Suspension install question

[yowie78 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close yowie78]

I recently installed lovells / Bilsteins to the 2008 D4D. Did it myself, all good. The car is a fair bit lower at the front though and this has affected the fuel tank. Ran out when there was still about quarter of a tank registering on the gauge.

When I did the front, I tightened the top nut down until the plastic cover over the piston wasn't loose any more. I found the instructions fairly vague and thought that this would be right. There is about 20mm of thread above the nut though. Is it alright to adjust the nut back out to raise the front end a bit or what is the go. I put the C-clip thing on the lowest setting.

Cheers
Matt.

[Peterpilot Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Peterpilot]

Could you explain this with a photo? I'm not sure what you mean. What height did you achieve front and rear, measured from the bottom of the wheel rim through the hub to the lip of the guard? Also what part number are your Lovells springs?

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

adjusting the shock shouldn't have any effect on height.

to check what effect you are having on your shock, measure the distance from the guard to the rim. Then jack the car so that the tyre is off the ground and then measure in the same place. You should have at least 50mm, but if your car is now lower then standard you should have more droop, unless you're shock is now the limiting factor instead of the bump stops.

[Bankrupt Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bankrupt]

yowie

leave the top nut fully done up. I holds the piston in place and is integral to the shock working properly.

I suggest you put the c-clip into the top of the three grooves in the shock housing and it should raise the front by 1-1.5 inches.

I have Billies and Lovells and it sits level, although there are different springs, both height and rate which can affect how your car will sit as compared to mine. My part numbers are in my build if you want to cross check.

See how you go.

[Madkore Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Madkore]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I was of the impression that there is meant to be about 20mm height difference front to rear in a Prado?

[gxl_d4d Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close gxl_d4d]

Madkore,

Where's the 20mm difference measured from? Level ground to side steps or bottom of rim to trim? I've recently had lovels and bilsteins installed in the front with standard rears. When measuring from rim to trim, the rear is 25mm higher. When measured ground to side steps, the back is lower than the front.

[Bankrupt Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bankrupt]

Rear "rim to trim" should always be higher (unladened) to account for passengers / cargo etc. My vehicle is pretty much level along the sill panel / side steps.

[Peterpilot Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Peterpilot]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I was of the impression that there is meant to be about 20mm height difference front to rear in a Prado?

Correct, an unladen GXL with very little fuel is around 750mm front 780mm rear when brand new. Add fuel and the rear would drop a bit more.

When I did the front, I tightened the top nut down until the plastic cover over the piston wasn't loose any more. I found the instructions fairly vague and thought that this would be right.

Sorry yowie, I misunderstood your original question. The top nut you refer to is not just to stop the rubber dust shield from moving, it is the main nut that holds the strut assembly together.

As Bankrupt said, it is imperative that this nut is tight to locate the shaft correctly and also to maintain the bushes under compression. Any movement in the bushes and they will very quickly wear and disintegrate.

I assume that your front springs are the Lovells TFR-118, which should give you a ride height of around 770-780mm. If you move the circlip from the bottom to top position, you should lift the front to about 785-795mm. Unfortunately to achieve this the strut needs to be disassembled.

[Madkore Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Madkore]

I was referring to rim to trim when I said there is a 20mm difference.

Ground to side steps should be level front to back. I think if you try to match the front to the rear (rim to trim), then the front would be too high and aside from possible CV issues, you would also need to look at adjusting headlights and so fourth.