guess it is) and thus the front suspension is probably the same settings.

I cannot help you about any comments on bilsteins but the second sticky in this second has a table with spring rates and free length and you can see there are 4 or 5 different OME springs. By the way the same goes for hotbits shocks. Google and see if they are rebranded Ranchos or Toughdogs (same animal, different fur).

Next question is what tyres do you have and what pressures are you running?

Without some details like this even our suspension gurus will struggle to help. Oh it's a good idea to drop a post in the introductions thread with a photo or two (we love shorties).

Michael

On the face of it either your shocks are completely stuffed (how many ks?) or the springs are way too stiff. If you cannot find out any other info count the number of coils and measure the wire diameter and we can probably hazard a guess at the spring.

[Peterpilot Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Peterpilot]

I did a lot of search here and found that king and OME springs have the same rate so no point changing to kings?

Thanks in advance

Kings make springs for OME, but they are not the same rate. Check the suspension database for details:
http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...nsion-Database

[mic6 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close mic6]

Thanks guys!
Here is what I know:
My LC weights around 6000 lbs
My springs are OME medium (893F-895R)
No idea about my hotbits shocks (lengths etc)
My tires are Cooper STTs with 30 psi in them (is that low for the street?)

I am surprised that the Bilstein shocks that people tend to use for 50mm of lift are almost same dimensions with the OEM equipment open or closed... In fact I was thinking to use my Toyota OEM shocks for the rear and see what happens since my lift is only 50.. front-rear.

The bad ride is only for the back when I hit bumps
Not even close to the quality of the OEM set up

Already read both stickies thanks

Here is the pics

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

That looks sweet, if u r changing springs I would also match the shocks as u will get a better all round result.


Hutch- 2012 Prado 150, some TJM Kit.

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

Have to say the car looks spot on for height balance. If you go for a softer rear spring it will sit down in the back. So I am guessing your shocks are shot if they cannot control the springs. The standard shocks are no good if you have a lift. Actually no good at all in my opinion. If you are happy with the front then try changing the rear shocks for something else. At 6,000lb (sounds high, that's what my long wheelbase weighs with full tanks) the weight is the same as the long wheel base so the suspension tune should be close enough to the same.You are in Greece? Not sure what choice you have but pretty much anything if you can't get hold of OME to match the springs though the springs are all pretty close in spec. You must match the stroke for the lift otherwise you can bottom out the shock and break it. As for Bilsteins there was a bit noise here for a while that the standard valving on the Bilsteins ex Europe wasn't any good for Australian conditions. So we paid $450M each for 'specials'. Since then lots of people have run the standard tune without dying or bouncing off the road into an old peoples home so if you can get them you should be fine. Not sure if the front Bilsteins you can get have the multiple grooves machined in the strut or not. These let you change front height pretty easily.

EDIT: Oh and it looks fabulous.
EDIT2: I don't run STTs but that sounds a bit low. There is a tyre pressure thread in the 120 section. Have a look. I run BFG A/Ts at about 38 for the road. Then whatever off road. The database has some good info and since the weights are close enough to the same the info will apply.

[mic6 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close mic6]

Thank you guys so much for your help
In fact I was completely wrong the weight of my prado is 4400lbs
(I was looking at the 4-door specs when I wrote 6000 lbs)
So Bilstein BE5-A712 and BE5-A713 is what I need?
I could inport them to Greece from Australia no problem
But my question is why these shocks are good for my lift while OEM shocks are not?? They have almost the same measuraments!!!