Rob
Well-Known Member
I fitted some used OME shocks with new Inroman B coils (+200kg rear +50kg front I think) and I am really not happy with the vehicle's handling on paved roads when loaded up. The vehicle has around 350 to 400kg of extra weight on it at the moment including a roof tent and a spare wheel on an aluminium roof rack. When driving on paved roads it feels very top heavy which makes overtaking on roads with deep ruts caused by lorries rather hairy. Also in uneven corners the vehicle oscillates side to side uncomfortably. It is not riding too low but it is definitely lower than after the coils settled. There are a few more observations that I would like to add, driving on tar after 2000km of corrugations and over 10000km potholes the handling is considerably worse. The ARB bushes are cracked on the chassis side, non-existent on the axle end up front (not sure about rear) and the control arm bushes look shot. Also after one stretch of 400km of corrugations the OME dampers where so hot I almost burnt myself when checking them over.
There is a place in Ulaanbaatar where I can buy OME suspension (sorry I cant take orders) for about half the price than in the UK and there is a good Toyota dealer here with very cheap labour. The Ironman coils are known to be much softer than OME of the same load ratings which would be better for top heavy vehicles IMO but there may be more to it than just changing the coils im my case. What should I change to get the greatest improvement in handling? When I get back to the UK I will be using it for greenlaning and playing in the woods so +400kg coils on the rear is not an option. How can I check if the dampers are OK apart form rocking the vehicle and checking for leaks? Ideally I should get it all done but cost may be an issue.
There is a place in Ulaanbaatar where I can buy OME suspension (sorry I cant take orders) for about half the price than in the UK and there is a good Toyota dealer here with very cheap labour. The Ironman coils are known to be much softer than OME of the same load ratings which would be better for top heavy vehicles IMO but there may be more to it than just changing the coils im my case. What should I change to get the greatest improvement in handling? When I get back to the UK I will be using it for greenlaning and playing in the woods so +400kg coils on the rear is not an option. How can I check if the dampers are OK apart form rocking the vehicle and checking for leaks? Ideally I should get it all done but cost may be an issue.