Kakadu hard rear suspension

[Sambeak Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Sambeak]

I've just bought a Kakadu and am very surprised by the hard rear suspension around town. Front suspension is great but rear end jars terribly over dips in the road.
as this is my first prado is this common or is something amiss. Does the soft setting on suspension work in 4h or only when in 4l mode as it does not seem to matter much in either. Thanks for your help I will mention it to the dealer on service but usually get fobbed off so it helps to have other views. Past 4's have been pajeros but love the prado. Thanks

[Milkmanstan Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Milkmanstan]

I've just bought a Kakadu and am very surprised by the hard rear suspension around town. Front suspension is great but rear end jars terribly over dips in the road.
as this is my first prado is this common or is something amiss. Does the soft setting on suspension work in 4h or only when in 4l mode as it does not seem to matter much in either. Thanks for your help I will mention it to the dealer on service but usually get fobbed off so it helps to have other views. Past 4's have been pajeros but love the prado. Thanks

Hi Sambeak,
Check your tyre pressure, I find that anything above 36psi is too hard for my liking on the Dunlops At22. 34 psi front and back works for me.The servicing guys tend to fill it up to 40psi and I would always have to lower that pressure when I get home after a service. You shouldn't be needing to use the comfort mode on the suspension on a normal road, I leave it on "normal mode" and switch it over to comfort only when it gets too bumpy. Hope this help. Enjoy your Kakadu!

Regards
Stan

[Anth120playdo Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Anth120playdo]

Have you pressed the button to soften the shockers?

There are 3 settings on ya kakakaladuua

[Sambeak Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Sambeak]

Hi Sambeak,
Check your tyre pressure, I find that anything above 36psi is too hard for my liking on the Dunlops At22. 34 psi front and back works for me.The servicing guys tend to fill it up to 40psi and I would always have to lower that pressure when I get home after a service. You shouldn't be needing to use the comfort mode on the suspension on a normal road, I leave it on "normal mode" and switch it over to comfort only when it gets too bumpy. Hope this help. Enjoy your Kakadu!

Regards
Stan

Thanks Milkmanstan
At present I am running 200 which is around 29 psi. Does the normal/comfort mode settings work on 4h or only on 4l as I'm blowed if I can find any difference. Love the Kakadu just need to get the ride right around town. Thanks

[Green dog Member Find all posts View Profile Close Green dog]

Guys

Do not run your tyres on the road at such low pressures unless you are happy to significantly reduce the kms you get out of them.
The placard pressures for road use are already too low as manufacturers set them at that to get a softer ride.
Believe it or not pressures nearer to 40psi will give you a lot more tyre life.
WE see it here all the time where low pressures are wearing both inside and outside shoulders as the tyre squats leaving the centre of the tyre nearly new..

[cmilton54 Find all posts View Profile Close cmilton54]

The higher pressure will give more mileage, but I run mine on 32 front 30 rear. I go for comfort and dont put so much road shock back through the vehicle.
Tyres are cheaper than car parts or repairs.
Do a mixture of road styles and paddock work. Prado does not see much paddock work.
Have 2 HiLux, HiAce and Prado.
HiAce has 45psi all round but fully loaded and goes where a lot of 4wd go in 4wd.

[Guest Close Guest]

How old is the Kakadu? Hoe many kms on the current suspension? Is it still on the original factory suspension or aftermarket? Have you checked the shocks for leaks?

[Milkmanstan Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Milkmanstan]

Thanks Milkmanstan
At present I am running 200 which is around 29 psi. Does the normal/comfort mode settings work on 4h or only on 4l as I'm blowed if I can find any difference. Love the Kakadu just need to get the ride right around town. Thanks

It definitely works on H4, should work on low 4, don't see a reason why would Toyota disable it on low 4.

You feel the car wallow abit more on comfort setting and it is noticeable between all the comfort, normal and sport settings. Your tyre pressure is sure low enough to go through humps with comfort...

If it is a new car, bring it in to get it sorted. Maybe ask to test drive another car to compare if they insist if there is no problems. If it is a second hand car maybe the original shocks and springs have been changed? Gd luck!

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

40pai is a must in anything with 2T or more, especially with passenger car tyres like the dinlops.

[pradokakadudavid Member Find all posts View Profile Close pradokakadudavid]

I have a 2016 Prado Kakadu and usually set the suspension setting to sport as it is a bit soft on normal or soft settings. But very very comfortable for a 4 wheel drive. Don't confuse the weight and performance of this vehicle with how a sedan behaves. Unfortunately as a large number of Kakadus are bought for shopping trolleys and school runs only, the factory suspension is quite soft because that is what most buyers (not 4 wheel drive users) want. I hammer mine in the bush and it seems fine. Having said that I have just ordered a Bilstein suspension kit for front and rear to provide 50mm more height at both ends and much stiffer suspension for off road use. Depending on how you use your vehicle, the standard suspension is fine.

[pradokakadudavid Member Find all posts View Profile Close pradokakadudavid]

Suspensions settings work whether in H or L

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

I notice a definite difference I leave it in sport mode mostly. On long trips on the highway comfort mode makes it feel like its floating (the kid's words). In the estate where I live also switch to comfort to soften the blow from the multiple speed bumps.

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

I have a 2016 Prado Kakadu and usually set the suspension setting to sport as it is a bit soft on normal or soft settings. But very very comfortable for a 4 wheel drive. Don't confuse the weight and performance of this vehicle with how a sedan behaves. Unfortunately as a large number of Kakadus are bought for shopping trolleys and school runs only, the factory suspension is quite soft because that is what most buyers (not 4 wheel drive users) want. I hammer mine in the bush and it seems fine. Having said that I have just ordered a Bilstein suspension kit for front and rear to provide 50mm more height at both ends and much stiffer suspension for off road use. Depending on how you use your vehicle, the standard suspension is fine.

Would you take your Kakadu with standard suspension through the Simpson?

I want to change the suspension on mine... (Because i want to do some of the iconic tracks -> not necessary pulling heavy loads) .... still struggling to get over the mental barrier of replacing the OEM hardware!

[would have done it in a flash if it were a GXL]

[geoffmc1 Member Find all posts View Profile Close geoffmc1]

Sam,

I think you may find that the jarring is the rear suspension bottoming out on the bump stops. I lifted mine with spaces and it never bottoms out anymore.

cheers
Geoff