G'day Guys,
Sorry for the big write write up but it really is starting to become frustrating to deal with considering the high amount of kms i do (800-1000 country kms a week). I am hoping for some advice from other fellow 150 owners or industry experts out there who can speak from FIRST HAND experience with their suspension, not just from what they've heard and not those who drive on a highway or city roads all day. It is a completely different experience in the bush. When I go back to sydney, the roads are good in comparison and i have no complaints!
I am lucky to be able to take my Prado off road for at least 20 km's every day to get to my property, on the way i drive some very crappy roads with a lot of pot holes and uneven surfaces. This provides a good testing ground for any mods I do in between any of the frequent camping trips. The frustrating thing is, if it doesn't feel right you will notice it everytime you hit the dirt or a rough road and it is starting to do my head in and has actually started to result in serious neck problems
I absolutely love the prado but unfortunately my suspension is letting me down. When I had my ultimate suspension 2" lift installed everything felt OK at first. Since completing my recent flinders and simpson trip it all seems to have gradually got worse and rides rough and very twitchy on the road - every bump on the road you will feel, the seats are always shaking and the tail gating rattling (is that normal for the seats and tailgate?)... yet it's also so bouncy and soft in the rear when going over a speed bump or cornerning. It's like two extremes.
Now I have spoken to ultimate, as the adjustment knobs all got hacked off on the trip, so i couldn't actually adjust them when i was in the dunes. However when I did the simpson, it was literally bucking up and down the whole time - my mates couldn't believe how bad it was. I am wondering if they are potentially fried from this? The bloke at ultimate said its most likely the tyre pressures or not enough air in the airbags. I don't agree, as I had hardly any weight in the rear and found it WORSE when I put air in the rear. I won't go into any further details of the phone conversation in respect for the company.
Does anyone do any similar driving to myself? If so, how do you find your suspension? What have you got? I am at the point where i will pay whatever amount to achieve a comfortable and well performing setup. Ultimate are taking a look at it for the 3rd time in 4 months which is very frustrating when it takes me 8 hours of driving return to take the vehicle there.
Suspension Components
Front: Aussie Ryder Twin Tube gas struts & HD Coils (note I only have a bullbar, not extra weight e.g. winch)
Rear: Adjustable Aussie Ryder Foam Cell shocks & MD Coils
Airbags: Firestone Coilrite Airbags (Running 6 psi)
Tyres: Cooper ST MAXX (35 PSI)
As you can see, i have lowered the pressures to fairly reasonable levels to provide extra ride comfort... still the problem exists unfortunately.
Look forward to hearing peoples opinions, otherwise I hope you found my story interesting
Thanks in advance...
Matt
Sorry for the big write write up but it really is starting to become frustrating to deal with considering the high amount of kms i do (800-1000 country kms a week). I am hoping for some advice from other fellow 150 owners or industry experts out there who can speak from FIRST HAND experience with their suspension, not just from what they've heard and not those who drive on a highway or city roads all day. It is a completely different experience in the bush. When I go back to sydney, the roads are good in comparison and i have no complaints!
I am lucky to be able to take my Prado off road for at least 20 km's every day to get to my property, on the way i drive some very crappy roads with a lot of pot holes and uneven surfaces. This provides a good testing ground for any mods I do in between any of the frequent camping trips. The frustrating thing is, if it doesn't feel right you will notice it everytime you hit the dirt or a rough road and it is starting to do my head in and has actually started to result in serious neck problems
I absolutely love the prado but unfortunately my suspension is letting me down. When I had my ultimate suspension 2" lift installed everything felt OK at first. Since completing my recent flinders and simpson trip it all seems to have gradually got worse and rides rough and very twitchy on the road - every bump on the road you will feel, the seats are always shaking and the tail gating rattling (is that normal for the seats and tailgate?)... yet it's also so bouncy and soft in the rear when going over a speed bump or cornerning. It's like two extremes.
Now I have spoken to ultimate, as the adjustment knobs all got hacked off on the trip, so i couldn't actually adjust them when i was in the dunes. However when I did the simpson, it was literally bucking up and down the whole time - my mates couldn't believe how bad it was. I am wondering if they are potentially fried from this? The bloke at ultimate said its most likely the tyre pressures or not enough air in the airbags. I don't agree, as I had hardly any weight in the rear and found it WORSE when I put air in the rear. I won't go into any further details of the phone conversation in respect for the company.
Does anyone do any similar driving to myself? If so, how do you find your suspension? What have you got? I am at the point where i will pay whatever amount to achieve a comfortable and well performing setup. Ultimate are taking a look at it for the 3rd time in 4 months which is very frustrating when it takes me 8 hours of driving return to take the vehicle there.
Suspension Components
Front: Aussie Ryder Twin Tube gas struts & HD Coils (note I only have a bullbar, not extra weight e.g. winch)
Rear: Adjustable Aussie Ryder Foam Cell shocks & MD Coils
Airbags: Firestone Coilrite Airbags (Running 6 psi)
Tyres: Cooper ST MAXX (35 PSI)
As you can see, i have lowered the pressures to fairly reasonable levels to provide extra ride comfort... still the problem exists unfortunately.
Look forward to hearing peoples opinions, otherwise I hope you found my story interesting
Thanks in advance...
Matt
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