Hey guys, so small update here:
I have installed the Front Pajero specific B6 4600 Bilstein Monotubes ( B6 Bilstein 24-017947 ), and the Rear B8 5100 Bilstein Monotubes off of an F250 Ford as mentioned previously ( B8 5100's for the Ford Super Duty 24-065283 )
Along with this I have removed the rear sway bar.
So far I am enjoying the shocks front and rear and the ride is nicely damped and comfortable, albeit with some extra roll in the rear from the sway bar removed. I don't mind the sway bar removed so far, I do drive with my family (wife and daughter) so I am very aware of how it has affected the handling with more roll&leaning in the rear, I don't really drive over 100-110KMPH/60-65MPH. I am getting use to it, I wouldn't say its for everyone, but myself and my wife don't mind it, we are just careful at highway speeds about sudden/emergency swerving as that is the only time I feel like the car is uneasy.
For the purpose of my following questions, I am running Ironman uprated Torsion bars, lifted around an inch in the front over stock. Also Nissan GQ Patrol STD Springs, around 3.5"/85mm lift +- in the rear.
So I took the car out for a little flex test today on a cargo ramp at a local store.
Pics below:
I am quite stoked with the articulation/flex, it definitely seems good, from my experience I would put it at around an 80 series landcruiser with a 2" lift for comparison. Maybe a bit better+-.
When taking my measurements underneath for how much l want to space my bump stops, and checking clearances etc, a few questions came to mind:
- I am stoked with the flex, but somehow imagined I would gain more with these shocks providing around 2" more travel at the shock (must more than your regular 2" lift shocks off the shelf for the pajero). From the Pics, what are your opinions on the amount of flex? Do you think it should be more, or does that look about right?
- My first area where I checked to see where I need to bump stop my travel was the shock body against the Radius arm in the rear, where I stopped in the pics, I would need around a 1"/25mm bump stop spacer, to keep the shock body at a "fair" distance before contacting the radius arm under more flex and binding/damaging the monotube shock. At that 25mm bump stop spacer limit, the shock body has around 3mm space/gap to the radius arm.
With this in mind:
The shocks still have almost an inch or more travel left.
I didn't realize binding on the radius arm would be my "biggest" concern or limiting factor. Has anyone else experienced this, and is there anything you can do to gain a bit more travel and still have space between your shock body and radius arm?
- I thought my springs my get to the point of "popping out" because of the amount of suspension travel, but they still seem pretty securely in their perches at this point mentioned with the shock radius arm limit.
Being that the Patrol springs fitted to my truck are around at least 3"/75mm longer than regular springs, is that why they are still secure, being so tall? As I have heard I would need spring retainers with these shocks/travel length shocks, and mine would fall out. But as I said, mine don't, does that mean something is limiting the travel that I should be getting or are my springs just that tall?
- Can the Panhard Bar limit travel? Mine is still standard length and mounted to the standard mounting points. Would this in anyway limit the suspension travel?
- So the shocks still have more travel in them to give, it's mainly the radius arm - shock body space limiting at the moment as far as I can see.
Looking forward to any advice, thanks!
