150 Kakadu rear airbag to coil conversion spring

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Following on from the Grande airbag to coil conversion spring, there is now one specific for the Prado Kakadu

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

Very nice work, well done!

Best

Mark

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

Hey Andrew, so how do these work with the removal of the OEM bags? What is involved in fitting them? How do they affect the height adjustment in the rear of the Kaka or is that bit disabled when you change to these?

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Summary of steps:
Remove airbags
Fit springs
Pull a few fuses to disable the compressor
Adjust the height sensor to match the lifted height and to help with autolevelling headlights

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

Very interesting Amts
Not my cup of tea but hat off to the effort you have put into get this far hopfully it works out long term

Hey Andrew, so how do these work with the removal of the OEM bags? What is involved in fitting them? How do they affect the height adjustment in the rear of the Kaka or is that bit disabled when you change to these?

You will loose all hight / load adjustment.

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Not my cup of tea

I used to think the same

You will loose all hight / load adjustment.

For heavy towers, the springs can still be supplemented with coil assist airbags.

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

I used to think the same

For heavy towers, the springs can still be supplemented with coil assist airbags.

What changed your mind?
I know you have stated els where reliability, have you had any issues with the factory setup ?

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What changed your mind?
I know you have stated els where reliability, have you had any issues with the factory setup ?

Airbags blew in the middle of an offroad trip. Drove 300km on bumpstops, max 50km/h on country highway with hazards on and trying to find the smoothest part of the road. Meanwhile, the stuff in the back was bouncing around with every minor bump on the road. Took more than twice as long to do the trip back.

Got home, slept overnight, took the 2nd car and trailer back to where we left the family to continue the rest of the trip on tarmac. We were on a trip with interstate family.

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

Not good at all and Fair enough for not wanting to give them another go

Any indication for cause of failure ? Were they factory bags or aftermarket
Keen to know for my setup

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Not good at all and Fair enough for not wanting to give them another go

Any indication for cause of failure ? Were they factory bags or aftermarket
Keen to know for my setup

Factory airbags were perishing at the joint between rubber bag and steel base. Went up a sandhill and at the first full flex, the airbag popped.

Didn't want to risk any further damage so unloaded and got the rest of the family out with the other Prado in a couple of trips so that I can climb the hill with as minimal load as possible. While waiting, a few passersby came by for a look see. After some discussion, we levelled out the moguls for the hillclimb and between us and the helpers, we had 4 sets of maxtraxs laid out in an alternate pattern all the way up the hill so that it was a controlled ascent in low range. Traction control helped when the tyres came off the Maxtrax.

[Cant-Touch-This Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Cant-Touch-This]

I can see why you have decided to convert.

Check this set up, I like this guys Suspension build https://youtu.be/pXZkBfhvk8w

Now I'm kinda sketching about the bags in my car hahah.

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150 Kakadu rear airbag to coil conversion spring

I've got 265000 on original bags. I flex it. Tow with it and generally beat it around.
I've yet to damage a bag. I had a slow leak in one and replaced it with a second hand unit. Still going.

It's not like it's a China tea cup in a tornado. More bags survive than pop.

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

I used to think the same

For heavy towers, the springs can still be supplemented with coil assist airbags.

Side note question: Do you think you could rig the existing compressor up to the coil assist airbags? So in effect, all you are doing it adding coils to the rear? So everything works as it should, but now there is no risk of a bag popping and running on bumpstops? As to me, as a Kakadu owner, would be the best outcome.

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Side note question: Do you think you could rig the existing compressor up to the coil assist airbags? So in effect, all you are doing it adding coils to the rear? So everything works as it should, but now there is no risk of a bag popping and running on bumpstops? As to me, as a Kakadu owner, would be the best outcome.

Coil assist airbags are meant to have pressure added without the load. So it works slightly differently to the factory airbags whereby, due to the fold in the airbag, it allows the airbag to expand and contract with air volume.

To rig coil assist airbags up to the factory compressor, you would need to take the height sensor control out of the loop and instead, add a pressure dial into the loop.

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

Coil assist airbags are meant to have pressure added without the load. So it works slightly differently to the factory airbags whereby, due to the fold in the airbag, it allows the airbag to expand and contract with air volume.

To rig coil assist airbags up to the factory compressor, you would need to take the height sensor control out of the loop and instead, add a pressure dial into the loop.

OK thanks amts,

Worth a shot. I really like the auto height adjustment (part of reason of buying the Kakadu) but am dubious now them failing. I guess to counteract the risk, I can replace backs with new ones. But like some have said above, more have not failed than have!