Suspension Again

[ScottoHB Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close ScottoHB]

We're planing on heading off to the Alice/uluru via Innamincka, Coopers creek etc end of September this year from Hervey Bay Qld. Our Prado will have close to 100km on the standard running gear - we did upgrade our tyres in December to the BFG all terrains & have a duel battery setup, snorkle, standard alloy bar & tow bar for towing our 4.85 Haines signature.



I have read through quite a few strings here and see a few have gone with the OME sports springs & shocks kits - Just after some feedback on the medium set up with the majority of our work at home being empty around town selling real estate ?

Appreciate any comments on this & our proposed trip ?

Thanks Scotto

[Offroader Member Find all posts View Profile Close Offroader]

Re: Suspension Again

A suspension upgrade is one of the best additions you can make to the Prado. The car will handle better off-road and will make such a trip more comfortable. I run OME springs and shocks and have been happy with them. Others use a Bilstein set-up and are happy with them. I've not used Bilstein, so cannot comment. Like tyre choice, I suspect there will never be a consensus on which is better.

I gather a medium set-up with OME might look like this: 884 springs front and 895's on the rear with the Nitro sports shocks/struts to suit. I run the stiffer 896 spring on the back which really shine under load but can be a little firm unloaded around town. Personally I don't mind the firmer set-up. Hope this helps.

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Re: Suspension Again

Offroader - Thanks for your reply. I have had OME's previously on Disco's & found them good , so I recon I'll try them again on the Prado. As most of my driving is unloaded around town & light towing with the boat I believe the medium set up will be best, from comments here.

Thanks Scotto

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

Re: Suspension Again

Yup go medium, nice boat! :mrgreen:

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

Re: Suspension Again

I run 883 front and 895 rear with sports shocks, check my build up our cars have the same accesories and yes mine is empty most of time, the 883 with alloy bar and battery are heavy enough. the 896 would be too rough with an empty car around town as i reckon the 895's are borderline at times.
viewtopic.php?f=38&t=7635

[ScottoHB Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close ScottoHB]

Re: Suspension Again

DYD & Hutch - Thanks again for the re-assurance on the OME's sports kit. Hutch I note that you have gone with the 883 on teh front & offroader suggested 884's - I am really not up to speed on this , so can any of you explain the main differences here ?

What did we ever do before the Internet !

Thanks again - Scotto

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

Re: Suspension Again

Scott, the 883 is a lighter spring so not as rough as the 884, it would be good if you had a steel bar vs the alloy toyota bar or maybe a which, but as you can see on mine the car sits level and the spring is certainly heavy enough to carry the weight of the battery and bar and even my extra 20kg than you average person.

Were is your avator photo taken?

[ScottoHB Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close ScottoHB]

Re: Suspension Again

Were is your avatar photo taken?

Hutch - That is Wathumba Creek on the western side of Fraser up in Platypus bay - access across for Orchid beach. We generally camp at Waddy point ( top camp ground ) and run out from there each day. The creek has some great fishing & is nicely sheltered when it blows SE - ideal for the kayak :wink:

This is the report from our last camping trip on Fraser - http://www.scotto.com.au/index.cfm?page ... 6A432FFFC1

Regards Scotto

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

Re: Suspension Again

Scott, just having a look at some of your other trips, you have been a round a few places, lloks like some great adventures.
Good to see you saw the light and traded the LR on a real 4wd been a prado!!! lol

[ScottoHB Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close ScottoHB]

Re: Suspension Again

Scott, just having a look at some of your other trips, you have been a round a few places, lloks like some great adventures.
Good to see you saw the light and traded the LR on a real 4wd been a prado!!! lol

Yeah - we've been pretty fortunate, although never done the outback - so really looking for to our trip In September to Alice, Uluru etc

The Discos are great vehicles & more comfortable to drive - I find the standard Prado seats really uncomfortable on long trips , any one else found this ?

But you can't beat the reliability of the Toyota's & people to assist if anythings goes astray

Regards Scotto

[Offroader Member Find all posts View Profile Close Offroader]

Re: Suspension Again

Hutch I note that you have gone with the 883 on teh front & offroader suggested 884's - I am really not up to speed on this , so can any of you explain the main differences here ?

I've done a fair bit of off road work with the 883's and as Hutch suggests, they are indeed a comfortable spring. WIth some weight on board and when push comes to shove, I prefer the stiffer 884's. There is a considerable difference between the two rides, and much of it comes down to personal preference. For me, the 883's wallowed too much for my liking and just lacked the tightness on the black top which IMHO the 884's give. At the end of the day, its not really a question of which is necessarily better but, what kind of ride you prefer.

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

Re: Suspension Again

Hutch I note that you have gone with the 883 on teh front & offroader suggested 884's - I am really not up to speed on this , so can any of you explain the main differences here ?

I've done a fair bit of off road work with the 883's and as Hutch suggests, they are indeed a comfortable spring. WIth some weight on board and when push comes to shove, I prefer the stiffer 884's. There is a considerable difference between the two rides, and much of it comes down to personal preference. For me, the 883's wallowed too much for my liking and just lacked the tightness on the black top which IMHO the 884's give. At the end of the day, its not really a question of which is necessarily better but, what kind of ride you prefer.

Offroader what struts r u running, I have the newer sports ones and can assure u their no wallowing, I know what u mean as I had that in my last arb sprung car, but not with the sports struts

[Offroader Member Find all posts View Profile Close Offroader]

Re: Suspension Again

Yeah, this was running the older model OME strut, not the new sports version. It sounds like you've got a good combo going with your set-up. If I understand it correctly, the newer OME struts seem to offer a firmer ride which would complement the softer spring well. I'm contemplating putting some on... Are there any other major differences between the shocks/struts you've noticed?

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

Re: Suspension Again

Yeah, this was running the older model OME strut, not the new sports version. It sounds like you've got a good combo going with your set-up. If I understand it correctly, the newer OME struts seem to offer a firmer ride which would complement the softer spring well. I'm contemplating putting some on... Are there any other major differences between the shocks/struts you've noticed?

No differences really, both are sharp is the word i use, much different to the std ones i had on the previous car.