Suspension Re-Do - Front and Rears

[REI600]

So, I am trying to get this ute back to a point where it resembles that someone has given a sh*t about it at some stage. Getting there I guess... The next step in this process, is what holds the vehicle on the road. I took it in to the local Fulcrum dealer and had them give the old "once over" and it came back confirming things I knew and also telling me of wear that I wasn't aware of but wasn't too surprised to hear.
 

So, on the cards is a front and rear suspension overdoo. A couple of bushes here and there and I think the LCAs needed a bit of loving. None too shocking.

The two quotes I got though... Holy christ!!

One quote for KYB shocks and the other for Bilsteins. Neither of them are happening. At least not through them.

Doing some reading on the changeover process of the rear leafs (as I've not really mucked around with leaves before) and the process seems quote simple. I've been doing some reading on here as to which brand is a decent option. Kings came up, Saw something about Pedders. A lot of these mention "superlow" and that is not something I'm keen to do at all :( The thing is too bloody low now (partly due to the sadness of the suspension gear I think).

I am not a stance kid and I am not looking to join that club. Just want a usable bloody ute :D Standard or 1 inch lower than would be fine I think. New nolethane bushes are available and VERY cost effective which I LOVE!!!

Pointers as to where I ought to be looking?

PS - Any tricky points about changing over the rear leafs in these or is it as straight forward as it looks?

Thanks in advance

[ROB83R]

Mate at work put those "superlows" leaves in his xr8 ute. Nothing low about it. Made it look like it came straight out of the 70's. 

He ended up getting them reset and the rear guard sits about 3/4 inch above the tyre. 

Changing should be pretty straight forward. 

Old mate @OZYWALKER has done it heaps of times and even fitted a 5 link rear to his fg ute. 

 

I would use superpro where you can. I've got all superpro in the rear of my xy and it's going great. For the front OEM rubber is the go. Quieter and smoother. 

By all reports bilsteins are an excellent shock. In saying that you'll notice an exceptional improvement by fitting new standard shocks. If you're not doing mountain runs or spirited driving or you're using it as a work ute you would probably be wasting the bilsteins. 

 

Hit up @JETURBO for prices on parts. He's a champ like that. 

[OZYWALKER]

Leafs are piss easy if you've got a jack and a few stands.
If you've got the factory leaf packs with the overload leafs you can swap them to the top of the pack to lower it a bit. I'd get rid of the saddle bushes altogether as well, makes no difference to nvh and seems more planted and there's less bushes to replace.
You'll have to make something up to locate the axle properly on the springs once you pull the saddles out though.

Do all that and I'd say you'd be an inch or so lower than factory.

I'd keep the front leaf eye bush a factory one and use either super pro or bike than for the rear eye and shackle bushes as the OEM rubber ones will only last a month before deforming.

Good shocks make a big difference in the rear, front as well but that's the same as a sedan.

[REI600]

@ROB83R -- Thanks for the tips mate I've had a sticky at the gear McDonals Bros are putting out Always impressive but, WAY outside my needs :D I'll chat to the aforementioned. Appreciate the tips!

@OZYWALKER -- The process seems pretty straight forward. The relocating and centering of the axles seems to be the trickiest part of it all :D

I've not nailed it down to one shock or the other really. KYB and Bilstein are both great. It'll come down to what I can afford and what is available really. I'd say it'll be a two parter. Rear and then front.

Thanks for the bushing tips!

[REI600]

So, I am thinking that a Set of Kings FOR-303SL would do the trick, A set of Nolethane bushes and then just work out which shocks I wanna use... I am not planning on competing in any hill climbs but would like the ute to stick pretty well to the blacktop. See what I can find. There is a few options.

Rears done would be a day job so long as I am organized (I'd be doing it by my lonesome).

[El Andrew]

Good luck with it! Definitely shop around for price.

I've got KYB shocks and King springs (plus shock bushes for front) sitting here ready to go in my BA sedan. Just need to lay turf in the backyard, paint the kids' bedrooms and prepare a birthday party first...

[BAXRTUTE]

10 hours ago, OZYWALKER said:

Leafs are piss easy if you've got a jack and a few stands.
If you've got the factory leaf packs with the overload leafs you can swap them to the top of the pack to lower it a bit. I'd get rid of the saddle bushes altogether as well, makes no difference to nvh and seems more planted and there's less bushes to replace.
You'll have to make something up to locate the axle properly on the springs once you pull the saddles out though.

Do all that and I'd say you'd be an inch or so lower than factory.

I'd keep the front leaf eye bush a factory one and use either super pro or bike than for the rear eye and shackle bushes as the OEM rubber ones will only last a month before deforming.

Good shocks make a big difference in the rear, front as well but that's the same as a sedan.

Nice work again Dan.

 

P.S good luck today mate!! Cut some onions for waterworks affect before going in.

[OZYWALKER]

Lol.

[REI600]

Getting a local mob to reset the leaves and then, I'll deal with the shocks and bushes.

Will be a fairly solid idea I think and saves me trying to ship this junk across country. Freight for this kind of thing tends to negate what ever savings can be found unless the gear can be collected.

After the suspension is done... Then I'll be looking into helping her breath in better... That'll be fun I think

Then a tune That should hurt