What Suspension to go for!!!!!

[StoneySR05]

G'Day All,

I know that this sort of topic has been done to death on most forums but I thought I would give it a go here as we all have the same vehicle.

I am planning to get a lift done, first thing next year and I am starting to do my research.

I would like to know what people feel is the best brand, so far I have spoken to ARB, Tough Dog, Iron Man, Macquarie 4X4 (Bilstien Shocks & OME springs) and Ultimate Suspension.

I have heard of a few problems with Old Man Emu springs sagging, is this a concern? I know that they have a good warranty but I like to do things right the fist time.

I am leaning towards the Tough Dog kit fitted by Opposite Lock, the cost is $2100.

WHAT DO YOU THINK???????

[ufc]

Hi all just a ironman kit on my extra cab and very happy so far. Ride is 100% better. But I did put ther A rated spring in the rear.(comfort spring). Only carry about 300kg when taking of for a week end camping so should be fine. Would go the next spring up if I had a heavier load in the rear. Good value so far. But only time will tell.

[Danlux]

Did you speak to Ken at the Ultimate Suspension? He has a kit that will only give you about a 50mm lift (similar to the ARB), for a lot less than the 100mm lift.

Or go on spend up big and go all the way with the 3.5" lift, you know you want to

[StoneySR05]

Dan,

I have spoken to Ken and they have the most options than any one, he was telling me that they can make me a front shock that I can use the original springs in that will still give me a 2 " lift, apparently they can adjust the location of the spring seat. The Ultimate Suspension kit is also around $2100 fitted

Yes you are right, I know what I want but try and tell that to the Wife.


ufc,

I would go the comfort spring as well because my car is a family car and not a work truck. Did you measure how much your car was raised and if so how much?

[ufc]

Got the full 50mm in the back. But only about 25-30 in the front. I put the medium spring in the front but with the weight of the bar and winch maybe should have gone the heavier spring. Got some 15mm spacers to put in that will bring it back to about 40-45mm again. It cost about $1300 all up.

[StoneySR05]

It would be great to see what you think of the Iron Man kit in the next couple of months, it sound like great value!

[harrisbm]

I have just had the OME parado heavy duty spring put in mine. I had the ome medium spring but that sagged when i put the winch on. The new spring has given me a 75mm lift. The rear had to be replaced as well, from medium to heavy duty leafs. I wouldn't change them now. The ride is great and with bigger tyres nothing that i have driven has stopped it yet.

[StoneySR05]

harrisbm,

Was the lift 75mm from standard at the front?

I am starting to feel the most common lift is the OME, when you look through the profiles OME seems to be the most used.

[harrisbm]

Yes, my first lift was 50mm but i wasn't that happy so the extra 25mm is great. I have just looked at the car a its sitting 85mm higher than standard and that is due to the fact the car is empty of stuff for the first time, as i'm airing it out as the carpet and tray got a little wet.

[StoneySR05]

It looks like you give it a work out!

Are you worried about the CV's?

Macquarie 4X4 do a 60mm lift and they were telling me that they have not seen any problems with CV's yet.

[harrisbm]

I haven't had any problems with the CV's and last week i took it up a trake called the claw and gave it a good flogging and no problems. Lockers were engaged on that hill climb as standard wouldn't of got up the first incline. I have the petrol which gives me a hell of power in low 4 1st gear when i want it. If the CV's were weak i could say i would have broken one.

[StoneySR05]

I would say that you are right about the CV's.

I also have the petrol you got to love the power. A little while ago I was towing my boat, 17.5 foot Bayliner bow rider, from the NSW Central Coast to home and I pasted a turbo diesel Navara, I was doing 110km and it looked like he was struggling up the hill doing about 70km towing an identical boat.

[harrisbm]

the only drama i have is the low gearing going down steep hills. the break and clutch need to be feathered as the engin breaking is not enough to slow the car down to a safe speed. I 'm going to get rock hoppers to get over this problem. Is yours man or auto.

[StoneySR05]

Mine is Auto, my previous car was a Mitsubishi Challenger (http://www.monterosportonline.com/pic45.html) and the low range in the Hilux is alot better so I am happy with it.

What I doing when going down an obstacle is use the hand brake, If going down a steep hill I use the foot brake but I don't have to worry about the car staling

[ufc]

Check this out everone. Its for a tacoma but they look very similar to our hilux. There is a cheap kit to drop your front diff 25 mm so your cv's are not stressed at all with a 75 mm lift. go to this link then scroll down to the front diff drop kit
http://www.toyteclifts.com/basic05.html

this site here shows pic of it getting done http://www.tundrasolutions.com/forums/tacoma/52388-how-to-toytec-lift-install/

Let me know if its sound like it might be ok.

[StoneySR05]

I Would be able to make that diff drop kit at work and not cost me anything.

I remeber seeing the ame thing on a photo of Danlux's car, it must be the images on the 4WD Monthly forum

[Danlux]

you can see the bits I think you talking about here

[Boss]

This is one of the reasons I bought a 2x4!I want to install a 80 series SFA with the current coil over set-up in the future.Theres just no way how you can get decent ground clearance with the IFS without stressing the CV's!

[StoneySR05]

Thats right, the black spacers.

For those who don't have the dropped front cossmember the spacers would not be able to be as big because they would need to fit under the bash plate.

[ufc]

So Stoney do you thing doing a 25mm diff drop and having a 75 mm front lift sound ok and would all work ok. I think with a 75 mm front lift I would have about 60mm of down travel left. Is that enought?