Hey there,

Just really confused about suspension upgrades and the best way to go about improving handling, ride quality and lower my 1200 ute.

It's just going to be my little street machine so i don't really need to go too full on but just thought i would check with you guys for your experiences and advice.

My front struts are pretty worn out and need replacing, but i'm not sure if it's worth going to a spring place and getting shorter front struts to incorporate the lowering or to just purchase some used standard struts and rebuilding them and putting them in myself. Then i was thinking of just putting on a 120y swaybar and worry about the lowering once i get the front and back sorted out.

The real confusion comes with the rear. I just want the most simple way to reduce the rough ride in the rear but still maintain good handling. I can then just put lowering blocks in which i understand is quite simple. I read different options everywhere but what is the easiest/most practical/ cheapest way to achieve this. I hear about adding/removing leafs, flipping leafs, changing bushes etc. but the whole thing sort of gets a bit confusing with all the different options.

Also what type of shocks should be put into the back? And where do i fund such shocks?

Ideally i would like to do most of the work myself, that way i can learn a bit more about it. But as you can prob guess i'm no expert when it comes to this stuff so don't want to undertake anything to complicated.

Also at the moment my car sits lower on the drivers side. Not a huge amount but noticeable for me and i think it's causing my steering to pull a bit to the left. What do you think is the issue here and how can i rectify it in the short term. I know the more extensive work and replacements that i'm asking about will fix it but it probably won't happen till i can afford another daily driver and get my little lug off the road to spend some time on it.

A lot of questions i know but i figure it may help out some others who are new to all this also.

Cheers
Trav

trav, others can fill you in on particulars, but i for one would stay away from messing with the springs and just go for lowering blocks unless you want your ute to ride like a horseless carriage

Cool cheers. Will do.

Anyone else with any tips, hints, ideas, experiences?

Trav

lowered kingsprings in the front, and 2 inch lowering blocks in the back,, not sure about shocks tho

PM B120dat
this bloke knows all there is to know on suspension and he has a sweet set up on his ute
ty

Ive just done my Ute Suspention and ive havnt gone for the smoothest ride as handling is also important to me. But i hope any of this info helps.
Ive fitted 200B Struts (Girlock) with 2.5inch king springs,new ball joints, Braded brake lines, 120Y sway bar, adjustable caster/radious rods and all new nolathane bushes in sway bar, links and caster arms. Finally the Booster/master cylinder is a Girlock twin canister from a Series one bluebird.

In the rear i have fitted lowering blocks with new KYB shocks. I have driven datto's with the leaf springs flipped over and they sit heaps low, but rough as a mother.

I am out in Penrith from time to time there is some nice peformace parts shops around.

I hope this helps with yours, there is also heaps of info in the tech section on this site.

My advice would also be dont go too firm in the rear,in my KB10 I had had the springs reset lower and harder, which seemed like a good idea at the time, but I lost the give in the suspension, it would skip sideways over irregularities in the road which did nothing for the handling or my confidence in the car.
It also would lift up one wheel around corners, which equals loss of traction, ideally you want both driven wheels on the road all the time.

The ute was designed to carry 500 kg around in the tray, so you may find the springs are too stiff if your just going to use it as a passenger vehicle.

Lowering blocks may not be ideal but at least the springs are not compromised and can still do the job they were designed for.

Hard suspension doesnt always mean better handling, the Lotus Elise is one of the best handling road cars ever made and it has very supple suspension.

Start with all new bushes simple as that then go from there.

I recall reading a decent post or few from Dodgeman about "ride quality". In it he mentions things like cleaning up the rear springs and stuff to stop them binding. Quite a good read and something I will most likely do when I have some time to park up the car