150 Suspension measurements.

[mjrandom]

Just measured rear droop, 100mm average.

[lqqk]

I have spoken to my mechanic and he confirm it was on the lowest groove/setting.

The Prado ride is petty good. Like you I am concern with the amount of droop that i have, 40(about 2 inch) is not much but there nothing much that I can do about since it is already at the lowest groove.

This weekend I will be taking it on a track for test run.

[rwo]

arb deluxe bar
dual battery optima 31
winch

F 740 accessories as above
R 780

Bilstein with King spring 2 inch lift kit

F 840
R 840

Lift was in stall 2 days ago.

droop before F870 R885
droop after. F870 R900

Just wondering if the figures are too high

lqqk, I installed a similar set-up (same front spring rates with same accessories but without winch and mediums/firestone bags in the rear) as you. When it was first installed I had similar numbers (820mm in front and 845mm in rear) but now that it has been in for about 1000kms it has settled to about 50mm all round, although slightly higher in the rear probably due to the firestones. I installed front struts on middle grove but as I said, I still haven't put the winch in so may need to change to the top groove as it looks like it's starting the "nose down" stance already.

I haven't measured the front end droop yet (can't be stuffed pulling the jack out), but with the Bilstein/King setup I have a sneaking suspicion it is not very much.

My suspension will stay as is for now as I am pretty happy with the onroad performance and that is where it spends most of the time, but I think there is better kits (read: higher and more flexible) out there and will change it again sometime in the future.

I would be giving your setup a bit of time to settle before rushing back to your mechanic and changing the groove or you may find you are going back again a month later to get it raised back to where it was.

[mjrandom]

I don't have Bilsteins. I don't think 40mm is enough droop, what angle are the CVs/drive shafts on? Back end is not a problem though I would have thought more than 60 droop too, need to measure mine.

You also have to take into account ride comfort as well.

We did an interesting experiment at home last weekend, well my sons and a mate did. I was doing some wiring on his Challenger and Jayco and when the Mitsu was finished they all went and played on the little hill behind the house. With the polyairs pumped up to tow the van (18 psi I think he said) the Mitsu had very little droop and it chucked a wheel in the air (400 ~ 500mm) and only drove over with the use of the centre and rear diff lock. It has a 35mm lift from memory, doesn't do much off road so for stability with the van and clearance on beach tracks. My Prado can drive over the same place in 'going to the shops' mode without invoking the traction control Gods. All wheels on the ground. So too stiff a suspension limits flex as well as the rough ride and stress on the car. Oh and the Rodeo with a 50mm lift cannot get over it at all!

[lqqk]

Thank mjrandom for the info.

Front droop 880
rear droop 900

The lift is done last week, I will check with my mechanic about dropping to a lower groove on the Bilstein at the front. Did you go for the middle or lowest groove?

You rear and mine is about the same.

[mjrandom]

lqqk what is your droop at the front? The front end sounds way too high to me. I would not expect that you have much droop which can lead to topping out the front suspension.

I would imagine your front driveshafts are angled too high. Mine are virtually flat at the lift I have. Also how many ks has the suspension done? All suspensions settle over a few thousand km.

Do your Bilstein struts have the three circlip gooves cut in them? If so you might want to consider dropping the circlip to a lower groove to lower the front.

I should clarify too that the spacers are an integral part of the TJM Gold front strut and increase the length below the spring and are not spacers that sit on top of the strut between the body and the spring cap.

[lqqk]

Before the lift, I went up Mt Pinarbar on OE suspension and spring.

The whole front has drop and my bash plate got really bash.My clearance was way down, the Prado was constantly bottom out on the High Country track.

[lqqk]

What i mean by Droop is measurement when the vehicle is up on the hoist and the wheel is not under load. Maybe not the correct term.

Upgrade Suspension:

1X PAIR FRONT KING SPRING COILS: KTFR-101 HD
1X PAIR REAR KING SPRINGS COILS: KTRR-102 HD
1X PAIR FRONT BILSTEIN FRONT STRUTS: BE5-A712
1X PAIR REAR BILSTEIN REAR SHOCKS: BE5-A713
1 x Pair OME Stone Guard
No spacer used.
No Polyair Bag.

Front: ARB Deluxe Bar with T-max Winch and Optima D31 battery
In rear as per standard with tow-bar, cargo empty with 3 row seat still in.

Front Height 840
Rear Height 840

Tyre: Coopers AT3 265/65R17

Not sure why my setup is so much higher that yours 840 - 795 = 45 on the front.
The rear is petty much the same. 835 to my 840. but then I don't have poly bag.

It look petty high. Just concern if that is legal on the road.
Have not check the clearance from the sump yet.

[mjrandom]

Here's my data:

TJM XGS Gold fitted new, now 4,000km on.

Front struts 659GE188L, 32mm spacers.
Front springs 770FR88I

Rear shocks 650GE288L
Rear springs 770RR88I plus polyairs

Front height 795, rear 835 with 8psi in the polyairs.
Front droop 880, rear 935

This gives me 255mm under the sump running 275/65 17 Pirelli Scorpion ATR.

Setup:

TJM T3 front bar, Britax spots and ARB CKMTA12 compressor in vacant battery location.
Rear seats removed, NL52L fridge, 15mm ply base, AGM 120Ah auxiliary and charger in their place.

Measurements taken with full tanks less 100km.

[maxjj]

What do you mean by droop, how do you arrive at those droop numbers?

What stands out for me is rake, front should be a bit lower than rear. Something like 20-40 mm, I guess.

I fitted Bilsteins and dobinson springs, not the heavy duty ones. Front is 790mm and rear 835mm. Handling wise its pretty well balanced.

[lqqk]

arb deluxe bar
dual battery optima 31
winch

F 740 accessories as above
R 780

Bilstein with King spring 2 inch lift kit

F 840
R 840

Lift was in stall 2 days ago.

droop before F870 R885
droop after. F870 R900

Just wondering if the figures are too high

[matt150]

Like this is the best way for a GXL with 17inch rims...

[maxjj]

Similar to the 120 Suspension measurement, thought we should start one for 150`s.

I notice that measurements are from the bottom lip of the rim of the wheel through the centre of wheel to the guard, which is a good measurement as long as we are talking the same wheels.

I think more accurate would be too measure from centre of wheel to the guard or just deduct wheel radius; ie half the distance when measuring from rim to rim. Just allows for people that have fitted different diameter wheels.
It would be nice to get consistent results with the same amount of fuel onboard, but that is a bit too much to ask, mine are with around 3/4 off a tank full.

ie front measure for my 150 standard when new was about 76.5cm from bottom rim or 53cm measured form centre and rear 78.5cm or 55cm.

Would like a number of measurement from standard right through to 150`s that have had accessories and also various springs and shocks fitted.

Left and right measurements have typically been within 5mm so I haven`t bothered with listing both, just averaged them

F 76.5 ( 53 ) new, no accessories all standard.
R 78.5 ( 55 )

F 76 ( 52.5 ) with dual battery ~30kg and ~ 30kg of Hayman reese towbar and 15000km.
R 78 ( 54.5 )