OME Suspension Swap - Something not right

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

Sorry for new thread if this is partly answered elsewhere but just looking for some high level guidance. I had OME springs and shocks installed into my 2004 V6 120 series in December 2011. I dont have the exact specs in front of me but the springs were the mid range ones (150kg rating rings a bell) as I have a bullbar / dual battery up front and down back I have some drawers, a fridge and I tow a camper trailer with approx 100kg ball weight). The shocks with Nitro Charger Sport.

In November 2012 I bought a second hand 2008 D4D and I swapped over the bull bar, batteries and the suspension.

The OME suspension did approx 18,000km in the V6 petrol including approximately 8000km with a camper trailer in tow, before just recently moving the setup to the 2008 D4D.

The ride in the D4D does not feel anywhere near as good as when the OME was in the V6. I could not fault the set up in the V6. I also went and had a wheel alignement after the supension was swapped over. The bumps on the tar are quite jolty to the point that you can feel some of the jolts coming throught the steering column when the bumps are quite bad. I have also noticed a bit of squeeking that was not present in the old car. I have done approx 1500km in the D4D with the OME gear so the OME gear has not yet done 20,000km - which is why I swapped it.

We did the swap the suspension over ourselves (included two mechanic mates and myself) but I am going to take into ARB on Wednesday (who did the initial V6 install last year) to give it all a thorough check as something is not right.

I just wonderd if anyone had any thoughts as to what the problem might be. It could possibly be a number of things but I just wondered if anythign jumps out after explaining the situation above.

Cheers

Lodgey.

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

The D4D is heavier than the petrol so if anything it should be softer??


Hutch- 2012 Prado 150, some TJM Kit.

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

Thanks Hutch,

I was not sure about the weight differences but I had the same thought as yourself.

Lodgey.

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

Just to add, the front spings are 2884 (51 to 100kg) and the rear are 2896 (150kg to 400kg)

The front shocks are 90,000 - sport and the rear are nitrocharger sport 60005 to match the above mentioned springs.

I know they will be a bit bouncy with the car pretty empty but the main thing is the difference post the change-over.

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

The front is perfect for that car, diesel with bullbar, if u have nothing in the back 896 could be a bit stiff, I use to run 895 in my rear on the 120.


Hutch- 2012 Prado 150, some TJM Kit.

[mybo Member Find all posts View Profile Close mybo]

Do you have the drawers and fridge constantly in the new 120? I went 2895 springs with nitrocharger shocks n141 in the rear of my 120 and the ride is fine with no load, but I can imagine 2896 with sports shocks would be pretty stiff unloaded.

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

Due to premature failure of my first suspension I have 885s front (steel bar and AGM battery) and 896s in the rear with polyairs. Only fridge in the back. The 120 rides fine, not harsh at all. I would have thought yours may be a little skittish in the rear but plush up front. Did you tension the struts with the wheels taking the weight? If not your bushes will be twisted and adding to the stiffness up front. The bushes will not last long if done this way.

http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...ments-2/page27

http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...nsion-Database

Prior to going away the front of mine was a bit high but after some bouncing on soggy sand tracks it is now down to a little over 800mm while the back is comfortable at 825 full tanks and 4 pissies in the polyairs.

So I reckon definitely something not quite right.

Not that that helps you!

ARB should be able to sort it out.

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

Thank you very much for the replies.

There could be something to do with tensioning the struts with the wheels taking the weight as per the previous post. The term plush is how I used to describe the front in the 04 V6 but it everything feels too tight and rigid in the D4D. I have only done approx 1500km in the D4D so it is good that I am getting it checked out before too many k's.

I currently have the back empty with only a cargo barrier, centre divider and top rack - not much weight in that. I am about to re-install the single draw with fridge slide on top, in preparation for next trip in mid January and I will likely leave it in post the next trip just for a bit normal driving weight. I have just been adding things a bit at a time since purchasing the new car and getting things swapped over.

I initially asked local ARB about swapping the suspension over and they were not keen - hard to get a quote out of - and I naturally sensed that they would rather sell me a new set. It was a big enough decision to purchase the first set only 12 months ago - so we decided to do ourselves with the help of a mechanic friend who had done them before.

Anyway I dont feel bad taking it into ARB and get them to give it a once over.

Lodgey

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

Tried to delete this dupe post.

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

I am still troubleshooting this would you believe. I believe that all is right with suspension and I have had it checked - twice.

When on corrugations and rough surfaces, i get a vibration from bull bar that seems to shudder its way up to steeing column. This didnt happen when suspension was in previous prado as it felt solid but smooth. Have had bull bar mounts and overall install checked and all is good, but cannot pin point what is causing the shuddder that feels like it is vibrating up into the steering. Just annoying as want to get to the bottom of it.

Lodgey

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

Really hard to diagnose especially if you have had it checked out. Assuming all the mounts are tight do you have plenty of clearance between the bar and the body? From memory I think a figure of >25mm is the norm. There are a few threads about the gap. It is possible that the bar is rubbing on the body and the vibration is then being transmitted to the car. The bar vibrating should not affect anything and they sure bounce around a lot but the mounts dampen that out. Has to be something like this. I seem to recall others having the front spring rubbing on the UCA but that was with much bigger lifts from memory however it is worth checking how much clearance you have. Where are you? Put your location in your profile and there might be a local PPer with the same set up that you can do a side by side comparison with.

Michael

[Rusty62 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Rusty62]

You have not said if the tyres are the same as your v6. ( unless I missed it). Try different tyre pressures, then check the tow bar hitch. Sounds odd I know but mine made a vibration through the whole car and the only way I found it was by hitting it with my head and it rattled, so did the tow bar.
Also check the bash plates under the middle.
Rusty.

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

Just a thought. How are the front strut lower eye bushes?

I have seen them when they are sagged (with as little as 20,000kms) that the lower shock eye can contact the lower control arm over bumps & be very harsh through the car.

Like this 95 Series one below..... v



Regards, Jason

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

Thank you for the previous posts.

I am in Wagga and getting a mechanic to check things out in the next couple of weekends when he has time, in his spare time.

The bull bar mounts are definitely worth looking at closely.

The tyres are bridgestone AT duellers and were transfereed from the V6 but they were brand new on the V6 in July and then transffered in November, so I did not have them on the V6 very long and maybe i dont notice the change when I put them on the V6 and only noticed post the Diesel when I was looking at things more closely. I run anout 38 pressure in the bridgestones. They are still pretty heavy with tread only having done about 20,000kms.

I will also get the lower eye bushes checked out.

I do appreciate all the inputs. Sorrry for late reply as have been travelling for work.....to pay for it all!!