bradm84
Member
- Joined
- Sep 1, 2014
- Messages
- 144
- Reaction score
- 0
Hi everyone,
I have just got back from a trip to Janowen Hills 4x4 park here in QLD. It is my second time with it offroad in my Nav since I bought it back in August.
It seems to be a great 4wd apart from the stock suspension setup. The issue I was having was that the front seems to bounce alot over the rocky stuff (even when being driven fairly mildly) and the back end doesn't get a whole lot of traction as it seems so stiff. And both ends have little articulation.
I am comparing the Nav with the R50 pathfinder that I had before it. The Pathy was alot more surefooted, with none of the bouncing and the back end had really good flex. The front of the Pathy had poor flex in the front though too.
I know that the articulation and ride is never going to be great in a ute with torsion bars and leaves compared to wagons with coils, but was hoping to get some ideas on how to soften things up a bit and get even just a little better articulation.
My first idea is to get extended shackles on the standard springs, and then fit some longer shocks on the back. Then get some new longer shocks for the front, the bars are already wound up a little to level the car out.
My other option is to just get a full lift kit with comfort springs in the back.
I also want to get a lokka in the front so I can take things a little slower as well.
Also will simply just carrying some weight in the back help as well to keep the rear under control a bit?
Am I on the right track or is there other ways to go about setting the Nav up better for offroad ability bearing in mind I don't carry, much weight and almost never tow anything.
One last question, what weight are the standard springs rated for? Are they a constant load or more similar to a comfort spring (0-300kg) that you can get in a lift kit? They just seem so hard when unladen.
Sorry for a bunch of questions in one go but I'm a bit worried about breaking things with all the bouncing around that the Nav seemed to do over the weekend. (Maybe it was all just to do with my driving...)
Thanks heaps
Brad
I have just got back from a trip to Janowen Hills 4x4 park here in QLD. It is my second time with it offroad in my Nav since I bought it back in August.
It seems to be a great 4wd apart from the stock suspension setup. The issue I was having was that the front seems to bounce alot over the rocky stuff (even when being driven fairly mildly) and the back end doesn't get a whole lot of traction as it seems so stiff. And both ends have little articulation.
I am comparing the Nav with the R50 pathfinder that I had before it. The Pathy was alot more surefooted, with none of the bouncing and the back end had really good flex. The front of the Pathy had poor flex in the front though too.
I know that the articulation and ride is never going to be great in a ute with torsion bars and leaves compared to wagons with coils, but was hoping to get some ideas on how to soften things up a bit and get even just a little better articulation.
My first idea is to get extended shackles on the standard springs, and then fit some longer shocks on the back. Then get some new longer shocks for the front, the bars are already wound up a little to level the car out.
My other option is to just get a full lift kit with comfort springs in the back.
I also want to get a lokka in the front so I can take things a little slower as well.
Also will simply just carrying some weight in the back help as well to keep the rear under control a bit?
Am I on the right track or is there other ways to go about setting the Nav up better for offroad ability bearing in mind I don't carry, much weight and almost never tow anything.
One last question, what weight are the standard springs rated for? Are they a constant load or more similar to a comfort spring (0-300kg) that you can get in a lift kit? They just seem so hard when unladen.
Sorry for a bunch of questions in one go but I'm a bit worried about breaking things with all the bouncing around that the Nav seemed to do over the weekend. (Maybe it was all just to do with my driving...)
Thanks heaps
Brad