IS there any after market suspension you'd not recommend?

[shortgq]

Hi all,

Looking at giving my old SWB 90 model Patol a new lease on life. Its unregistered atm and needs some work including new suspension including springs, shocks, bushes, etc etc.

Have looked at a whole heap of brands and all 50mm lifts, including:

Superior Engineering, TJM, Old Man Emu (ARB), EFS, Ironman.

Is there any you haven't had a great experience with?

The kits I'm looking at seem to range between $1400 and $1800 not fitted.

Cheers!

[GUtripper]

Ive seen Tough Dog shocks leaking, that werent that old at the time.
A mates shop was regularly replacing Ironman shocks a few years back, the shocks had zero dampening resistance when you compressed/extended them after only six months.
Dont know if its still the case, just an observation. maybe theyve improved over time.

Ranchos seem OK on lighter rigs, Luxes and Jeeps, but dont get a good wrap on Patrols and Cruisers.

I had a great run from Koni' Type 88 and King 2" progressive springs on the GU, then went to a 3-4" Ridepro kit, which again was very good.

Stick with name brand, with warranty, or go through a known supplier with a good history of after sales support. My brother had good dealings with Suspension Stuff.

[Banzy]

I've got 3" EFS in my GU wagon, running 35s.

Drives like it's stock

[CRUZAAMAD]

You forget ULTIMATE..

Their leaves setup is was superior to the ARB stuff.
had 2leaves fail and the third one pretty much not far off going in under 18mnths.
great ride but the ultimate springs are far better for long term ownership.
Designed not to fail unlike the ARB.
great springs soo far

the bushes ultimate use are rubbish.
OME bushes are brilliant.
good long term wear rates.
5 years and not one bush flogged out.
heavy loads..

[Gee]

Get Lovell's.

4 coils, 4 gas shocks cost me a little over $700 online (90 series prado, gq probably a bit more). Australian made coils (don't know about shocks) with a 5 year warranty. I've had them for three years and can't fault them.

Correction_ 3 year 70000k warranty. May have been more when I got 'em

[AFeral]

Ultima shocks Suck big time.
For the cash you got I would buy Koni or Fox shocks, if you don't have enough money for the rest of the bit just do the shocks and save for the rest.

[bazzle]

Get an RidePro kit from PatrolApart.

[Suspension Stuff]

Most shocks are too firm for a SWB. We use Oztec shocks for the average budget because they have a soft and a cargo valving.

We also make shocks that are a little more expensive. Ask for Shane at Suspension Stuff and I will take you for a drive, ie that is if comfort is important to you.
We are at 38 Moss St Slacks Creek seeing you are on the South Side.

By the way, it really is a loaded question. People have had bad experiences with every brand.

Shane.

[Jacked]

Ironman are too firm and leak.

Seen some outright dangerous failures (mounting "ring" seperating from shock body) with EFS.

[Banzy]

Ironman are too firm and leak.

Seen some outright dangerous failures (mounting "ring" seperating from shock body) with EFS.

No complaints with EFS here. And I drive 90% on dirt roads.

So far so good.

[fnqcairns]

I have had a great run with my Dobinsons to date...approx 7 years a couple cape york trips, 1 half cape trip to P CH Bay(I live in FNQ) and lots of heavy towing the boat.....GQ97 LWB TD4.2.....by lots I mean the car only does about 4-5k a year on average so far and is used to fill all those blokey/family fun day niche's + a tiny km amount of everyday stuff inbetween ....once a week to keep the aircon and battery up to scratch.

I also paired my Dobinsons with King coils selected by myself after much research to suit my use and to date it's been the ultimate suspension setup for me...thats what it's all about, I got lots of differing advice from the sales 'egg spurts'..they cannot all be right.....right???...dont get me wrong I would have preferred konis as a personal choice (no eggspurt offered them in their cheaper kits obviously) but considering all my other options at the time and the price of the dobinisons I came away so far well in front...dobinsons I suspect are not cool still?

The Dobinsons are hard valved I think but they have not blown/leaked even after near hours at 65+km/h average over cape corrugations...fade was noticeable but made little true dirt competent driver difference in truth on a 4wd..same as all shocks.

it's the reliability that matters....we crap on too much over our 4wds...marketing sucks but what ya gunna do.

part of the reason is the exact actual fitting of the shocks...if this part is rushed the shocks flog out due to either/or contained sideways forces or sloppiness (less bad) ...I dont trust anyone but myself to fit them.

The odds of getting into trouble many hours from even mobil phone service reception is quite simply not worth it.

[ZAPPAGU]

My dual cab was my work rig for 4 years. (Plumber) put old man emu kit thru, rated at a constant 400 kg in the back raised 2 inch, which I ended up with more? Came with sway bar ext as well, my car is sitting lil off ATM. But after the loads it's had plus towing 2.5 t digger not too bad I reckon. Would go them again.
My ol coil GQ ute had Koni shocks in when I bought it. Had done 100k and heaps of heavy shit, were still fine.
Like they say stick with the name brand gear, don't get caught up with all the marketing bullshit and you should go alright

[purplebus]

Stay away from tough dogs. Mine lasted 2 trips and told no warranty on anything over 3''. Was later told by same shop (on another forum after I posted that info) that they should of been replaced under warranty and it was their salesmans misinformation. Never got any replacements or even an offer from them.