Rear Suspension

[dazza]

Hi all,
has anyone got or had exprience with the polyair spring kits or the firestone coil right airbags?
i have a 4.2td gu patrol that is a bit saggy in the bum towing and when fully loaded to go camping
don't want to spend a fortune as i am not into the 4wd thing, just looking for a bit better ride and tow
cheers
dazza

[FNQCairns]

The standard springs are pretty soft so at the showroom it doesn't turn the wife away and some blokes, you could replace just the rear two with standard length uprated springs, an extra 20/30lb or so to make for a nicer load and tow, give king springs a ring and ask them...relatively cheap and entirely maintenance free...usually.

cheers fnq

[White Pointer]

G'day,

The best you can do is variable rate coil springs and large diameter two valve oil filled shock absorbers.

Don't buy polybags or any lift or stiffening kits. They will probably just crack your chassis after they have wrecked your kidneys and spine.

White Pointer

[Spaniard_King]

Dazza,

I fitted poly airs to my Landuiser for towing my boat, made a big diference now able to get the whole rig back to level again.

Cost was around $250 for the kit, put in myself but you do need to remove the spings to install.

[hunge]

i have had polyairs on both my patrols and reckon there good for what you want them for and i just put a set on my navara

[dazza]

thanks for the info guy's, much appreciated.

G'day,

The best you can do is variable rate coil springs and large diameter two valve oil filled shock absorbers.

Don't buy polybags or any lift or stiffening kits. They will probably just crack your chassis after they have wrecked your kidneys and spine.

White Pointer

thanks white pointer,
i don't do any hard core offroad, goes into 4wd to get on and off the beach. each to there own but i don't see much fun in dragging through mud and winching myself up rock walls etc.

the chassis problems you talk of, is that due to too much air and too rough country?

if i was into the full on off road ting i would go a full suspension upgrade, just really want it to make towing the boat a bit nicer

cheers
dazza

[two up]

White pointer what a load of crap!. I regularly carry up to a tonne of gear , fuel and water in my GQ patrol for extended tours over some very ordinary tracks, there is no way you could carry these sort of loads with standard suspension,. I have the heaviest rated springs you can get for a patrol and have driven 275,000 ks without an ounce of trouble.

Dazza for what you are doing, go the polys as oyhers have suggested, if you have done over 50,000ks with the standard shockers get a good set of aftermarkets, you will be surprised at the difference, good luck.

[GBC]

w.p. please explain how an airbag is going to crack a chassis any faster than a heavy duty coil?
They load the same part of the chassis.

[dazza]

hi all,
thanks for the info,
two up
shockies are new, put in a couple of months ago, was talking to my mechanic today, he put new springs and shocks under his gu, 4 inch lift, recons it is the best thing he has done, now thinking to get new springs and 2 inch lift, i don't even think i need the 2 inch lift as i am only a chicken tracker
will have to do some more research
cheers
dazza

[Mad-One]

A set of standard king springs will lift the bum upto another 20-25mm and are stiffer than the original springs. I know it's only a car but I just put Kings under my AU and it lifted it about 20mm plus now when I put the boat on it doesn't drag it's bum.

Cheers Mad

[White Pointer]

White pointer what a load of crap!. I regularly carry up to a tonne of gear , fuel and water in my GQ patrol for extended tours over some very ordinary tracks, there is no way you could carry these sort of loads with standard suspension,. I have the heaviest rated springs you can get for a patrol and have driven 275,000 ks without an ounce of trouble.

Dazza for what you are doing, go the polys as oyhers have suggested, if you have done over 50,000ks with the standard shockers get a good set of aftermarkets, you will be surprised at the difference, good luck.

G'day,

Lots of vehicles can't carry their maximum GVM as a constant load. This goes for most utilities sold (4x2 and 4x4) and many 4x4 wagons. If you are faced with carrying constant loads I have nothing against increasing the vehicle's capacity to manage it.

ARB engineered an excellent upgrade to the Patrol utility for this purpose. It was a pretty awful thing to drive unladen and the brake proportioning didn't work properly.

Ford did the same with the Falcon utility - a constant load suspension kit as a factory fit option or a more extensive upgrade to the RTV model. The braking equipment on these was ABS as standard because they had the same issue with the brake proportioning valve.

Now, the guy who started the thread asked about upgrading the suspension for occasional boat tractoring. I don't have an issue with that. He asked if he should do it with polyair springs. I don't think he should.

I do think he should make sure what he has is in good condition and I think it may be worthwhile checking the trailer balance on its axle and the downforce on the towball.

Hope this helps.

White Pointer

[FNQCairns]

Ops see below

cheers fnq

[FNQCairns]

I too would leave the air bags on the shelf in this instance simply not required and not the best option anyway until pressed as a last resort.

You 2 inch lift is not without problem over leaving it standard either, it will amplify any geometry problems, changes the diff/propeller shaft angles, changes the brake load proportioning valve setting, places extra strain on the panard and other bushes, amplifies loose wheel bearings/alignment/balance problems, places extra strain on swaybars which may not be strictly long enough anymore...other stuff also like the need for new longer brake lines to do it properly also your new shocks may not strictly be long enough.

For a self confessed chicken scratcher you cannot do better than standard height on an all-rounder, which as mentioned above may add just a little extra over showroom.

I have 2 inches added to my GQ, it was only fitted to save the chasis from meeting the ground, if you are never planing to be in these situations or prefer the chicken track option your car will be a better tow vehicle because it's a better driving vehicle left standard height...but with quality suspension recipe.

cheers fnq

[dazza]

thanks guy's
i think current springs are probably shot, had a good look at how she was sitting this morning, almost sagging in the arse
probably looking to put a set of new springs in, considering 2 inch lift,
need to weigh up benefits of lift to leaving stock etc
fnq,
did you do the lift yourself or get someone to do it
cheers
dazza
cheers
dazza

[two up]

If you think the bum of your vehicle is a bit saggy it is probably time for new springs, a 2 inch lift can be accomplished with very little difficulty.

However if you are only looking to correct sag as a result of adding weight, airbags are the cheapest and easiest soultion, if you decide on a lift the following applies.

Your standard brake lines are long enough for a 2 inch lift, you can purchase a proportioning valve extension bracket or make 1 yourself pretty easily. Your shocks will be fine unless you are looking for extreme articulation in which case you will require longer shocks.