How big a difference will I notice with new suspension

[REN470 Member Find all posts View Profile Close REN470]

Hi All,


Got my suspension done yesterday by ARB Moorebank and so far really happy. Will see this weekend when I go on a bigger drive and over Christmas.


Thanks for the feedback, helped me make up my mind.

By the way ARB were great, good guys, good service and so far good workmanship.

Cheers

[brogers Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close brogers]

Didn't want to start a new thread, so I'll ask here.
I'm also trying to justify a suspension upgrade to my 150 GXL (2010 D4D) prior to a possible trip to the rock next year. The car has done 70,00kms, how long would I expect the factory shocks/springs to last before an essential replacement? (Will get an ARB bullbar if the trip goes ahead)

Honestly, I would do a suspension upgrade...you WILL notice the difference, and if you do a 40mm lift it will bemuch better off road, and better on road.... Firstly, the original suspension is designed for "comfort" from the outset (thus relatively soft), and depending on what loads you carry and where you drive, at 70,000km the original suspension will be getting tired.

I did the same with my 2010 150, and got good use from the original suspension, but once I upgraded the suspension I regretted not doing it sooner. I went to John Zordo at upper Kedron (Zordo's Suspension) and I have fitted Dobinson spring and shocks, with a 40mm suspension lift...and I love it, it is better on road and off road, and if I were you I would definately upgrade my suspension. Let us know how you go. Recently I also installed rear airbags in the coil;s, as I now tow a 2.5 tonne boat, and so when towing I add 20psi before attaching teh boat, else have 5psi when unloaded, so the unloaded handeling is still good, and the loaded ride is level (with just over 200kg of downforce plus any equipment in teh rear of the prado when towing the boat..If you are not towing a heavy van or boat you wont need the rear suspension aibags...a suspension upgrade/life will be more than sufficient IMO

[Black Mamba 2014 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Black Mamba 2014]

I don't know about 'significant improvement'. I got my standard suspension recently replaced (50 mm Bilstein/Kings combo) yesterday, I found that it gave it a softer feel to the handling. Their was an improvement but it's not an improvement in regards to what other people thinks it's cut out to be. Once again I had to change my driving style (on road) to suit the new suspension because it sits up 2 inches higher and it still has that body roll around the corners. I believe it will be a bit better off road because it will give me more ground clearance but that said GC does not come from suspension it comes from the increase of the tyres.

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Lifting the suspension alone will increase ground clearance, improved entry, departure and ramp over angles. With the IFS it also raises the front diff giving more ground clearance. Rear diff clearance can only be increased with bigger tyres.

Cheers Andrew

[brogers Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close brogers]

I don't know about 'significant improvement'. I got my standard suspension recently replaced (50 mm Bilstein/Kings combo) yesterday, I found that it gave it a softer feel to the handling. Their was an improvement but it's not an improvement in regards to what other people thinks it's cut out to be. Once again I had to change my driving style (on road) to suit the new suspension because it sits up 2 inches higher and it still has that body roll around the corners. I believe it will be a bit better off road because it will give me more ground clearance but that said GC does not come from suspension it comes from the increase of the tyres.

I changed out my suspension after doing over 80,000km on the original standard suspension, and for me at least, honestly, the new suspension was a significant improvement. It now handles much better with less body roll on corners and less "nose diving" during braking, an the off road clearance improvement is definatly an improvement. So I guess it depends what you are comparing, and where you drive ...eg newer or older stock suspension vs softer or harder repalcement lifted suspension.....The off road drivability for me was indeed much better. Rutted sandy tracks are now cleared much easier, without scooping up sand into underbody guards anywhere near as much. Don't underestimate the benefit of a 50mm suspension lift. Yes tyres are a huge part of the off road driveability yes indeed, but the suspension lift is also very very beneficial, and you can tell the difference in ground clearance immediatly if you get under the car before and after the lift. The improvement in clearance (not under the diff, but the body) is very noticeable. The side steps are higher and its easier to work under the car and its noticable off road with less bottoming or scraping on body underguards etc..

A 50mm lift doesn't sound like much but it has made a big difference with the driving I do. Honestly, for me, and my set up, the suspension repalcement and lift was an improvemnet all around, and my ccar handles better on road and cornering since the lift, so I am disaapointed for you that your found you had to cange your driving style on road after a lift. For me I recon its definately a modification well worth doing...if you are going on beaches, off road, over dirt, across the desert, and even highway driving, I found a definate improvement over replacing "not new" stock suspension. The only change I have made since the suspension left is air bags in the rear coils, as we now tow a 2.5 tonne (almost exactly 2.5tonne) boat on occasions, so I put 20psi-25psi in the rear airbags when towing the boat, else I have 5psi in the airbags for normal driving. I also put 10-15psi in the airbags when going off road or up the bach with a car full of people.

[Black Mamba 2014 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Black Mamba 2014]

Yes... theirs improvement, on/off road capabilities times by two inches and a better rebound rate.

I replaced my standard suspension after 16000 km's, and this is probably the reason why I didn't noticed the so called significant improvement that everyone's been talking about, if I had increased the tyre size at the same time of my suspension upgrade then their would have been a significant improvement. I was hoping to turn my beast into one of the Zubr class LCAC from all that suspension upgrade hyped.

You have to remember that the standard suspension is made to suit a vehicle with no accessories fitted to that vehicle. Once you start adding after market/genuine parts/accessories, vehicle dynamics will change hence one of the reason why we should look at upgrading our suspension to accommodate for the change.

You changed your standard suspension after doing over 80000 km's, off course you will noticed a major changed to your vehicle. If you compare a brand new Prado with a standard suspension to one with an after market two inch lift upgrade, you will only notice a minor improvement and you will mainly notice this off road (by two inches).


'Gotta luv dat Prado'

[brogers Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close brogers]

Oky Doky Mamba, but maybe there is something not quite right with your setup from what I undersand fom what you ve written, 'with having to change your driving style due to increased body roll afteryour 2inch lift... I am not sure if I have read where anyone else has had that experience, especially after a bilstein/king suspesion lift. Perhaps its worth investigating further, to check that the correct parts were installed. So, I say again, a suspensin lift was a significant improvemnt for me indeed, for the better, with definately no increase in body roll, in fact far less body roll, even compared to when the car was brand new. QED.

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

I agree with brogers the stock suspension is under damped soggy rubbish and any suspension from a reputable supplier will achieve a lift, more carrying capacity and better control without any compromise in ride.

[reggie426 Member Find all posts View Profile Close reggie426]

Had mine replaced last month with Dobinsons/Bilsteins and they are brilliant, less bodyroll and less nose diving when braking. Still soft enough but I'm still rolling around on Grandtreks. Just got back from a north trip with a lot of corrugated gravel roads and soft beaches, performed really well, better than the stock suspension which only had 40,000kms on it.

Black Mamba in your case either they've either fitted poor components to your car or you were expecting stiff touring car like handling, your car should be better in all situations now.

[Black Mamba 2014 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Black Mamba 2014]

Nah... they have done an awesome job, it looks great.

I was just expecting more from an after market suspension in regards to all the reviews/feedback that I have been reading relating to aftermarket suspension. I've done about 2400 km's on my new Bilstein/Kings suspension kit and I still wouldn't use the term 'significant improvement'.

You have to remember that the standard suspension is made to suit a vehicle with no accessories fitted to that vehicle. Once you start adding after market/genuine parts/accessories, vehicle dynamics will change hence one of the reason why we should look at upgrading our suspension to accommodate for that change.

As per my previous reply:-
• new vehicle with no accessories = little to no difference or you could tell mates your beast is now a hovercraft because you spent a fortune on a new suspension in order to justify whether or not money well spent.
• newish vehicle (under 20k) with accessories eg. bull bar and steps = minor improvement just to accommodate for the change, it now has better clearance/less body roll/less nose dive when braking and all this will depend on the speed that you are doing.


'Gotta luv dat Prado'

[REN470 Member Find all posts View Profile Close REN470]

Hi All,

Well, I just did 1200 kms in the last couple of days on highways, secondary roads, dirt roads and tracks with the new suspension and it is noticeably better. It is much more stable at highway speeds and just feels better to drive everywhere, change of direction is improved and I'm more confident at speed. My wife has an AMG, does it drive like that - no, but it goes places hers will never go and I now really enjoy driving it again so for me money well spent.


Cheers

[Freebeer Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Freebeer]

Hey REN470,


Keep in mind one of the biggest culprits with front end nose diving is soft factory tyres (not sure what tyres you have). When you brake hard on the front, the very stiff front coils (typically 600lb/in or more) take some of the force, but a lot can be directed through the tyres, and soft tyres can bag out a lot under heavy braking with a heavy front end.

All terrain and mud tyres have much, much stiffer sidewalls in them, and eliminate a lot of front end diving.

Mark

Great info... thanks