PLAYDOH'S 120 D4D build up

[PLAYDOH Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close PLAYDOH]

Hey Steptoe

I'm finding the Dobinsons to be really good, I love the ride in the Prado, and its certainly not harsh. When I made my decision it was based off the suspension database on here, they way I read it if you went with the King Springs you would be going a heavier coil rate so potentially a harder coil and harder ride with them. I don't plan on ever loading up my Prado with a lot of gear and I found I didn't lose any height with standard suspension and the car loaded up for trips, so I went with a coil rate that was as close as I could get to standard which provided me with a lift and more control on corrugations. The only thing I would be considering is what sort of gear you plan on running, the only thing I will change is an ARB bar and an extra battery. The good thing with the front Bilstein Struts is they can be adjusted to level out the Prado if I lose height once the new bar is eventually put on this year. I haven't done a measure since to see if they have settled a little lower but I'll get out and take some measurement and post up.

Here are the part numbers I went with:
Dobinson C59-302 for the front 617 lb/in compared to the KTFR-101H king which is 660 lb/in
Dobinson C59-325 up back, which was slightly softer coil rate than the factory rear.


link to the Coil and Strut database, was very helpful when I was making my decisions.
http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...sion-Database&

The rear does more of the work when it comes to flex, but it is expected with IFS up front, running really heavy coils up front won't help the cause either. I'm also running Superior rear control arms.


I've seen some really thick coils mounted up the front on some Prado's

[Steptoe Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steptoe]

Fantastic feedback Playdoh, just what I was hoping to hear. I see it mentioned that you have custom length Billies, where did you get them from and are the readily available?

Would be great if you could post your suspension measurements as I see the C59-300, C59-302 and C59-314 all have the same spring rate, just each is 10mm progresively longer. I don't have a second battery and probably won't get one as I already have 2 in the camper but I do have a ARB deluxe winch bar so I guess at this stage my front end is a bit heavier than yours. I want as much lift as possible, but don't want to go too high and end up with CV problems!!

I think the C59-325 in th rear may also be the go for me as I do spend a fair bit of time running around with nothing in the back, but when I go away I have the Camper on the back and 5 kids on board so I have airbags to assist then and hopefully have a nice ride around town. From what I can see the C59-325 is 7lb heavier than the standard 120 springs.

And lastly do you think the amount of rear end flex you have is due to the Superior arms or the longer Billies?

[PLAYDOH Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close PLAYDOH]

I see it mentioned that you have custom length Billies, where did you get them from and are the readily available?

I had my suspension fitted at a specialist Suspension shop just out of Darwin in the N.T who don't do just one suspension brand. I was also lucky enough to have a long time friend working their who also is very clued up on suspension, and also clued up on suspension in Prado's (8608 member on here). So I had been talking to him about setups for a while before I had made my decision. Once I knew what coils I wanted, and they said they would match them up with a set of Bilsteins that would do the job, so I'm sure they are available. Maybe a PM to 8608(Steve) if you wanted to know.

Would be great if you could post your suspension measurements as I see the C59-300, C59-302 and C59-314 all have the same spring rate, just each is 10mm progresively longer.

Remember the front can be adjusted up if the coil hasn't given you all the lift you need. I told the guys at the shop I wanted to go about 2" of lift and either side of that be above or below was fine. I'm measuring 790mm from the bottom of the rim to the top of the guard at the front, and 810mm at the back. I gained 40mm from standard measurements I had recorded on my phone. I also remembered they put in a small 10 or 15mm coil spacer in the rear. I think this was just in case the rear rates where to soft and sagged to much, but it seems I've probably only lost 5mm in sag on the back at the most.

I want as much lift as possible, but don't want to go too high and end up with CV problems!!

I think if you are having airbags then you are able to level out the rear when needed which is good, If you get who ever is fitting up your gear to do the rear first then match the front up with the same height you shouldn't be disappointed, remember you can always add in a small coil spacer or have the front adjusted down the track if you want to go higher.

And lastly do you think the amount of rear end flex you have is due to the Superior arms or the longer Billies?

I think the rear control arms make a slight difference, I think the nice soft rear coils are one of the reasons it flex's so well, and the longer billies help allow that. What I like about the control arms is the ride feels much smoother with the bigger bushes used.

I'll just add that I went with this setup as I was pretty happy with how the Prado was riding as standard, so knowing the Bilsteins were a good upgrade and I could match up pretty closely the coil rates I was happy to do it. If you think your current suspension is to soft or then you might benefit from a coil rate that is slightly harder especially with kids and towing your trailer. At this stage I've only got one kid and the wife, so our trips into Darwin from Arnhem Land and back are normally the engel fridge, my grey storage box with recovery gear, bags of clothing and a few apple box's filled with food supplies and a carton or two of beer. I'd probably say its an easy 200 - 250kg's of gear in there maybe more, + we have full tanks of fuel on the way back as well. And like you have said any other time its driving around with no load at all, so it makes sense to have your suspension suite what the majority of your driving is, and I think with you having the air bags that will work for you when towing your trailer.

Any other questions feel free to ask on here or PM me, happy to give my opinion.

[Madkore Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Madkore]

I wish Steve was my buddy! Maybe he can fix you up with some of his rims!

[PLAYDOH Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close PLAYDOH]

I wish Steve was my buddy! Maybe he can fix you up with some of his rims!

He is a good buddy to have, as for the rims I've ordered my rims from the US. So if it all runs smoothly I might be able to put pictures up with them on the Prado in May some time when the roads aren't so flooded over and I can get out again to retrieve them.

[jimmy91 Member Find all posts View Profile Close jimmy91]

looks tuff with the kumho's.

[Hpycmpr Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hpycmpr]

Mate awesome build thread, prado looks awesome, and some great flex shots!

[PLAYDOH Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close PLAYDOH]

Thanks Hpycmpr, I thought I'd add some more photos tonight since there isn't much else happening...

Last weekend went up the road for some wheeling, did this small crossing.


Anyway weekend just gone after heavy rain I had to drive through 100m of water to get to the crossing in the photo above and this is a pic of the Prado parked where the above photo was taken.


near one of the turn off's on the way back home.

[PLAYDOH Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close PLAYDOH]

Well finally decided on what bull bar I wanted and ordered it a month back, as much as the sovereign bar was growing on me I don't much like the space provided for spotlights and the reflection of light from the top bars when on high beam. I really liked the deluxe bar but didn't really want the bar work up top so I decided on Sahara bar without the centre chrome hoop.

Whilst I can appreciate that ARB are busy with lots of jobs throughout the day, to save them some time I took off the alloy bar and had it ready to go when it got to the shop. I let them know because of having to travel in for the fit up getting the Prado back as soon as it was finished would really help me out as I would be without transport for the day in town. I dropped the Prado to them at 8am and got it back at 5pm as they closed up shop, for the time they had it I was a little disappointed to see the plastic inner guards were just cable tied onto the lower part of the bull bar under side plates on the outside which looks really messy and in my opinion un-professional.

Other than that I'm happy with the bar and can't wait to fit up some lights on it.





I think the inner guard could have gone on the inner lip of this steal and even if it is normally done by cable tie at least it would have looked neater.

[adamr7 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close adamr7]

Looks great, good job mate.

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

That looks pretty good without the top hoop.

Looks like a dodgy job on the inner guards, mine were cut and fit inside the bar lip...

[PLAYDOH Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close PLAYDOH]

That looks pretty good without the top hoop.

Thanks, it's growing on me, I really could not decide on which bar I wanted I changed my mind a hundred times before deciding.

mine were cut and fit inside the bar lip...

That's how I think it should be fitted as well, instead of whining about though I might email ARB and tell them I was a little disappointed in the over all fit up and send them some pictures. Had I not been rushed out at 5pm when they were closed and locking the gate to the place I would have looked it over before leaving.

[8608 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close 8608]

bar looks good.

the inner guards are definately not profesh. not acceptable in my books, especially being fitting in house. standards are dropping.

anyway, i think the aerial looks funny where its mounted. did you put it there, or did ARB?

i like it a lot overall, and something i was considering back in the day too, but i really need the extra protection of a full bar.

[PLAYDOH Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close PLAYDOH]

i think the aerial looks funny where its mounted. did you put it there, or did ARB?

I put it there so wifee knows where the front of the bull bar is for now. She did her first river crossing today(her driving) next up I'll teach her how much room she has up front without the aerial there and then I'll take it off.

[Madkore Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Madkore]

Looks good Playdoh. I think you may be the first to have the ARB bar in that format.

Its a shame about the guards underneath and a disappointment given that you had to make a fair amount of effort to accommodate the install. I think the fact they couldn't finish your car earlier is also a shame. Surely it doesn't take 9 hours to fit a bullbar to a car that has previously had a bullbar that was removed for them. It would have also allowed you to check the car and perhaps prevent having to travel back there.

I think your decision to email ARB and see what they have to say for themselves is a wise first move. Hope it goes well for you.