Softening the ride on a 110

[GyroLandy]

I did a 2" lift a few years ago and used King Koil Heavy Duty springs all round. Great lift but when the vehicle is not heavily loaded (which is most of the time) it is a VERY hard ride. Speedbumps even at slow speeds feel like the there is no suspension.

I have the following Bilstein shocks:

Rear: F4-B46-0253-HO Typ23/Typ8
Front: F4-B46-0243-HO Typ36/Typ08

Not sure whether the shocks were standard or for a 2" lift.

Are these the right shocks?

Will a Poly-air sort this problem?

[Red90]

Heavy spring and stiff Bilstein shock equal harsh ride. Standard springs with Polyairs and a lighter shock like the Koni 8240 will make it ride very nice.

[isuzurover]

Polyairs will only make your suspension stiffer unless you swap to softer rear coils.

The best option would be to swap the coils for air springs - at least at the rear.

[GyroLandy]

Thx is there any solution that does not require me to remove the coils?

[chook73]

No and having chased my tail with suspension parts you are best to take it to a professional that can weight the car properly and give you a solution which suits your vehicle and your driving style.

They may be able to re-valve your shocks but not much can be done about harsh springs.

I find the problem with air bags is if the springs aren't setup right the bags stop the springs working properly and the tyre starts doing some of the work as you tend to over inflate the airbag to compensate for soft springs. Just a bit of experience.

[goingbush]

if your suspension is wrong, not only do you suffer harsh ride, you don't get good axle articulation = useless off road.

Why don't you want to change springs, if your prepared to change shocks its only an extra 5 mins (or less) to change a spring,

When I got my 110 I didn't like the stiff ride & the axle articulation was worse than my Toyota

It had 130 springs front & 130 helpers rear

I changed to standard height fronts (King standard duty) and original 110 rears with polyairs (shockers = Bilsteins front , TF Bigbores rear)

Car has ARB Bar & Winch Aux Tanks etc, Sits & rides just right when empty, & axle cross up how its meant to be.
when loaded & towing the Van I put 20psi in the polyairs & it's perfect,

I can also report that on corrugations its much smoother & QUIETER than both the 80 & 105 Toyotas, and that makes a huge difference when your touring.

[29dinosaur]

I have recently purchased a 110 crewcab which was fitted with 2" lift on Terrafirma heavy duty springs and terrafirma shocks capable of a 2" lift. This is a Puma with the cardan shaft fitted by Coopers. Like you the ride is pretty ordinary - read bouncy hard.... I've been advised to fit Les Richmond springs - orange front (180/17), green/orange rear (320/16.8).

Any comments by users of LR springs (white tiger)??

[isuzurover]

Thx is there any solution that does not require me to remove the coils?

NO.

(unless you want to permanently carry half a tonne of cement in the back).

[noogie]

if your suspension is wrong, not only do you suffer harsh ride, you don't get good axle articulation = useless off road.

Why don't you want to change springs, if your prepared to change shocks its only an extra 5 mins (or less) to change a spring,

When I got my 110 I didn't like the stiff ride & the axle articulation was worse than my Toyota

It had 130 springs front & 130 helpers rear

I changed to standard height fronts (King standard duty) and original 110 rears with polyairs (shockers = Bilsteins front , TF Bigbores rear)

Car has ARB Bar & Winch Aux Tanks etc, Sits & rides just right when empty, & axle cross up how its meant to be.
when loaded & towing the Van I put 20psi in the polyairs & it's perfect,

I can also report that on corrugations its much smoother & QUIETER than both the 80 & 105 Toyotas, and that makes a huge difference when your touring.

Gotta say Dons set up is very good.
I've driven his car & I was very impressed with how well it rides. It soaks up corrugated roads very well & excellent on the black top.
O

[Ranga]

I'm pulling out my inner springs bags and coils soon to replace them with full air suspension. Nothing but great feedback from those on here who have done that.

[Aaron]

I changed to standard height fronts (King standard duty) and original 110 rears with polyairs (shockers = Bilsteins front , TF Bigbores rear)



Just curious, how long hare you had the springs in, and has there been any sag in that time?

I dont suppose you have the part numbers or even models of what you used? This looks like the type of setup i have been chasing.

[Loubrey]

NO.

(unless you want to permanently carry half a tonne of cement in the back).

One of my 90's in the past was exclusively set up as a tourer (we have no kids, so the 90 worked for us...;)) and to carry a decent load in a 90 you have to do a bit of work to the rear coils. End result was a very hard ride when empty and I had to resort to carrying almost 200kg lead-shot ballast (as used in military helicopter flying training) in my 6 Gomo boxes to make the ride semi acceptable when "empty".

Pretty silly in retrospect...:D

Unfortunately I agree that there is no "fix" for hard coils.

Cheers,

Lou

[LoveMyV8County]

Best thing I ever did was put full replacement air suspension on the rear of my County. Absolutely fantastic - lots of control over ride and body roll, could pump it up for extra clearance or heavy loads, etc.

Worst thing I ever did was put taller, stiffer coils on the front. Loss of articulation and suppleness caused me to almost tip over on a rocky track, it caused premature wear on the front prop shaft uni joint (steeper operating angle), and I had some steering wander at speed.

My opinion - standard height on the front, coil replacement air bag on the rear.

Chris

[isuzurover]

Best thing I ever did was put full replacement air suspension on the rear of my County. Absolutely fantastic - lots of control over ride and body roll, could pump it up for extra clearance or heavy loads, etc....

x2. There are plenty of us on here running rear or full firestone air springs. Plenty of write-ups and how-tos including pics and part numbers if you search.

I have had mine in (rear only) since 2010 and would never go back to coils.

[goingbush]

Just curious, how long hare you had the springs in, and has there been any sag in that time?

I dont suppose you have the part numbers or even models of what you used? This looks like the type of setup i have been chasing.

Front Springs are KRFS03 , they are the same free length as the originals but laden sit about an inch higher than the original progressive 110 front springs, The Front bilsteins were on the car when I got it, Rear springs are original 2005 standard 110 with standard height polyairs from ARB,
had bilsteins in the rear and replaced with Terrafirma standard height BigBores, much better ride and feel than the bilsteins.

Terrafirmas & front King springs are 6 months old & still like new, Polyairs about 18 months old & going strong.

The setup is just right, like I said 5psi in the polyairs and it performs great with no load, and sits level, connect the Van and all loaded up 20 psi pumps it up level & rides just like its empty.

[Aaron]

excellent info. Thanks!

Without 5 psi in the back does it still give a nice ride?

[GyroLandy]

Thanks all.

I am looking at fitting a roof top tent to the front of the roof rack and adding a 50lt water and 55l fuel tank.

Should that take some of the hardness out? Would think all up probably 200kg of gear

[chook73]

Thanks all.

I am looking at fitting a roof top tent to the front of the roof rack and adding a 50lt water and 55l fuel tank.

Should that take some of the hardness out? Would think all up probably 200kg of gear

Put 200kg in the back and go for a drive but I would say so......

Fuel and water loads vary however so if you have a total of 200lt that varies just take that into account....

[goingbush]

excellent info. Thanks!

Without 5 psi in the back does it still give a nice ride?

the instructions reccomend to not go below 5psi, so I haven't tried.

[chook73]

the instructions reccomend to not go below 5psi, so I haven't tried.

Under 5psi you risk pinching the bags.......

[Albert]

I'm about to order full air for the back of my 110. The Airbag Man has got a kit with Dunlops instead of Firestones as all the other kits seem to be.
Anyone had bad reports about either?
I have some well used Dobinsons 2" lift shocks on now, Should I change them for somthing else to match the air bags?
I am carrying a camper up the Canning in two months time, and need improvment over the sagging, pogo stick ride I had over the Simpson ;)
I have put in a set of heavy Lovell's for trips and normaly change back to the lighter Dobinsons for running around empty, hoping air bags are as good as reported

[isuzurover]

Shock length sounds about right, but I cannot comment on valving.

I have no experience with dunlop air springs, only firestone.
I am sure others have bought airbag man mounts and bought bags from truckspring???

[DEF95]

G'day fellas could someone tell me if full air or air helpers restrict articulation compared to standard height coils with no anti roll bars on a defender

[isuzurover]

G'day fellas could someone tell me if full air or air helpers restrict articulation compared to standard height coils with no anti roll bars on a defender

Air bags/helpers/inserts restrict articulation quite a bit.

Air springs (coil replacement) do not. IME they offer much better (real) articulation than coils over a much wider load range.

[Didge]

How long do these air springs last? and what do they cost?
cheers Gerald

[isuzurover]

How long do these air springs last? and what do they cost?
cheers Gerald

Firestone air springs that most of us use are normally used on trucks and last a long time. I paid about US$300 a pair from Truck Suspension, Bilstein Shocks, Firestone Air Bags, Timbren, Leaf Springs - TruckSpring.com (http://www.truckspring.com)

[LoveMyV8County]

Air bags/helpers/inserts restrict articulation quite a bit.

Air springs (coil replacement) do not. IME they offer much better (real) articulation than coils over a much wider load range.

X 2

[FeatherWeightDriver]

Interesting.

Am I correct in assuming you would only put them in the back where the load is, or can they go in the front as well?

[isuzutoo-eh]

They can go in the front, Mick (Cal415) has done it to his 130, as have others, but you'll have to relocate shock mounts.

[isuzurover]

Interesting.

Am I correct in assuming you would only put them in the back where the load is, or can they go in the front as well?

As above. However the list of forumites with air sprung 110s off the top of my head:

All 4 corners:
Bush65
Cal415
The Grubb
rovercare (now sold)

Rear only:
isuzurover
?RangierRover?

I think justinc and a few oothers are in the process, but have not finished.
Mine were installed mid 2010 and have been in constant use since, cal415 and Bush65 before that.

[Rimmer]

In projects and tutorials, TimNZ has put together a pretty good how to and where to buy on rear bags.

Did mine using his design and choice of bag nearly 12 months ago. Only thing I played around with was spacer height.

Same as others, I only have good things to say about the conversion.

As soon as we return from a little trip coming up, I'm helping a mate to do the above to his 130.

Tod.

[flagg]

Who is using the controllers?

I have not spoken to an engineer about it but I have been told that air suspension has to be self levelling so I would have to fork out for the electronic bits to get it legal.....

IIRC someone was having problems with reliability but I can't find the thread or who it was....

[flagg]

In projects and tutorials, TimNZ has put together a pretty good how to and where to buy on rear bags.


For anyone who is looking: http://www.aulro.com/afvb/projects-tutorials/156574-110-air-spring-conversion-rear-axle.html

[Bush65]

Who is using the controllers?

I have not spoken to an engineer about it but I have been told that air suspension has to be self levelling so I would have to fork out for the electronic bits to get it legal.....

IIRC someone was having problems with reliability but I can't find the thread or who it was....
I'm not aware that air suspension has to be auto-levelling. Normally the main concern for vehicles not fitted with a standard vehicle option air suspension is about ensuring the suspension height can't be changed while the vehicle is moving.

If the air suspension is a standard option in that vehicle, and in standard form the suspension height can be changed while the vehicle is moving, then it is OK.