Suspension Question

[CarlosC]

Thinking about an OME suspension kit for a 1999 gen 2.5. But I've heard so many good things about the KYB Monomax's.

If you were to go the KYB route, would you get a set of rear coils springs and new torsion bars also? If so, from where?

For those of you who are running KYBs, do you have the model numbers for front and rear?

Thanks,


Carlos

 

[MARKSMONTE]

I PUT IRONMAN TORSION BARS AND SPRINGS ON MY GEN 1.
THE SPRINGS MADE A HUGH DIFRENCE BUT I DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFRENCE WITH THE TORSION BARS.
LOVE THE KYB'S.
THE REAR SPRINGS RAISED MY 90 3 5/8 INCHES. I CAN LOAD IT TO THE MAX NOW AND WE DO.

MY 99 IS A REAL SOLID TRUCK SO I WILL PROBABLY JUST ADD SPRINGS AND THEN ADJUST THE TORSION BARS TO MATCH.

I'D LIKE TO SEE WHAT YOU DO AND TAKE PICTURES.

 

[grandpa]

I bought the KYB Gas-A-Just from RockAuto.com. I have stock springs and torsion bars and the ride is excellent. Has anyone tried airbags in the rear springs for increased load capacity without a harsh unloaded ride?

 

[off-roader]

I bought the KYB Gas-A-Just from RockAuto.com. I have stock springs and torsion bars and the ride is excellent. Has anyone tried airbags in the rear springs for increased load capacity without a harsh unloaded ride?

Yes some have on 4x4wire. Primary use was to increase load carrying capability and the reviews that I recall were positive.

 

[ca18_sean]

I have airbags in the rear that I inflate when towing my boat. I like them!

 

[GFO]

I'm approaching 138k on my 1997 Montero; it's still on the factory shocks and I'll be replacing them with KYB Monomax front and rear (KYB Part # 565024 / KYB Part # 565025) soon. $234.06 with shipping to my location from rockauto.com. Amazon.com has them for slightly cheaper at the moment and with free shipping.

I've considered Old Man Emu, both the shocks and springs. You can get a "complete suspension kit" for $499.00 or around $750 with the torsion bars at rocky-road.com/monterosus.html. The former sounds really tempting to me.

 

[MonteroLTD]

It depends on youre needs. KYB will retain the stock load capacity and smooth ride. Aftermarket kits such as OME or Ironman will increase your capacity and raise your vehicle but the ride will be harsh if it isn't loaded. I went with the Ironman medium capacity set up and my ride is a bit rough unloaded.

 

[SoCalMonty]

It depends on your tires too. Smaller tires/more pressure is going to mean a more harsh ride; larger tires/less pressure won't be as bad.

I have the Ironman kit and KYB Gas-A-Justs on my Gen2. The ride is not harsh on the road unloaded, and mine just has the 2 front seats in it (2nd and 3rd row are removed), so it's a little lighter than most. I recall the way my Gen1 felt with stock, cranked torsion bars - it was like a pogo stick. The aftermarket bars allow more height and a more compliant ride compared to stock, cranked bars.

On rough roads (dirt, rocks) it's a little on the harsh side at full air pressure (like any truck will be) - then I air down a little (mid-high 20's) and it's just fine, not harsh at all.

 

[off-roader]

Sean's right and it's one reason I have larger tires.:smiley_drive:

 

[GFO]

SoCalMonty,

Do you know if there's a large handling difference between the Gas-A-Just and the Monomax KYBs?

 

[SoCalMonty]

SoCalMonty,

Do you know if there's a large handling difference between the Gas-A-Just and the Monomax KYBs?

I've been reading a few forums and the Monomax is definitely valved/damped firmer than the G-A-J. I'm not sure if they will necessarily last longer.

I have to wonder, though - with as stiff as these Monteros ride once you have cranked T-bars, or aftermarket suspension parts like overload springs...I don't know that I'd want a really stiff shock. The G-A-J seems to dampen well enough. On a Tacoma board, people were using the Monomax (and also a G-A-J alternate part number, which fits their trucks but is valved stiffer than the standard Tacoma application) to make up for the fact their springs were "too soft" from the factory. I feel like the Montero has the opposite problem once it's lifted - the spring rates go up and it rides - well, like a truck. lol.

So...I don't have a solid answer. Here's what I've gathered...

1) The Monomax is valved more stiff than the G-A-J. I'm guessing it's probably in the realm of ~15% stiffer.

2) The G-A-J units can handle my Ironman kit just fine; it doesn't feel under-dampened.

3) When I move to other shocks, I will be paying more attention to extended length rather than valving, to get a bit more travel from the suspension tweaks I'm working on. If I drove it like a Pre-Runner truck, I would be more concerned about valving...but I drive like a little old lady both on and off-road, so if the shock does an adequate job of keeping the tire on the road, I'm happy.

4) I don't have swaybars on my truck at all...so handling isn't something I'm too concerned with. lol!

 

[GFO]

Hmmm. Gives me something to think about, as the GAJs are about $12-$15 cheaper and I could use that $50-$60 somewhere else, but I also do tend to like a stiffer ride on trucks.

Do you happen to know where the stock shocks fall when compared to the MM and GAJ? Thanks for the input!

 

[SoCalMonty]

Hmmm. Gives me something to think about, as the GAJs are about $12-$15 cheaper and I could use that $50-$60 somewhere else, but I also do tend to like a stiffer ride on trucks.

Do you happen to know where the stock shocks fall when compared to the MM and GAJ? Thanks for the input!

I'm half asleep, but I want to say I saw someone mention that the MM's were a little more firm than the stock adjustables on the "hard" setting. I'm not sure about how they compare to the OE static shocks. My guess is, the GAJ is pretty close to the stock static units - maybe a hair more firm, if anything - as it's meant to be an OE replacement. The MM is going to be noticeably stiffer, but how much I really can't say.

I have a feeling the difference between GAJ and MM is similar to the difference between the standard and HD Bilsteins. Sometimes it's hard to go off of people's reviews because if they are replacing badly worn shocks, *anything* would feel much more firm than what they had before!

 

[GFO]

Thanks again, I'll have to do some digging before choosing, but I might just go with the GAJ.

 

[CarlosC]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

SoCalMonty, if I'm understanding right, did you end up mixing and matching your suspension? Are you running Ironman coil springs and torsion bars along with KYB GAJ's? This was something I was wondering about. I didn't know if it was a good idea to go KYB's for absorbers and buy springs and torsion bars from OME or Ironman. I'd be curious if you guys had opinions on this.

My assumption was that companies like ARB and Ironman tune and design everything to work as a system so that you'd only get the best performance out of each component if it was working together with the other parts from the same company.

Here's another suspension related question. When do you know that you need to / or should replace your torsion bars? When I spoke to someone at Rocky Road Outfitters about the OME kit, he recommended just buying the shocks and coils for $499 instead of the entire kit (w/torsion bars) for $7??. I am wondering if I should initially just change out shocks and possibly coils and hold off on replacing torsion bars. They don't appear to ever have been cranked, but I'll be taking a closer look this weekend.