Koni makes me happy.

[Prado04 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Prado04]

Thanks for that, I have had Koni's in my last two vehicles and loved them looks like they will be under the Prado soon!

[Sefo Member Find all posts View Profile Close Sefo]

I've got the KONI Heavy Track and I'm very happy.

Also have a 2 inch lift with KING springs.

Fair Dinkum it's pretty good now. You really notice the difference when loaded and the speed bumps around town.

When you go around a corner with the corner dipping, the standard would make the front end drop down. With the KONI's and Kings Springs, no problem.

Poly Airs on the rear are a must if you really load up and even more should you ever tow.

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

Had Medium King springs and Raids fitted yesterday. Lift is 45mm at front and 53mm at rear. Just driving it home, car feels totally different from the original stock springs and dampers that have done 160000 klms. Ride is firm but not harsh and steering feels heaps more direct. Havn't had a chance to test them properly yet. Went for Konis due to previous experienece on my old Beetle. Big expense (wonderfull wife paid) that only time will tell if worth it.
Tackling the Canning next year so will probably swap rear springs for heavy duty before we load up. Much cheaper than polyairs

[Prado04 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Prado04]

I fitted Koni and Kings Medium springs 2 weekends ago and they are great, now I just have to wait to try them off the black stuff.

[Guest Close Guest]

Give me rubber.

Well, I'm Koni'd and Kingsed up finally (with RAIDs and Kings raised but soft springs), as per my year long wish list.. After driving it around a bit, it is eminently controllable and competent. But honestly, I'd say that for rough going, the original suspension is better. I've driven a stock Prado with 100,000kms on it from Alice to Kintore return and mine is harsh by comparison.

Perhaps the Heavy track would have been better for me. Kings specify that an extended shock is necessary for the longer springs (which the HT isn't), but the lift is negligible (less than the old OMEs gave) and I reckon I'd get away with HTs, but I aint stuffen around with it no more.

While I'm whingeing, I'm also not a fan of polyurethane bushes for these applications. Diconnecting the bottom eye of the rear shocks to get my Kings springs in, the steel sleeve came out of the bush, meaning I had to remove the whole shock and press the bush back in, The polyurethane bush had worn the steel sleeve after only about 30,000kms.. this doesn't happen with rubber. I know that PU bushes give me more precise control, but 1. it's a Prado, 2. I drive on entirely on and off dirt roads and 3. it's a Prado, so precision and control are not to be used without tongue in cheek. The cost is not limited to wear, with extra noise transmitted to ME from these crappo roads.

If I ever get my D4D it'll have stock suspension til it wears out, then I'll get a D5D.

[D4D_4_Vic Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close D4D_4_Vic]

Give me rubber

Wildmangordo,

I am considering Koni raids (have already got lovells springs Med/duty raised coils, currently HDuty in front but to stiff/harsh) have tried bilsteins - but to soft, no rebound.

Had you adjusted the damping rate of the raids prior to install? or install straight out of the box. If adjusted then by how much?

Most of my use will be road, towing with the occasional Simpson etc.

I am going through this process as my wife gets motion sickness with the smoothness and roll motion of the stock suspension. (had hard riding 80 series T/D for 15 years prior)

Regards D4D_4_VIC

[Guest Close Guest]

Gday D4D4Vee. My RAIDs are on the softset setting which, when pumping them before installation, seemed very, very stiff (I've done this a few times before).

On the tar or in an offroad race I reckon they'd be great, possibly as good as it gets. My problem is wanting to drive rough roads and tracks with some degree of comfort and not always flat out & at this they're a bit sucky.

Having said all that, if your raise isn't too high then you could save a huge packet and buy the Heavy Tracks, which are also adjustable and will work just as well to 95% of the RAIDs capabilites. The RAIDs really are a top end racing product that's probably a bit too specialised for most people, even I have to admit my vehicle punishing self.

Hey, I just bought some Rancho 9000s for my work Collerodeo. They're externally adjustable, seem to be made out of crushed up veedubs and fade really quickly. But they're externally adjustable & would be fine on the road. And hey, they're externally adjustable.

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

Re: Koni makes me happy.

Did the Canning 6 months ago with the Konis. At every stop after severe corrugations, the Raids were by far the coolest shocks. Next were the smaller Koni's on an 80 series then the OME, and standard Toyota were all about the same temp (hot). Couldn't be happier!