150 Suspension measurements.

[rob_macca67]

Mark... We had a similar lovells setup to u for our last years desert trip and we were fully loaded (2 adults/3 kids) and when we got back I was disappointed to find that the Front & Rear suspension had dropped a far bit. In hindsight, I should have fitted Airbags to the rear to help save the rear coils a bit..... I've since changed the coils to a HD Front/Rears (different brand) and they handle brilliantly on our last trip. the unloaded ride is maybe a little bit harsher I suppose but the missus hasn't complain yet so it can't be too much of a difference than b4......

We have a Steel bar (+ dual battery) at that time and one thing I noticed with some of the outback roads in that there can be a build up of rocks/stones, etc in the middle part of the road. Some of these rocks/stones can get a little big and this is where the lack of clearance at the front can be a problem.... made sure u have a GOOD bashplate as this will help protect the underneath of your car from any of those rocks/stones build up in the middle part of the road.....

Definitely Rob!
Interested to see where they are after a good trip myself.
Have been over Barrington and the Brindabellas a few times since having them installed and they're still the same as they were after settling.
Am going across the Savannah Way and the Simpson next winter so will measure before and after and post back.
I suspect things will drop. If they do excessively I'll be swapping the Lovells for something else. I may end up with airbags before going though. Depends how it sits fully packed. Had a good talk with Barry from Toperformance who really doesn't like lifting IFS at all. So if it remains close to where it is I'll be happy.

Not touching the Konis though. Went over Barrington with my brother and his OME where much hotter than my Konis.

[mjrandom]

Looks like the 25mm spacer to me, same as Hutch has. The D4D is heavier than the V6.

Your spacer is the gold coloured ring.

[SuperDavid]

The spacer looks like this.


It is the silver ring above tje xgs sticker, remember if u go from the 10mm spacer to 20mm it will actually lift 20mm? If u omly have 10mm spacer get 20mm put in and all should be good.

Hutch- Prado 150 with some TJM Kit.

Ok so if thats what it looks like with a spacer, am I dreaming when I dont think I'm seeing a spacer on mine?


I have contacted Darren at tjm Brendale and I've given him photos and the suspension installation form with part numbers to look at. He said he'd help me out with some advice once he has all the info. but if what I'm seeing or not seeing is correct I dont actually think they have put a spacer in!

[Hutch]

The spacer looks like this.


It is the silver ring above tje xgs sticker, remember if u go from the 10mm spacer to 20mm it will actually lift 20mm? If u omly have 10mm spacer get 20mm put in and all should be good.

Hutch- Prado 150 with some TJM Kit.

[SuperDavid]

Actually looking at the suspension installation form. They say i'm sitting at 770mm.
Its just a lead deep cycle I've got.
I guess the difference is in the extra 20kg and 32mm spacer you have compared to my 10?
So now I dont know what to do. They said they didnt want to put in extra spacers because it would negatively effect the droop.
My other thought is maybe they should have put in heavier springs. Just the weight of the bar alone puts me 15kg of the 50kg rating of the springs I have.
Might give Darren a call and see what he can tell me

[mjrandom]

Those are the same springs as I run. T3 bar, Britax spotlights, twin head compressor, no dual battery and no winch. 32mm of spacers. T13 would be a few kg heavier than the T3 and the ARB compressor is 9kg plus a couple of pieces of 4mm plate for mount. Guess you have about 20kg more weight than me unless it is an AGM battery which would be another 10 or 15kg. The standard spacer is only 10mm from memory. Be careful about adding a spacer above the strut assembly as I believe it is illegal in Queensland.

[SuperDavid]

The spring part number I have in the front is 770FR88IT, can anyone confirm that is the right spring for the T13 bullbar with dual batteries and spotties?

Just did a quick google of that part number and its rated for 50kg and 45mm lift.
Surely the bullbar and dual batteries are more than 50kg??

[SuperDavid]

I'm starting to wonder if I needed a heavier spring in the front then.

I'm not sure of the size of the spacer. When I asked about having the spacer put in the guy said its just the standard one that comes with the kit and would give between 15 and 20mm lift. I took the car back after 1000km so they can check everything and put in the spacer, and the guy said they pulled apart the strut and the spacer fell out. He said they didn't realise Their fitter had already put it in the first time around. The more I think about this the more I think they dont know what they are doing.

[Hutch]

David, what size spacers are in their now. A good example is Brains who more stuff on his car than the pope mobile and it sits at good height and is fairly level and he rums TJM all round. It really is how it is set up.

[AJ120]

I don't understand what is happening with your front suspension. Hutch is spot on. I am sitting at 795 with 90mm droop. You should have similar droop at your current measurement. Increasing the static height will reduce droop with a normal suspension set up but should not be affected by increasing the spacer stack on a TJM suspension because effectively this is increasing the length of the lower leg and not compressing the spring.

That doesn't seem quite right to me. if I understand it correctly the spacers go under the lower spring seat, raising the spring and therefore giving it more compression. I did a similar thing on my Old Man Emu struts on my 120, it will reduce droop by the same measurement as the spacer, lift will increase by around twice the size of the spacer. That's what happened with mine anyway.

I make a strut top spacer that will give you an extra 12mm of lift without reducing droop, have a look here http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...-Strut-spacers if you don't have any luck sorting things out another way.

For what its worth my 120 runs at 800mm and has 95mm droop.

Cheers Andrew

[blowie]

Would be interested to hear what the measurements are after 12mths or so and with some touring type trips where u have been fully loaded and have driven on some corrugations, etc.....


Would be good to hear whether the measurements remain the same or not......


rob

Definitely Rob!
Interested to see where they are after a good trip myself.
Have been over Barrington and the Brindabellas a few times since having them installed and they're still the same as they were after settling.
Am going across the Savannah Way and the Simpson next winter so will measure before and after and post back.
I suspect things will drop. If they do excessively I'll be swapping the Lovells for something else. I may end up with airbags before going though. Depends how it sits fully packed. Had a good talk with Barry from Toperformance who really doesn't like lifting IFS at all. So if it remains close to where it is I'll be happy.

Not touching the Konis though. Went over Barrington with my brother and his OME where much hotter than my Konis.

[mjrandom]

Front should he around 790-795.

they said they were working with the tjm guys from brisbane...over the phone I assume, or maybe they came to perth? ..anyway they said they weren't happy to put a second spacer in after consulting with the guys from brisbane and since the droop is 75. He said 75 is about where it should be.
If they put in another spacer do I loose droop?
I didn't really fight them on it because I'm not a suspension expert.
Should I call them up and insist on the second spacer to bring it to 790-795?

I don't understand what is happening with your front suspension. Hutch is spot on. I am sitting at 795 with 90mm droop. You should have similar droop at your current measurement. Increasing the static height will reduce droop with a normal suspension set up but should not be affected by increasing the spacer stack on a TJM suspension because effectively this is increasing the length of the lower leg and not compressing the spring. I would drive around for a couple of km and then park on a flat level surface, measure the static height and then jack up both sides and measure again to check the droop. Post the results.

The other thing I would suggest is to ring Darren at TJM Brendale, I know he is not your dealer but he knows his stuff.

[rob_macca67]

Would be interested to hear what the measurements are after 12mths or so and with some touring type trips where u have been fully loaded and have driven on some corrugations, etc.....


Would be good to hear whether the measurements remain the same or not......


rob

Front: Koni HT RAID 88-1712, Lovells TFR-118HD
Rear: Koni HT RAID 90-5404LR, Lovells TRR-119


Before (140,000kms standard suspension):

Front Left: 735mm
Front Right: 745mm
Rear Left: 780mm
Rear Right: 775mm


After:

Front Left: 780mm (45mm)
Front Right: 780mm (35mm)
Rear Left: 823mm (43mm)
Rear Right: 823mm (48mm)

Not quite the 2" lift I was after but the ride is FANTASTIC.
Thought the front springs were going to be too heavy (924 lb/in) but aren't at all.

[SuperDavid]

There really is only one tjm in perth. Wonder if I should contact a tjm in a different state to advise me. Can anyone recommend one?