Help please Mark
Mark
I read your post re Bilstein’s with great interest. It goes a long way to helping me resolve problems that I have with the rear suspension in my 2007 Prado. On extreme articulation I hear a clunk from the rear. The rear suspension feels under dampened as it wallows when full extension is required. A recent Moreton Island trip highlighted this where the track was scalloped out from one side to the other. It is not related to the diff locks as it happens when diff locks are off or on. I have checked all suspension bolts for looseness and all bushes for wear and all good. I assume this clunk is caused by the rear shocks being over extended and topping out. The shocks are not leaking.
Vehicle specifics:- 1KD FTV 16v D4D common rail diesel auto trans and 265 70 17 tyres and ARB difflocks front and rear. It is fitted with a 40mm lift using BE5-712 and BES-713 Bilstein shocks and King springs that have a 30% greater load rating than standard Toyota springs. The rear sway bar link pins have been lengthened by 30mm. TJM aluminium bull bar and TJM under body protection plates. No winch and no intention to fit one. The 40mm lift has not sagged.
Note re longer link pins. When the suspension is raised, even by only 40mm, the rear link pins become misaligned in their top rubber mountings. Extension of the link pin is necessary to avoid premature wear of the rubber bushes especially if touring off road. The 30mm extension corrects the alignment of a 40 mm lift and also allows a greater suspension drop/extension before the swaybar limits travel.
My thoughts on how to rectify these problems
Initially I thought retain the 30mm extended sway bar links to give better articulation of the sway bar and fit longer travel 24-217897 rear Bilstein shocks. The downside is this may cause the coil springs to dislodge on their seats or give rise to some new problems as the tail shaft, universal joints, panhard rod and the 4 suspension links for example could be taken beyond their articulation capacity. In the interests of safety and reliability a 5mm reduction in the length of the link pins could be a wise comprise.
I do not have the technical knowledge or experience to know if the rebound and compression characteristics of this particular shock suits the King springs currently fitted.
As you said the rebound/compression of the BE5-712 Bilsteins currently fitted to the front compares closely to the 24-238762 but the 24-238762 has longer travel. I lifted the suspension because the front of a 120 series Prado has poor ground clearance and it is still not flash. If you can advise there are benefits with regard to ride and clearance to be gained by fitting 24-238762 Bilsteins then I will fit them.
I am not about to go do extreme off road and most importantly I do not want my Prado modified to the max thereby sacrificing reliability.
I welcome your thoughts and input.
Kitbags
Originally posted by Whitey
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I read your post re Bilstein’s with great interest. It goes a long way to helping me resolve problems that I have with the rear suspension in my 2007 Prado. On extreme articulation I hear a clunk from the rear. The rear suspension feels under dampened as it wallows when full extension is required. A recent Moreton Island trip highlighted this where the track was scalloped out from one side to the other. It is not related to the diff locks as it happens when diff locks are off or on. I have checked all suspension bolts for looseness and all bushes for wear and all good. I assume this clunk is caused by the rear shocks being over extended and topping out. The shocks are not leaking.
Vehicle specifics:- 1KD FTV 16v D4D common rail diesel auto trans and 265 70 17 tyres and ARB difflocks front and rear. It is fitted with a 40mm lift using BE5-712 and BES-713 Bilstein shocks and King springs that have a 30% greater load rating than standard Toyota springs. The rear sway bar link pins have been lengthened by 30mm. TJM aluminium bull bar and TJM under body protection plates. No winch and no intention to fit one. The 40mm lift has not sagged.
Note re longer link pins. When the suspension is raised, even by only 40mm, the rear link pins become misaligned in their top rubber mountings. Extension of the link pin is necessary to avoid premature wear of the rubber bushes especially if touring off road. The 30mm extension corrects the alignment of a 40 mm lift and also allows a greater suspension drop/extension before the swaybar limits travel.
My thoughts on how to rectify these problems
Initially I thought retain the 30mm extended sway bar links to give better articulation of the sway bar and fit longer travel 24-217897 rear Bilstein shocks. The downside is this may cause the coil springs to dislodge on their seats or give rise to some new problems as the tail shaft, universal joints, panhard rod and the 4 suspension links for example could be taken beyond their articulation capacity. In the interests of safety and reliability a 5mm reduction in the length of the link pins could be a wise comprise.
I do not have the technical knowledge or experience to know if the rebound and compression characteristics of this particular shock suits the King springs currently fitted.
As you said the rebound/compression of the BE5-712 Bilsteins currently fitted to the front compares closely to the 24-238762 but the 24-238762 has longer travel. I lifted the suspension because the front of a 120 series Prado has poor ground clearance and it is still not flash. If you can advise there are benefits with regard to ride and clearance to be gained by fitting 24-238762 Bilsteins then I will fit them.
I am not about to go do extreme off road and most importantly I do not want my Prado modified to the max thereby sacrificing reliability.
I welcome your thoughts and input.
Kitbags
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