Toyota troop carrier coil front springs or leaf

[sheridan]

Thinking of buying a toyota troop carrier as they have plenty of room in the back and good towing capasity looked at some 1998 to 2004 noticed the ones with leaf springs much cheaper than the ones with coils is there a big difference in ride comfort, handling and offroad handling could use some advice which one is better. We seen a 2004 model diesel leaf spring $29.000 and same model with coil springs but more KLMs $37.000 would i be better off with the leaf spring vehicle which was in better condition. Both at the same dealer.


Geoff

[BenDover]

Coil spring front for everyday road driving is sooo much better. A must.

You can do reverse shackles for the leaf spring but still no where near as good. But if you do alot of offroad suspension stuff. Leaf spring is better as there is no bounce and more tuck (troopy's love to roll due to being top heavy).

The price difference is pretty big but. If you can stand the leaf spring front then its upto you.
BD

[sheridan]

Thanks BenDover
Most of our travels will be on bitumen towing our boat from Brisbane to Cairns then buying a camper van to go exploring
Geoff

[BenDover]

I would go coil front then. If you did go leaf spring front and decided it wasnt comfy enough. By the time you get some custom springs made, with a shackle reversal and greasable shackles youd be around $7k anyway

[reidy]

My old Bundera had front coils and the ride was tops,My current Defender also runs front coils and rides good (it is a fender though).Compared to my front leaf sprung ex's (patrol(mq),f-40 dat ,old swb cruiser theres no comparison.
Coils = comfort in most driving applications (serious off road work the exeption)
Cheers
Reidy

[reidy]

Just had a chat with a mate who has owned both leaf and coil sprung troopies he reakons the coils win hands down in most applications.
Cheers
Reidy

[FNQCairns]

Yeah, leaf springs make a day of towing 500km feel like 800, still if they said I could only have air con on a leaf spring vehicle I would take the leaf springs.

cheers fnq

[sheridan]

Sounds like i should get one with coils otherwise i might regret it in the long run thanks all

Geoff

[shano]

go the coil for comfort sure! if you are wanting to fill the car up with lots of weight go leaf!

[GBC]

78's and 79's have touchy front ends when it comes to bushes. They need to be in good nick or they'll shudder around corners or under brakes.
This isn't a design issue just a maintenance issue to look out for.

I'd definitely go the coils if I had the money though.

[White Pointer]

G'day,

Go with coils for all the reasons stated earlier. Make sure the front shocks are in good nick.

My recollection (and it may be wrong!) is that the old 4.2 naturally aspirated diesel ran a beam axle and leaf springs but when Toyota had to meet new emission regulations they added a catalytic converter to the N/A engines and offered a turbo-diesel option. This mean't the old beam axle and leaf spring arrangement had to go to fit more stuff under the bonnet.

The engines with the catalyst should be checked for corrosion inside the catalyst. You can't see it but if it rattles its stuffed and possibly restricting gas flow.

The bodies on the troopies were not the last word in rust prevention so if its going to be exposed to salt get it really well cleaned and rust proof it.

White Pointer

[BenDover]

Na, Sorry white pointer. The front suspension set up has nothing to do with etra bits under the hood (there is more room with a live axle anyway). They simply upgraded for todays conditions and a much smoother ride. And are also now fazing out the live axle fronts all together (wether it be coil or leaf front). Independent front suspension gives the same smooth road ride and is cheaper to do for the car company's. Only thing is, they are completely useless offroad.

[JEWIENEWIE]

Have a 2000 model 4.5petrol troopy with coils. As stated above posts alot better on highway but vehicle tends to sway or rock side to side when doing off road work, also stated above.
Vehicle travels and handles alot better with a load or towing something.
It likes having to work. Drinks like a camel though
Jewie

[sheridan]

Thanks Jewie

Have found a 2004 diesel not to bad came from out west coil front $23.990 will have a test drive and a good look next week.

Geoff

[Horse]

In Landies the coil springs gave a lot more wheel articulation and were better offroad compared to the leaf sprung series 109/SII etc