150 Suspension measurements.

[brock05]

Anyone used the front strut blocks you can get off ebay to level out the front and rear heights ?? I'm waiting on my new 2013 GXL to arrive with an arb deluxe bar and once it settles down a bit I was thinking of adding the spacer/block to the front , was thinking along the lines that its all new suspension and I don't have any trips planned for a wile ??
Any comments would be great

Cheers

I would be driving the vehicle first. I didn't intend to change my suspension either but whilst the standard ride comfort is excellent the poor handling, heavy nose diving under braking and just generally handling like a pillow on wheels is well worth looking at a change. If your not after a lift I would still seriously look at atleast changing your springs although not sure how the standard shocks/struts would handle a higher spring rate. It is certainly a pandora's box, I have been researching suspension for a couple of months and don't feel any closer to making a decision.

Cheers
Brad

[fido666]

Anyone used the front strut blocks you can get off ebay to level out the front and rear heights ??

No but advice I have received when looking into beefing up my front suspension is that you may need to fit more heavy duty bump stops if you are just adding strut spacers

[kayde]

Anyone used the front strut blocks you can get off ebay to level out the front and rear heights ?? I'm waiting on my new 2013 GXL to arrive with an arb deluxe bar and once it settles down a bit I was thinking of adding the spacer/block to the front , was thinking along the lines that its all new suspension and I don't have any trips planned for a wile ??
Any comments would be great

Cheers

[Hutch]

Good stuff Brogers, I have never dealt with Zordo's personally but have recommended him to a few people all of them have been happy...

[brogers]

Prado 2010 GXL D4D

Original suspension measurements
Front: 750mm both sides
Rear 780mm both sides

Modified measurements
Front: With Dobinson C59350 springs with Lovell shocks: 805mm (55mm lift) when newly installed without nudge bar. With nudge bar intslled, and a few thousand km: now 795mm both sides (45mm lift), good suspension feel up front.
Rear: With Dobinson C59327 springs and Lovell shocks: 840mm (60mm lift) when newly installed, car unloaded, but for me, the rear was way too hard, even speed bumps taken slowly were almost intolerably hard for me & passengers.
Rear: With Dobinson C59325 springs and Lovell shocks: 830mm (50mm lift) after 500km off road, with full fuel, alloy luggage rack, but essentially unloaded, and the rear suspension is much less harsh with the softer springs, and it takes speed bumps/corrugations nicely. Phew!

John Zordo was excellent to deal with, and swapped out the rear springs (went from C59327 to the C59325 rear springs) without hesitation. The C59327 springs for the rear are intended for a constant load of 100-300kg, and so in hindsight it wasn't surpising that it was very hard in the rear end when unloaded, but it all depends on what you carry, what you tow, and what driving you do, how much unloaded driving you do etc. I understand that some people have found the C59327 Dobinson rear springs very good for their particular set up. For me the C59327 Dobinson rear springs would have been too harsh for on road driving, and were too hard when basically unloaded off road. Also, the rear lift would have likely remained too high above original (greater than 50mm) when unloaded (I wanted a maximum lift of 50mm to intentionally remain within the legal modification height limit).

The Prado is now is a very different vehicle. The height clearance doesn't sound much, but 50mm makes a big difference on the beach and on the tracks, a very big difference, and the ride now feels much more stable when driving, cornering and braking. I have also lowered the tyre pressures a bit from the previously pressure I used (40psi on highway) down to 38psi (on highway), and the ride is very very good. New A/T tyres are being fitted shortly and then some big trips out west and up north and along beach coming up soon.

Thanks John at Zordo's Suspension, it was a pleasure to deal with you.

[rob_macca67]

How does the front end feel with those springs?

If you're referring to what I have..... They seem fine. I previous had Lovell H/D in the front but I found them to sag too much, replacing them with H/D Dobinsions I expect the same....

People tend to forget that what's rough ride for one person may be OK for another and visa-versa. I don't think the ride is much different from previously. It might be a little rougher in the rear, but it gots no weight in the rear either but its OK. I haven't heard the 3 kids complaining yet. I sure they would if it was too rough.
Our car seems to ride OK for us but the real test will be when we head off soon to the outback. The roads out there will give it a good workout and help settle them in....

[maxjj]

How does the front end feel with those springs?

[maxjj]

not surprised, I think with the C59-325 is about at the upper end of what I would call ok, when driving unloaded. But that is with Bilsteins and the D695 tyres, not sure how they compare to other shock/tyre combinations. When loaded, I got 180-200kg on the towball, plus 30kg for tow bar, fridge full of beer, plus full fuel, kids and gear, so we are pretty well loaded. With weight distribution hitch it tows really good, the springs and shock work nicely. But genuinely wouldn`t want it heavier.
During the easter school holidays, did the beach drive in SA from Beachport to Robe and , gee the Prado is good in sand. Even the real soft stuff that easily gets you bogged.

I got a Liberty with heavier springs, swaybars and Bilsteins, it has 225 wide sticky tyres, is nicely balanced and cornering is about how many g forces you want to experience, I don`t need that in a Prado.

[brogers]

not sure I would be comfortable with the front being so high up, I drove mine with original suspension and some weight in the back. The front and rear height would have been similar and the increase in understeer and front rear balance was disconcerting when cornering.
I am surprised that the suspension fitters and or suppliers don`t make a point of having some rake in the car. I don`t expect the 2.3t Prado to handle, but now having around 30-40mm rake compared to the 20mm the car had originally is noticeable.

But then I couldn`t live with the original tyres it came with either, its nice to feel some sort of control and feedback when driving a car.
I am also not a fan of fitting too heavy a spring, it needs to be enough to carry the weight of the car, then use shock absorbers to control it. Too hard a springs don`t help you with grip, comfort/ride, or handling, certainly not on the bush tracks.

I have got the normal 45mm lift Dobinson C59-325 in the rear ( supposedly 30% heavier than oem ), that is more than enough even when towing my 2140kg tare van. Naturally the car and van is loaded when we go away.
Actually, I am putting it out there, I find it hard to imagine that any firmer spring is required for the rear, but I am only familiar with my car. Based on that I would think that too justify anything heavier springs you would be exceeding the vehicle carrying capacity and not just be a little bit , by a lot.

Hi MAXJJ,

I have a 150 GXL D4D, and we pput Dobinson C59350 springs up front, with Lovell Long Travel shocks and its fine, with nudge bar and second battery, I have 50mm lift at the moment, and that will likely settle a bit more.

However I got C59327 springs in the back, thinking that would be ok when I was loaded and towing my camper and boat etc...but these springs are killing my back when the car is unloaded, they are way to hard and too high (70mm over standard) when just driving about virtually unladen. I made a mistake with getting the C59327 springs, which are designed to have a constant load of up to 300kg...I know why now...and after speaking to the installer and with Dobinsons we are going to swap out the C59327 springs and replace them with the C59325 springs...oh my aching back. The car leaps over speed bumps at slow speed when unloaded...lijke the springs are solidf granite...Did I say it hurts my back...arghhhh. But boy, do we enjoy the handling and the clearance. Up the beach today we didn't even bottom out once, and never looked like getting bogged, and now I can almost walk under the car to clean it or change the oil...the next 4WD I get I am installing a suspension lift on teh first day I get it...it wasn't a real 4wd before the lift, now its definately much better, and with the correct spirngs for my load, I am sure it will be better.

[maxjj]

not sure I would be comfortable with the front being so high up, I drove mine with original suspension and some weight in the back. The front and rear height would have been similar and the increase in understeer and front rear balance was disconcerting when cornering.
I am surprised that the suspension fitters and or suppliers don`t make a point of having some rake in the car. I don`t expect the 2.3t Prado to handle, but now having around 30-40mm rake compared to the 20mm the car had originally is noticeable.

But then I couldn`t live with the original tyres it came with either, its nice to feel some sort of control and feedback when driving a car.
I am also not a fan of fitting too heavy a spring, it needs to be enough to carry the weight of the car, then use shock absorbers to control it. Too hard a springs don`t help you with grip, comfort/ride, or handling, certainly not on the bush tracks.

I have got the normal 45mm lift Dobinson C59-325 in the rear ( supposedly 30% heavier than oem ), that is more than enough even when towing my 2140kg tare van. Naturally the car and van is loaded when we go away.
Actually, I am putting it out there, I find it hard to imagine that any firmer spring is required for the rear, but I am only familiar with my car. Based on that I would think that too justify anything heavier springs you would be exceeding the vehicle carrying capacity and not just be a little bit , by a lot.

[mjrandom]

I'll re-install the 4rd row of seats back in which add a bit of weight too.

You must have bought the extra long wheelbase model!

You guys with the front higher than 800mm need to keep an eye on tyre wear and CV boots.

[rob_macca67]

The height in front bothers me. The mechanics comment about zero caster adjustment is not good. I had the same issue with my 120 and it took a steel bar, twin batteries and a winch to tame the wear on the LHF tyre.

Keep an eye on it as the front springs settle down..

Yeah..... I'm betting the springs will settle down a bit as they usually do and expecting it to drop 10mm or so, then add to the weight over the front the dual battery as well when I get around to buying it and I reckon it will be all ok.....

Oh.... I forgot to mention..... There's no weight in the rear ATM as I've removed the 3rd row of seats in prep for me building a storage system in the rear. Once done, and after our mid-year touring trip, I'll re-install the 4rd row of seats back in which add a bit of weight too.

[matt150]

The height in front bothers me. The mechanics comment about zero caster adjustment is not good. I had the same issue with my 120 and it took a steel bar, twin batteries and a winch to tame the wear on the LHF tyre.

Keep an eye on it as the front springs settle down..

[Hutch]

That is some serious lift...


Hutch- 2012 Prado 150, some TJM Kit.

[rob_macca67]

Just replaced the Lovell coils with Dobinson H/D Front and Rear Coils on the Prado.


Front: before - 795mm // After - 830mm (+35mm)
Rear before - 820mm // After - 860mm (+40mm)
These heights are with the 3rd row seats removed (building storage system ATM + with a FULL Fuel Tanks)
(Don't know the Droop at this point in time)


My suspension bloke also indicated that the car is at it's maximum height due to no castor adjustment left. He said it has zero castor at the moment. He said he can compensate for it but at the price of tyre wear.... It seemed to drive well on the way home so time will tell.