Anyone had success with Kakadu susp mods ?

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David
First of all I have nothing but good service from Mannell Motors. I have contacted them a number of times since having work done and every time Jimmy and Giles are willing to listen and discuss the question and give me answers. I have discussed the lift height and the lean a number of times.
Now the latest. After seeing your post I measured the beast again and had the following measuring from the bottom of the rim vertical to the bottom of the guard. Front. 810mm and the rear 840mm. Both sides were exactly the same so the truck was level. I also measured today and had the same values. However after travelling around a few hills and a few winding roads in the Adelaide hills area the lean has returned. Today pm measured
Front. Driver. 805. Passenger. 830
Rear. Driver. 830. Passenger. 855
The lean is really noticeable today. However I have got over it and it does not seem to affect the handling of the car. Maybe it levels out after it goes around a few corners when you are driving. I do think the lean has been more noticeable since the lift. But that is an impression and a number of my friends (including the wife) believe I am now more sensitive to the issue than I was before the lift.
Regarding the height of the lift it started at about 60mm at the rear and I now believe it is at about 50mm. However the highs of the rear seems to change. I tow. 2 tonne van and it seems to be higher some times after the van is removed from the tow hitch. It's as if the computer has not adjusted to the loss of load.
Banging has not seemed to be a problem. We have done the Gibb, telegraph track on Cape York, Gunbarrell, part of the Canning stock route, etc. however most of the k's have been done the black top.
After two plus years I am still happy with the lift and the service from Mannell motors. I am sure that the extra height was a reL bonus on the Cape York trip and the beach driving. I believe that the lift has raised the fuel consumption. I also have the steel bar that adds weight but I get around 12.5L/ 100k around the city and about 17 towing the van. The biggest factor in towing is the wind which can push the consumption up to 20L. I travel around 95Kph.
Hope this helps. Don't be afraid to PM me if you have any questions.
Cheers
Ken



Ken

[D4DDave Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4DDave]

Thanks Ken. Have learned quite a bit more about the suspension over the last week or so. Good to hear confirmation that Mannell's provided good service.

I can appreciate you being more sensitive to the lean after all the discussion on here and the number times you've measured it etc. 25mm worst case does seem like a lot though!

I wouldn't expect you would hear the banging that I (and I think Kadadaz) are referring to so much on the roads that you mention. It is a sound only experienced in the slowest/roughest of 4WD-ing conditions when the rear axle is at maximum articulation and lifting one wheel from the ground. I now believe the sound is the shock 'topping out'. This explains why it's more prevalent (in fact I've only ever noticed it) when the high ride setting is selected (as there will be less droop). So my main concern (if any) regarding the Mannell's lift now is that they don't replace the rear bags with longer bags. I expect this means they have to be more conservative in the extent to which they can fit longer travel rear shocks (to avoid over stretching the factory bags). This may mean the droop is less than the factory setup and thus whilst there is more clearance, the lifting of wheels (and the banging) when on the high ride setting may be more prevalent than with the factory setup. By contrast, solutions such as those by Cal Off Road do replace the rear bags with longer bags thus restoring more of the droop lost by the lift.

Cheers,

David.

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David,
I went with Airbagman extended aribags for 2" lift on my Grande and it states that the airbags are compatible with rear shocks up to 625mm extended. If you need some good pricing from Caloffroad, let me know. There's a group buy happening on another forum.

I'd also like to modify the Mk2 airbag spacers to include the new way Toyota is fixing the factory airbags down to the diff mounting. The spacer also corrects the angle of the airbags when it is lifted so that the airbag is straight in its normal raised height.

What you say is true. The shocks and swaybar will limit the travel and the amount of travel or droop will depend on what airbags you are running. the amount of droop will still be fine with the Bilstein BE5-A713 shocks. I have also avoided raising the rear suspension to high unless it is necessary and going at slow speeds to avoid the shocks topping out at speed.

[D4DDave Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4DDave]

Thanks Andrew.

Did you fit 2" longer airbags in addition to custom made airbag spacers of your own?

Cheers,

David.

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Thanks Andrew.

Did you fit 2" longer airbags in addition to custom made airbag spacers of your own?

Cheers,

David.

Yes I did.

[D4DDave Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4DDave]

Thanks Andrew. Was that just so you could fit extra long travel shocks (for extra long travel/droop), or given the 120 airbag's less robust lower mounting system was it for additional insurance against the bags popping out?

For a 2" lift on a 150 (where the bags bolt in at the bottom), would you suggest just saving the $$$ and keeping the factory bags and running your spacers with the same long travel replacement shocks I would have otherwise used with the 2" taller replacement bags?

Cheers,

David.

Do you have idea whether the Airbagman 2" that suit a 150 are just drop in replacements (i.e. utilise the bolt in arrangement at the bottom) or are they are generic fit that suits both 120 and 150 with just a locating peg?

Cheers,

David.

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Thanks Andrew. Was that just so you could fit extra long travel shocks (for extra long travel/droop), or given the 120 airbag's less robust lower mounting system was it for additional insurance against the bags popping out?

It was to prevent the bottom of the bag from popping out and to straighten the angle of the airbags.

For a 2" lift on a 150 (where the bags bolt in at the bottom), would you suggest just saving the $$$ and keeping the factory bags and running your spacers with the same long travel replacement shocks I would have otherwise used with the 2" taller replacement bags?

Many have lifted the Grande using just the factory airbags. Adding the spacer will restore the airbag back to its normal operating position and to prevent it over stretching. I would suggest keeping the factory airbags due to its "youth". A number of us had to go with the Airbagman airbags as the factory airbags were getting worn through the rubber due to age.

Do you have idea whether the Airbagman 2" that suit a 150 are just drop in replacements (i.e. utilise the bolt in arrangement at the bottom) or are they are generic fit that suits both 120 and 150 with just a locating peg?

This I'm not sure. I would think so as the catalogue shows a different part number (OA6013) for the Kakadu.

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Dave
Have you spoke to Darren at autocraft in Geelong. He seemed to have. Very good handle on the lift as per the kakadu. I would have a chat to him.
I measured my car again today and it was a dead level? Interesting. But as I said I'm now over it and don't notice it anymore.
I do believe that the KDSS does help with the corrugations so the advantages of it are worth the hassles


Ken

[D4DDave Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4DDave]

Thanks Ken. I haven't spoken to Darren. May do that but think I am almost there now in terms of working out what I'll do.

Oh yeah, KDSS definately better there than not!

Cheers,

David.

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

Stupid question but did you do all the mods to your car first? IE, Bull bar, Winch, Aux Battery, or after? all the extra weight affects the "lean" and can't be account for prior to a 2 inch lift.

[D4DDave Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4DDave]

Alexchatz,

I don't have a bar/winch, but dual battery, drawers etc. in first. I'd suggest it's best to do other mods first if practical as aside from the lean, then the spring rates (and possibly valving on the shocks) can chosen be appropriately.

Cheers,

David.

[Bawky Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bawky]

I have a Kakadu 2013 and love it. We are planning to do some outback adventures, Flinders Ranges, Simpson and other trips. I am just setting out on 50mm raised suspension, bull bar, 2nd battery, maybe winch, CB, Snorkel. Our ARB dealer does Kakadu upgrades and promises the vehicle will be level. I was wondering how the vehicle will handle afterwards. The dealer suggests Old Man Emu springs and shocks. My wife loves the comfort setting and responsive ride of the standard Toyota suspension. Will the vehicle handle like a truck afterwards or will it improve the responsiveness and shock absorbing ride?