Kings v OME

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

Madkore and craigm,

You have me worried now. Unfortunately the bull bar i'm after ARB is out until mid January. Do you feel it's OK to continue highway driving until then? I'm concerned the CV's may get too much wear. The shocks are not topping out or at least it doesn't feel like it.

As for the looks - yes the bum looks like it's drooping but I don't care about that now as this should be corrected when the weight is added.

Main concern here is no damage is done while I wait for the bar.

Hazza

[craigm Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close craigm]

Highway driving etc will be absolutely fine, and if you plan to do any offroad, just take it easy over the bumps. Youve certainly got some good clearance now! Have you measured the droop so you know how much play you've got?

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

craigm,

Thanks for the advice I will be nursing it for a while. You mention measuring the 'Droop". Not sure what you mean or where I measure from.

Hazza

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

Droop is downward suspension travel, measured as the difference between the normal or static ride height (830mm in your case) and the ride height at maximum suspension extension with the body jacked up and the wheels hanging clear of the ground.

Also explained here: http://www.ironman4x4.com/pdfs/suspe...structions.pdf

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

Normally 60mm of downward suspension travel is the minimum required. With Bilsteins at 830mm ride height you will probably have 35-40mm downward travel, which means you need to be aware that it will be relatively easy to lift a front wheel off the ground.

I wouldn't worry about the cv angles too much (at least for the short term), but at 830mm you will probably find that you have run out of wheel alignment adjustment.

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

Peterpilot,

Thanks for the info and well understood . I should be able to take a measurement this Thursday morning and report my findings.

Today I come across a 120 Prado at Underwood shopping center that I noticed was raised. I took it upon myself to measure the height and noticed it was fitted with Kings standard 2" lift and airbags. Also fitted with an ARB standard bar (no winch).

Front 825 ish (wheels where on lock)
Rear 835 mm

The rear would be correct with minimum pressure in the bags. I don't know how much fuel it was caring but mine is 80% full.

Front was a surprise as it was about the same as mine with a bar and standard 2" lift (part number was facing me).

With over 100 kg to be mounted over the front I hope to get to that sweet 60 mm droop. I will soon get a starting point this Thursday.

I mention where I seen this vehicle today because if the owner is on Prado Point I wish to apologise helping myself and thank him for the opportunity so to speak lol.

Hazza

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

Hazza,

How did you go with those measurements?

[prh Member Find all posts View Profile Close prh]

Hazza, for your reference, I have the ARB non-winch bar. This is my data:

Kings (KTFR-101, KTRR-102) and Bilsteins (BE5-A712, BE5-A713).

Heights (measured vertically from bottom of rim to wheel arch) pre- and post-lift

Front R 735mm -> 795mm L 735mm -> 795mm
Rear R 778mm -> 828mm L 778mm -> 828mm

Overall vehicle height to top of roof rails = 1.95m

I just checked again today, and find no sag in the rear and about 3mm sag in the front after about 12000km.

Paul

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

peterpilot,

Sorry for the delay in getting the droop measurements as promised but it has been rather busy leading up to Christmas. To top it off my jack decided to give up the ghost although I do believe it just needs oil that I purchased yesterday. After New Years I endeavor to get those measurements.

Paul,

Thanks for your data its always interesting to compare. I will have some more measurements when i'm almost on empty. I have also put in my dual battery system and that's made a subtle difference in ride and high as well. My winch bar goes on 23rd January and I will get the winch on soon after that. With every accessory I will take measurements.

Currently my total height to the top of the Toyota racks (two single bars going east west) is just under 2 meters. Have to place a big reminder on the sun-visor for the missus or she will convert it to a convertible lol.

In the mean time hope you all had a great Christmas. Wish all a Happy New Years. Keep safe and see you in 2012.

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

Approx 2 weeks ago I had the 101H springs placed in the front as the OME springs were too spongy. I find the Hs are perfect and I have steel B/B, winch and dual batteries. The height is now 795 and 800, be interesting to see once they settle. Vehicle handles so much better and a lot stiffer.

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

Happy New Year everyone. Well another trip for Santa, Christmas tree.....was it even up and kids back to school. It's been a very busy Christmas period and it's good to get back to a routine. One thing I can be sure of, 'the older you get the faster time fly's' as we roar through 2012.

Well it's been some months since I had the Kings and Bilsteins fitted. Firstly I can re confirm that the ride and performance of the vehicle is excellent and I couldn't recommend anything else on road. As for off road, I haven't tested them as yet so will report on that in the not so distant future. I have taken a number of measurements since the fitment of the Kings being 2" lift standard rears and 'H' in the front. I will post those at the end of my shpeal. One thing was pointed out and very obvious that the front was too high and that I may not have enough 'Droop'. Unfortunately I have not been able to measure that as my trusty jack gave up the ghost and I could not resurrect it and have yet to replace it. The plan was to add a bar, winch and dual battery and that weight would settle the vehicle down.

Dual battery has been fitted and the ARB steel deluxe bull bar was fitted yesterday (looks and feels fantastic). With the added weight the suspension has started to work and although the ride was excellent it has improved it even more and almost removed the jittery sharp hops I was getting at times over certain bumps. The front has also dropped about 14 mm so Peterpilot this should go towards my 'Droop'. Once I add on the winch being almost 40 kg the springs should be where their maker intended.

I will be taking it in for a recheck of the suspension soon and check the 'Droop' when they place it on the hoist.

From my own experience so far I can only highly recommend the Kings and King 'H' for the front and the Bilsteins setup.

Below all measurements are from the bottom of the rim to the bottom on the guard. Standard 17" rims.

25/11/11
Factory Springs and shocks: Front 750 mm Rear 760 mm 100% fuel no accessories

6/12/11
New suspension Front 830 mm Rear 820 mm 90% fuel

4/01/12
New suspension Front 825 mm Rear R 817 mm Rear L 808 100% fuel and dual battery. Spring may have settles a little at this point

23/01/11
New suspension Front 810 mm Rear R 822 mm Rear L 812 mm 80% fuel, Dual battery, Steel bull-bar.

One thing that stood out was before the bull bar was fitted with a full tank of fuel the front would raise up. Also if you note in the last measurements with full or almost full tanks there is a 10 mm difference between the rear left and right. I guess 160 to 180 kg of fuel must have some impact.

My apologies if I have babbled on but I guess too much info is better than not enough.

Hazza

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

Hazza,

Happy New Year to you too.

With the steel bullbar and a height of 810mm at the front, I think you should have very close to 60mm droop now.

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

Peterpilot

Thanks for the info it certainly feels much better on the road. Once I get the winch fitted I will get the final suspension check that way I can get the total droop measurement while it's on the hoist. Let you know once it's done in the coming weeks.

Hazza

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

peterpilot,

I finally managed to find some time and unpack my new trolley jack so I could measure the elusive 'droop' measurement. I also had to fuel up today so now that I've had these King springs (2" lift with 'H' up front) for five to six months I believe (so far) there has been no sagging at all.

Empty fuel Tank (under the white line)
Steel bull bar, tow bar, dual battery and nothing in the cab

Front Left 805 mm Rear Left 836
Front Right 808 Rear Right 825

Full tank of fuel (filled 185 litres- see other thread for more info http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...ighlight=hazza)

Front Left 810 mm Rear Left 816
Front Right 810 Rear Right 813

Droop 40 mm

I expected droop to be a little more. Once the winch goes on I will see how much more I've gained.

Hazza

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

There are a few variables including the design of the top bush that may affect the total droop result. However, I estimate that with Bilstein struts you should get 860mm from bottom of rim to guard at maximum suspension extension. This will give you 60mm droop travel at a static ride height of 800mm.