Who's vehicle has the best suspension upgrade?

[Isuzumu]

I want to upgrade the OE suspension on the D.Max and can not pick which is the best, I have no idea, there is so much out there so I thought you guys here could agrue (no we must not do that  ). But for me to get a realistic idea of what I need to buy I want you Swaggers to tell me why your's is the best and yes if you are unhappy with it.
Thanks for all your input. 

[evolution]

Could you give us a starting point on what you plan to use the car for?
What you want to achieve out of the suspension upgrade? EG Clearance, load ability, off road ability?
Also what you will have in the back of the ute load wise, (weight)

Cheers
Evo

[Isuzumu]

P.S. for got to say this vehicle has struts on the front and leaf springs at the rear.

[Bird]

Whats your budget?

[Isuzumu]

Could you give us a starting point on what you plan to use the car for?
What you want to achieve out of the suspension upgrade? EG Clearance, load ability, off road ability?
Also what you will have in the back of the ute load wise, (weight)

Cheers
Evo

Thanks Evo, yes have a medium up grade, 40mm lift, but I like to keep the vehicle level when towing I find the OE shocks are to small. Well be doing a bit of corrugation driving while towing, out camper has independent air suspension, but would like to have a suspension  that is pretty capable of keeping up to towing it. I do not mind spending a few bucks to get it right.

[Isuzumu]

Whats your budget?

SAX quoted me $2600, but I could not see if the shocks are that great for the price. So about $2000 I think is ok, that's not including fitting. I am going to give King shocks  (nothing to do with King springs) a call tomorrow, Bruce Garland uses them on his Dakar D.Max, I do not need them that good, but they tell me they have OE replacements for the D.Max, I think they may be a little expensive, have a felling around $300 a shock.

[evolution]

I had fitted the Iron man 2" lift kit on my RA rodeo.  I understand apples and watermelons, but I must admit I couldn't find a fault with it.
I have TJM gold on  the patrol and it still feels a bit squishy for me. I think if I had of paid for the shocks in the patrol I would have gone Iron man again.
Its a much of a muchness really, But the 2G mark for full kit is about where everyone sits.
I know that the dmax/colorado/rodeo forum have a heap of insight into the upgrads for lift though.

[Isuzumu]

I had fitted the Iron man 2" lift kit on my RA rodeo.  I understand apples and watermelons, but I must admit I couldn't find a fault with it.
I have TJM gold on  the patrol and it still feels a bit squishy for me. I think if I had of paid for the shocks in the patrol I would have gone Iron man again.
Its a much of a muchness really, But the 2G mark for full kit is about where everyone sits.
I know that the dmax/colorado/rodeo forum have a heap of insight into the upgrads for lift though.

Thanks Evo, will go and have a look at that site.

[Humbolt]

Try Zordo here on the forum, there a few good reports floating around!!
Sorry, thats all I have to add

[Isuzumu]

I just rang the chap at King shocks and for the four shocks and front springs........$3200 ouch, but they are hand built and the warranty is for the life of the vehicle. He guaranteed I could drive over a very bad corrugated road and not feel a thing. Iam seriously thinking about a set, especially with the life time warranty.

[Red Dog 4x4]

I have Amarda Shocks F+R from Superior, with Profender bump stops in the front,with limiting straps as well for jumping, the difference from the EFS Extremes was amazing so much smother rather than a bone jarring impacts ( the Extremes are very hard when not used off road much IE - full articulation )

If I could afford it I would have put Kings on as I know how good thay are, We see them in the off road racing cars..

Red Dog

[Isuzumu]

I have Amarda Shocks F+R from Superior, with Profender bump stops in the front,with limiting straps as well for jumping, the difference from the EFS Extremes was amazing so much smother rather than a bone jarring impacts ( the Extremes are very hard when not used off road much IE - full articulation )

If I could afford it I would have put Kings on as I know how good thay are, We see them in the off road racing cars..

Red Dog

Thanks Red Dog, the way I look at it is I keep my vehicles for a long time so I pay for the best and then hopefully never have to worry about them.
Now to find a good set of leaf springs for the rear.

[Squalo]

I thought you guys here could agrue

I like that word - agrue. Argue and agree all in one, just like most posts around here

[spargo]

I have a 2008 Triton dual-cab (VR) with an alloy tray. After 55,000km we recently fitted The Ultimate Suspension all-round. See: http://www.ultimatesuspension.com.au/

It is excellent. In my opinion it craps all over the Old Man Emu/ARB stuff.

Highly recommended.

[Nutto]

Hi Bruce
Have a look here http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=12552.msg224858#msg224858  and scroll thru this thread to give an overview of what I did to my D-max last year regarding suspension upgrade. There's some good before & after pics in there, as well as details of other mods I've done.  There's a pic in there of the camper hooked up to the std rear end which can be compared to the one in my footer pic.  Only thing I had to do after was install wedges between the rear axle & leaf pack to get rid of the driveline shudder caused by the driveline angle to the diff.
Can't offer much in the way of the front end as mines torsion bar.
To date it has been excellent and the springs have not sagged or anything.

Cheers
Nutto

[Isuzumu]

Hi Bruce
Have a look here http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=12552.msg224858#msg224858  and scroll thru this thread to give an overview of what I did to my D-max last year regarding suspension upgrade. There's some good before & after pics in there, as well as details of other mods I've done.  There's a pic in there of the camper hooked up to the std rear end which can be compared to the one in my footer pic.  Only thing I had to do after was install wedges between the rear axle & leaf pack to get rid of the driveline shudder caused by the driveline angle to the diff.
Can't offer much in the way of the front end as mines torsion bar.
To date it has been excellent and the springs have not sagged or anything.

Cheers
Nutto

Thanks Natto, Bilsteins are on the short list, and doing the springs that way is good also, did similar to the MU. Because the suspension is totally different to your D.Max it makes it a lot hard to work out what to do, my biggest problem is getting a good set of front struts, why I am looking at the King schocks as they are especially made for the D.Max.

[discoteddy]

I have a 2008 Triton dual-cab (VR) with an alloy tray. After 55,000km we recently fitted The Ultimate Suspension all-round. See: http://www.ultimatesuspension.com.au/

It is excellent. In my opinion it craps all over the Old Man Emu/ARB stuff.

Highly recommended.

x 2.

I have the Ultimate Suspension front and rear on a 2009 VR Triton, been on her now for 50,000kms, Fraser 3 times and the Vic High Country twice, not a problem!!! This set up replaced 16 months of IronMan Suspension dramas, wouldn't touch the stuff again.  As my grandfather said, "buy right and cry once." Good luck on your research.

Cheers,

Discoteddy.

[BigJules]

Bruce Garland, of Dakar and Australian safari fame, does a suspension kit specifically for Dmax.

Google for details or I can get you in touch.

[Isuzumu]

x 2.

I have the Ultimate Suspension front and rear on a 2009 VR Triton, been on her now for 50,000kms, Fraser 3 times and the Vic High Country twice, not a problem!!! This set up replaced 16 months of IronMan Suspension dramas, wouldn't touch the stuff again.  As my grandfather said, "buy right and cry once." Good luck on your research.

Cheers,

Discoteddy.

Thanks mate told the boss how much the King shocks were and she said go for it love my darling wife 
Still to work out what rear springs to use though, maybe the Ultimate.

[Isuzumu]

Bruce Garland, of Dakar and Australian safari fame, does a suspension kit specifically for Dmax.

Google for details or I can get you in touch.

Yep have checked it out and they only have available for the last model. But Bruce actually uses King shocks which I think I will invest in I think.

[wholehog]

I have a 2008 Triton dual-cab (VR) with an alloy tray. After 55,000km we recently fitted The Ultimate Suspension all-round. See: http://www.ultimatesuspension.com.au/

It is excellent. In my opinion it craps all over the Old Man Emu/ARB stuff.

Highly recommended.

Although i have this fitted on a hilux
Great service....Great bunnch of guys who have been doing this for many many years

[spargo]

Thanks mate told the boss how much the King shocks were and she said go for it love my darling wife 
Still to work out what rear springs to use though, maybe the Ultimate.

I should have added, we tow a 2010 Lifestyle Extenda, with an average ball weight (i can just lift it off the pin) because of a 60L Engel in the walkway, plus small front toolbox & poles. Our suspension was a 2" lift kit. 

Compared to the stock Mitsu springs which sagged probably 20mm on hitch up, even with light loads, the Ultimate sags a matter of millimeters. On and off-road, it is magic when towing. If only for the rear leafs, I'd still recommend their gear. Best to call them and go through it. They do this kind-of interview of you and your car to exactly customise what you should get, and then can ship them for fitting locally. I had mine fitted by my regular Mitsubishi dealer, who has the same suspension as well. He recommends it, and tows a large boat with the same springs as ours.

[Isuzumu]

I should have added, we tow a 2010 Lifestyle Extenda, with an average ball weight (i can just lift it off the pin) because of a 60L Engel in the walkway, plus small front toolbox & poles. Our suspension was a 2" lift kit. 

Compared to the stock Mitsu springs which sagged probably 20mm on hitch up, even with light loads, the Ultimate sags a matter of millimeters. On and off-road, it is magic when towing. If only for the rear leafs, I'd still recommend their gear. Best to call them and go through it. They do this kind-of interview of you and your car to exactly customise what you should get, and then can ship them for fitting locally. I had mine fitted by my regular Mitsubishi dealer, who has the same suspension as well. He recommends it, and tows a large boat with the same springs as ours.

Thanks Spargo, worth a phone call.