Ironman Foamcell Pro Group Buy

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

The Ironman 45710FE struts I'm selling on this Ironman group buy are height adjustable, and will fit a KDSS Prado.

Hope this gives you an idea at least!

Thanks Mark,

Sorry to be a noob but what other components would I need other than the struts? I have the Dobinsons coils on the front but they have been on there a while. I also have the original OEM bags on the rear & am concerned with the height adjustable rear I may have issues with those bags over-extending. We did the washer trick with the rears when the front springs were changed but it's been mucked around with when I had a KDSS issue on a snow trip last year.

Cheers,

Corine

[Whitey Shockie Maker of the Month Award Find all posts View Profile Close Whitey]

Thanks Mark,

Sorry to be a noob but what other components would I need other than the struts? I have the Dobinsons coils on the front but they have been on there a while. I also have the original OEM bags on the rear & am concerned with the height adjustable rear I may have issues with those bags over-extending. We did the washer trick with the rears when the front springs were changed but it's been mucked around with when I had a KDSS issue on a snow trip last year.

Cheers,

Corine

Hey Corine,

No problem to ask questions, ask away!

Are the Dobinsons you have on the front the KDSS spec versions? What is your current front ride height?

My advice for the rear is to ditch the airbags in regard to trying to fix any KDSS lean and/or resolve potential over extension of the bags. I believe the Kakadu airbags are connected together, and as such it is difficult to eliminate any KDSS lean in the rear because of this.

My understanding is amts has conversion coils for the Kakadu rear with up to 15mm difference in free height, which in combination with threaded body height adjustable struts in the front should allow for a strong minimisation of any nasty KDSS lean issues.

I am hazarding a guess you could potentially minimise the lean to less than 5mm with that kind of setup.

As you wouldn't require any swaybar modifications because you have KDSS, you would need front struts, rear shocks, potentially keep your front coils, and amts rear coils. You would also need a c-spanner to adjust the front struts.

If the front KDSS strut caps are shallower than normal, you would also need to replace them with standard size strut caps to avoid long closed length on the struts.

I think moving to coils in the Kakadu rear is a sensible option in light of the above, but it also bush proofs your vehicle against airbag blowouts, giving you more confidence to travel in remote locations!

Amts might come along and chime in if I've missed anything!

Hope this helps you and any other Kakadu owners who might be reading and wondering about that naughty KDSS lean!

Best

Mark

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No haven't missed anything.
Kakadu rear coils http://www.pradopoint.com.au/showthr...093#post574093

[Whitey Shockie Maker of the Month Award Find all posts View Profile Close Whitey]

No haven't missed anything.
Kakadu rear coils http://www.pradopoint.com.au/showthr...093#post574093

Just in case anyone is wondering about those rear Kakadu conversion coils;

http://www.pradopoint.com.au/showthr...version-spring

Best

Mark

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

Got around to adjusting the front today. Both sides now at 790 and rear sitting at 840. Glad I got the spanner, still a tight fit even with the sway bar dropped. The 1 to 2 ratio for adjusting the struts was spot on. Couldn't get much tension on the locknut so I've marked to make it easy to see if things move. Whole job took about 2 hours.

Also worked out the easiest solution for the front sway bar spacers is to cut about 20mm off the end, then they sit flush and away from the welds.

Very generous to do all this work for us Whitey, I wouldn't want to be assembling 200 struts and shocks. You deserve a life membership of prado point.

Very happy with the final result and great being able to adjust the struts.

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

Are the Dobinsons you have on the front the KDSS spec versions? What is your current front ride height?

Yes, they are KDSS specific ones, C59-726. Not sure on ride height, will need to go & measure and post back.

My advice for the rear is to ditch the airbags in regard to trying to fix any KDSS lean and/or resolve potential over extension of the bags. I believe the Kakadu airbags are connected together, and as such it is difficult to eliminate any KDSS lean in the rear because of this.

I think the lean comes more from the way the KDSS system distributes the fluid and the action of the hydraulic sway bar when it does. Just my understanding though, I'm no expert. Will removing the bags create any issues with the height adjustment in the rear? I thought it was the bags which controlled this but again I could be wrong.

My understanding is amts has conversion coils for the Kakadu rear with up to 15mm difference in free height, which in combination with threaded body height adjustable struts in the front should allow for a strong minimisation of any nasty KDSS lean issues.

Yes, I have seen his post and have asked some questions there too.

I am hazarding a guess you could potentially minimise the lean to less than 5mm with that kind of setup.

That would be good, best Toyota can manage is 20mm which is within factory spec they say.

As you wouldn't require any swaybar modifications because you have KDSS, you would need front struts, rear shocks, potentially keep your front coils, and amts rear coils. You would also need a c-spanner to adjust the front struts.

OK thanks, still mulling it all over. Rough cost to achieve this (exclusive of AMTS coils of course).

If the front KDSS strut caps are shallower than normal, you would also need to replace them with standard size strut caps to avoid long closed length on the struts.

Not sure, how can I tell? AFAIK they are still the OEM ones.

Hope this helps you and any other Kakadu owners who might be reading and wondering about that naughty KDSS lean!

Thanks, very helpful. KDSS is great but has it's drawbacks at times.

[Whitey Shockie Maker of the Month Award Find all posts View Profile Close Whitey]

Got around to adjusting the front today. Both sides now at 790 and rear sitting at 840. Glad I got the spanner, still a tight fit even with the sway bar dropped. The 1 to 2 ratio for adjusting the struts was spot on. Couldn't get much tension on the locknut so I've marked to make it easy to see if things move. Whole job took about 2 hours.

Also worked out the easiest solution for the front sway bar spacers is to cut about 20mm off the end, then they sit flush and away from the welds.

Very generous to do all this work for us Whitey, I wouldn't want to be assembling 200 struts and shocks. You deserve a life membership of prado point.

Very happy with the final result and great being able to adjust the struts.

Hey Steve,

Good to hear everything has worked out and that c-spanner made it across the Nullarbor! No way that lock nut will move, lot of load on it!

I usually trim the corners on the blocks if they're butting up on that bit of chassis weld.

It's hard yakka and a much bigger job than I thought, but I'm plodding my way through it!

Best

Mark

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Pretty sure it will be a shallow top hat for the Kakadu due to the TEMS module being outside and above the strut.

[fatty boy Member Find all posts View Profile Close fatty boy]

Finally my turn... :0

[Whitey Shockie Maker of the Month Award Find all posts View Profile Close Whitey]

Hey all,

Another update, I've got new stock and have started revalving for 16-20 on the list!

Yep fatty boy it's your turn, good on you for hanging in there!

Best

Mark

[404pug Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 404pug]

Mark, just an update. After about 750 km mine has settled in beautifully. The front [heavy] is sitting at between 795- 800 so your settings for heavy 150s are spot on. The back is about 840. I have been carrying around about 100 kg in the back to help it settle a given it is a GX with no 3rd row of seats. Ride and handling are great as others have mentioned. The ride is very similar to my wife's 1 year old Mazda 3. The only thing that catches out the back a bit are the very short sharp speed humps in car parks but that is not what it was designed to handle! I managed to thump it over about 2 km of the only rutted, potholed dirt within cooee of southern Sydney and it is fabulous. This is what it is for! The C spanner arrived by the way. Thanks again for your great work. Neil

[Whitey Shockie Maker of the Month Award Find all posts View Profile Close Whitey]

Hey Neil,

Great stuff everything has settled in nicely, and those ride heights are in the sweet spot, 790-800mm front/830-840mm rear is optimal!

Get it out there into the rough stuff and rip into it!

Best

Mark

[Whitey Shockie Maker of the Month Award Find all posts View Profile Close Whitey]

Hey all,

Revalving of 16-20 on the list is moving along nicely, current strut and shock revalve count stands at 74!

Best

Mark

[Whitey Shockie Maker of the Month Award Find all posts View Profile Close Whitey]

Hey all,

Another update, I've run out of stock again unfortunately, and won't get more until possibly late next week. Sorry fatty boy, another week!

Best

Mark

[adrian5800 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close adrian5800]

Hey all,

Another update, I've run out of stock again unfortunately, and won't get more until possibly late next week. Sorry fatty boy, another week!

Best

Mark

Getting closer.. Looking forward to the upgrade Mark, the billies are starting to sh!t me.

Thanks for your time and dedication to this project, I bet your significant other is enjoying some peaceful time by her/himself with you working away in the shed. I know mine does when I am.

Maybe you should start another group buy on here for us to get her/him some flowers or a bottle of something to say thanks..

Cheers