lift kit

[freerider170]

hi everyone, i'm the new owner of a 2013 yd25, the suspension looks stock, and very low.
i'm looking at a 2inchs lift kit, i do want something good but not overpriced(fulcrum, raw...?)
i've been given a ultraking lift kit with it( 4 shockies, extendend shackles and new torsion bar) are they worth it? or should i sell it and get something better?
thanks for your advise

 

[BarneyB]

Fulcrum looks like good vfm to me... I nearly bought their kit.

I don't know about ultra king.

I went with a 2" kit from Tough Dog.
For less than $2k I got foam cell shocks, 0-300kg springs, poly bushes.

The ride quality on and off road is superb.
Excellent value IMO.

(My Nav is a D40, but it's still relevant to your question)

 

[tweak'e]

hi everyone, i'm the new owner of a 2013 yd25, the suspension looks stock, and very low.
i'm looking at a 2inchs lift kit, i do want something good but not overpriced(fulcrum, raw...?)
i've been given a ultraking lift kit with it( 4 shockies, extendend shackles and new torsion bar) are they worth it? or should i sell it and get something better?
thanks for your advise

with a d22 you really only need new torsion bars if your fitting a bull bar and winch.
extended shackles is a waste because the big problem with these is the poor factory leaf springs. you need to fix the leaf springs, either add a leaf or replace the whole spring. then of course you don't need extended shackles.

a simple thing is to just get 2" lift rear springs and some decent shocks. wind up the front torsions to suit.

 

[freerider170]

with a d22 you really only need new torsion bars if your fitting a bull bar and winch.
extended shackles is a waste because the big problem with these is the poor factory leaf springs. you need to fix the leaf springs, either add a leaf or replace the whole spring. then of course you don't need extended shackles.

a simple thing is to just get 2" lift rear springs and some decent shocks. wind up the front torsions to suit.

thanks for that, i do have a steel bar already and i will be fitting a winch soon, so i guess new hd tosion bar may be a good idea.
which rear springs and shocks to choose?
formula and raw are around the same price, bilstein are more expensive(worth it)
thanks

 

[Horatius]

thanks for that, i do have a steel bar already and i will be fitting a winch soon, so i guess new hd tosion bar may be a good idea.
which rear springs and shocks to choose?
formula and raw are around the same price, bilstein are more expensive(worth it)
thanks

It might be worth trying the torsion bars that are on it, could save you some dough. I've got a steel bull bar and winch with raised rears and front wound up to match, the factory torsion bars are fine.

 

[freerider170]

It might be worth trying the torsion bars that are on it, could save you some dough. I've got a steel bull bar and winch with raised rears and front wound up to match, the factory torsion bars are fine.

Thanks, but the car came with HD torsion bars, not fitted yet, I will as soon as I fit the winch.
I just don't know what suspension to get(shocks and rear leaf springs)
I'm tempted to get the formula from fulcrum.

 

[BarneyB]

Thanks, but the car came with HD torsion bars, not fitted yet, I will as soon as I fit the winch.
I just don't know what suspension to get(shocks and rear leaf springs)
I'm tempted to get the formula from fulcrum.

From what I can see the Fulcrum stuff looks like good value.
I have replaced or upgraded suspension on almost every car I've ever owned. There is a difference with shocks & price vs features.
If you just want to restore the factory ride and add a factor of comfort & performance, then there are loads of oil/nitrogen twin tube shocks out there.
They all perform perfectly well & are good value. My old Falcon ute got cheap Monroe & KYB basic shocks and they're great. No complaints.
But when you step up to foam cell or mono-tube or remote etc etc there is a noticeable difference in ride quality and, more importantly, consistent ride quality over longer period of heat build-up. If your Nav is just for running around and a few dirt roads then the Fulcrum nitrogen shocks would be perfect.
But if you're driving a lot of half-buggered back roads & rough tracks for longer distances, and your kids/missus value comfort, get the best shocks your budget allows. HTH.

 

[KwakaZX10R]

I had the Fulcrum / Bilstein shock combo installed 4 years ago.....love it!

I went with the 300kg constant load rear springs, and the Nav loves it.

Great ride even when the tub is empty, but loaded up and with a 2.5T van hitched up, she is in her element. Tows brilliantly and is very stable on the road.

Could not recommend that combo more highly

 

[Horatius]

I got EFS leafs, a set of KYB "scorched 4's" (which won't outdo top shelf ones, but are still very under rated IMO) and new bushings for something around $850 all up. All seems to match quite well. I can be a tight arse though lol. Been all through the tracks in the centre, Simpson, Flinders, high country and so on and many highway miles in between quite happily.

A lot depends on the type of driving you are doing. Touring on the highway a basic (ie. cheaper) upgrade for more comfort might be ok. But on rough corrugated outback roads/tracks good suspension is very important not only for comfort, but reliability becomes important. Especially loaded up. For low speed off road stuff it makes no real difference (although a lift helps).

I remember a few years back a group of (rather expensive) Mercedes wagons set out on a promo trip along the Canning. Of course they were halted after a day or two while they got shockies flown in and someone picked them up, because the corrugations literally destroyed the factory ones. So much for that.

Shortly after this, someone took a factory Hilux on the same trip and as they had a huge fuel tank sitting in the back with enough fuel for the whole trip for it and the support car, asked Toyota for a spare set of shocks to be on the safe side. They refused of course, saying they wouldn't need any. They were right, the heavily loaded Hilux did it the whole trip without a whimper lol.

As to what is best, generally people aren't going to spend a lot of money on a suspension upgrade and tell you it's crap lol. Although there are occasional dissenting voices from people who were unhappy with "brand x" while others proclaim it the best thing since sliced bread. Talking to someone who specialises in suspension to match the shockies/springs might be worthwhile, but this has the risk of them promoting what is best for them (either more convenient or profitable). So I'd use a pinch of salt with what anyone (including me) tells you.

Most name brands will probably be alright, as they have a name to uphold. But this also usually means a sales and or advertising budget to pay for and within that range IMO higher prices (with some exceptions) doesn't necessarily equate to a better product.

 

[Horatius]

To be fair the driving styles weren't matched to terrain, but it's still not a great advertisement for Mercedes or Bilstein.

https://24htech.asia/10-years-ago-m...-to-be-trolled-by-a-toyota-hilux-s341283.html


Ended up quite a success for Toyota though lol. Not sure who makes their shockies (KYB?).

 

[gazza414]

When the car comes from Nissan brand new with a factory steel bull bar---it doesnt come with what some say are up graded torsion bars ?..

tell me, what are the specs on the so called upgraded TB's ?