Thread: Hilux inverted leaf springs

@hunt08

Mate, this is not a difficult problem to solve.

Get in touch with one of the suspension specialists in Hamilton. I recommend Automotive Solutions Hamilton. They carry Lovells springs which is a superior brand used throughout Australia for commercial vehicles, not a flash Harry 4WD product but a proper working vehicle product. Tell them what you need, they will tailor the right package, you drive up from Wanganui early on the day, drive home later that afternoon in what will feel like a completely different vehicle.
@MSL is someone to ask, pretty sure he used these guys in Hamilton as well. Maybe someone else. Either way he was very happy with his Hilux suspension upgrade, also for loads & work use.

Like I say, not hard, it’s gonna cost you but it will it will transform your Hilux and last forever.

Originally Posted by Flyblown

@hunt08

Mate, this is not a difficult problem to solve.

Get in touch with one of the suspension specialists in Hamilton. I recommend Automotive Solutions Hamilton. They carry Lovells springs which is a superior brand used throughout Australia for commercial vehicles, not a flash Harry 4WD product but a proper working vehicle product. Tell them what you need, they will tailor the right package, you drive up from Wanganui early on the day, drive home later that afternoon in what will feel like a completely different vehicle.
@MSL is someone to ask, pretty sure he used these guys in Hamilton as well. Maybe someone else. Either way he was very happy with his Hilux suspension upgrade, also for loads & work use.

Like I say, not hard, it’s gonna cost you but it will it will transform your Hilux and last forever.

Thanks for that I know it's not hard thing to solve but it's finding the right people to do the job that know what the talking about is the hard thing when I don't know enough about it to know when sales people are talking shit to make a sale lol

Originally Posted by Flyblown

@hunt08

Mate, this is not a difficult problem to solve.

Get in touch with one of the suspension specialists in Hamilton. I recommend Automotive Solutions Hamilton. They carry Lovells springs which is a superior brand used throughout Australia for commercial vehicles, not a flash Harry 4WD product but a proper working vehicle product. Tell them what you need, they will tailor the right package, you drive up from Wanganui early on the day, drive home later that afternoon in what will feel like a completely different vehicle.
@MSL is someone to ask, pretty sure he used these guys in Hamilton as well. Maybe someone else. Either way he was very happy with his Hilux suspension upgrade, also for loads & work use.

Like I say, not hard, it’s gonna cost you but it will it will transform your Hilux and last forever.

Yep, good advice. I found exactly what you did, about 3 shops/dealers including Ford's local walked away and couldn't sort it after the uprated rear leafs were installed (they were done leaving the factory shocks at the back and front untouched due to smashing towball shanks on driveways and not being able to connect trailers up as the jockey wheel would not wind down enough to unweight the trailer coupling). This is why I'm saying you need to do the front at the same time, what happened to mine is the rear lift through fitting the 7-leaf pack took the front end past the limits of the alignment devices and effectively turned the vehicle into a widowmaker - the front end would just depart control with zero warning and slide to one side or the other. On gravel, ended up needing to operate it like a rally car - in 4wd and the boot hard up the boitch to pull the front end straight. Total pain in the arse...

Ford left the chat at this point, so I had to find someone to fix it which is when I found out I couldn't as basically there wasn't anyone with the knowledge on the PX ranger at that stage. Imported a set of foam cell shocks and struts and front springs - fitted them which meant it went a lot better but the front end on heavy springs without a bar or winch meant there wasn't enough weight over the front axle so it drove like a forklift. Cornered amazing though haha.

Took the aftermarket coils out, and put the standard back in - luckily I had dimensioned everything prior to doing the mods so a bit of a run with the calculator and a few well aimed guesstimates was how I ended up with a 10mm spacer on the front strut to slightly increase the front end preload. Next problem is the spacers were not available in NZ and on 3 month backorder in Aus, so I had to bloody make them! Another pain in the arse. All done, it was a massive improvement in ride quality, compliance when hitting bumps etc and also road manners - the interesting one is the traction control was a lot more gentle and smoother when engaging rather than the crash when it was on factory gear.