Suspension Upgrade for GEN II Pajero

[Ikabod]

We recently bought an imported GEN II Pajero (but very basic) with a 4D56 turbodiesel engine (no intercooler) and rear leaf springs. Anyway, we decided to bring it up to Baguio during the holiday season and we experienced our worst trip on that occasion (we frequently go up to Baguio.) due to the fact that everyone inside was being bounced around inside due to the harsh ride. I regularly checked the tire pressures during the trip and the tires had normal tire pressures so I ruled that out. I guess it's true that the suspension of the Pajero could really use an upgrade comfortwise. Anyway, is it necessary to replace the front coil springs and rear leaf springs, and the front and rear shocks so that I could have a substantially improved ride? I'm considering getting OME shocks and springs for my Pajero. Are OME leaf springs readily available here? I'm from Q.C. and I'm looking for nearby places that sell these. Where can I buy these at a relatively good price with warranty? What would be the price range for a complete set of shocks and springs? Please inform me of shops where I can have these installed at a good price.

Also, what other suspension improvements can I do to really improve the ride? By the way, I don't plan on taking the Pajero off-road so I just want to know what changes I can do for normal on-road driving.

I hope you guys can help me out on this. Thanks in advance.

[wildthing]

I think the rancho shocks RS9000 series have better ratings than OME kasi adjustable ang model ng rancho na iyun.

I play around with the tire pressure (as in lessening it than standard pressure load) to improve my pickup's suspension response (less bouncy)....but they could cause faster tire wear.

my 2 cents.

[pajerokid]

Sabi na nga ba! I thought all gen2s had rear coils. Naka kita ako ng naka-leaf, akala ko modified lang. Anyways, yung Gen2 mo ba "Kick Up Roof"? Does it have a bump on the rear part of the roof? curious lang :D

[Ikabod]

Nope, flat roof ang sa akin. 1992 model kasi ito kaya I guess nag-carryover ang specs ng GEN I sa mga basic models (wala kasi akong intercooler at leaf springs ang rear ng Pajero ko) nung unang labas.

[OTEP]

Ikabod,

We also have a leaf-sprung GEN II dito sa bahay. Imported from China and pina-rebadge namin as a Montero (pati sa rehistoro 'Montero' ang nakalagay).

What was your former vehicle ba? Kasi kapag ginagamit ko yung '97 Montero hindi naman masama yung ride. Comparable nga sa ride ng coil-spring Pajero ko, eh. Ano ba yung tires mo? We're using 255/75R15 na Pirelli Scorpion S/T's (street tyre) doon sa Montero. It made a world of difference from the stock 31X10.5R15 Yokohama Super Digger-V that came stock when it arrived dito sa Pilipinas.

FYI, walang front coil spring ang Pajero. The front suspension uses torsion bars (much like 4X4 pick-up trucks).

You don't really have to go all out with your suspension ugpgrade at first. Try changing over to better shocks like OME or the adjustable Rancho series. If that doesn't work, then try aftermarket leafsprings by Ironman, Dobbinson or other reputable (and mostly Australian) manufacturers.

Ungas ang Jay crew have their mods done at RATS 4X4 in Katipunan and Alabang. Other reputable shops are 199 OffRoadHouse (I don't know where they are) or Ride in Banawe (most expensive).

[Ikabod]

Otep,

Dati kasi assembled na mini wrangler jeep ang sasakyan ko kaya sanay ako sa tagtag pero I expected na mas pino dapat ang ride ng Pajero dahil hindi katulad ng assembled na jeep na iba-iba ang pinanggalingang suspension components. Ang nakalagay sa Pajero ay Dunlop na all-terrain tires (not sure what specific type). I think ang tire size ay 215/80R16. Ayoko munang palitan itong mga tires ko kasi when we got the Pajero parang brand new pa yung tires niya kaya up to now ay makapal pa ang tread niya. By the way, ano ba ang tire pressures na nilalagay mo sa Pajero mo? Kasi medyo binabaan ko pa nga ng kaunti yung nakalagay sa specs nung Pajero e, para kasing masyadong mataas yung specified na tire pressures. Also, what size of tires would be the best, in terms of comfort, for my stock 16" rims?

Regarding the front coil springs, oops, sorry, my mistake. Mukhang nasanay ako sa assembled kong jeep na naka-coil springs sa unahan.

Is there going to be a marked improvement if I just replace the shocks first? I have a limited budget so I really want to maximize the improvement to the ride with whatever money I have on hand.

[Ikabod]

Otep,

Now I remember, Dunlop Grandtrek nga pala ang nakakabit sa Pajero ko.

[OTEP]

Ikabod,

Pareho pala kayo ng gulong ni boybi (on his Patrol). I think we're running the pressures around 30-32 psi. Iyon kasi ang recommended ng mga Pajero gurus sa outdoorwire.com, eh.

Bigla kong naalala, minsan nagrerklamo din ang mother kapag nakasakay siya sa Pajero dahil matagtag daw. Feeling ko it has something to do with my Michelin LTX A/T tires.

[Ikabod]

Otep,

Tama lang pala ang tire pressures na nilalagay ko sa mga gulong ko e. so that rules out the tire pressure. Di kaya dahil sa klase ng tires ko?

Mga magkano ba ang mga OME shocks ngayon? Gusto ko lang malaman kung kakayanin ng budget ko e.

Actually, kung normal city driving ay hindi naman namin nararamdaman masyado ang tagtag. It's only when we went on that long trip to Baguio na when we left the vehicle ay para kaming pagod na pagod lahat. Nakakaawa nga yung buntis kong wife at 2-yr old daughter ko dahil hindi sila nakatulog masyado dahil sa tagtag.

Naisip ko tuloy na baka naman medyo worn out na yung mga shocks ko kasya ganun. Hindi ko pa kasi pinapalitan kasi wala naman akong nakikitang indications na bumigay na ang mga shocks ko e.

Para tuloy naiisip ko ibenta itong Pajero dahil sa harsh ride niya kaya lang nanghihinayang kami dahil mura ang pagkakabili namin at in very good condition pa ito.

[OTEP]

Ikabod,

Si Ungas po ang may alam ng presyo ng OME. Pero on most 'branded' shocks, count on spending between Php 16K-22K.

Ako happy na sa KYB gas shocks na wala pang Php 5K ang set of four.

Hindi ko pa nasubukan ang Grandtreks. Pero maaring dahil sa makitid ang goma mo kaya medyo harsh ang ride.

By nature, hindi talaga car-like ang ride ng Pajero. Sa mga car magazines ko laging lumalabas ang mga salitang 'harsh,' 'busy,' at 'choppy' when describing the Pajeros ride. I guess that's the price of go-anywhere capability.

[afrasay]

Ikabod::: Yan din ang inisip ko, to change my shocks dahil sa matagtag na ride. But when I change my tires from Michelins 235/70R 15 M+S to Yokohama Geolandars 31" A/T. I change my mind. It wasn't the shocks (KYB gas), it was the tires.

[pajerokid]

Hmmm very interesting guys!

Additional Input lang:::

Here's what i ride on:

OME Nitrochargers on all four corners
GrandTrek AT2s
Pressure 36psi
OME Rear Coils.

Wala namang nagrereklamo na matagtag, or baka takot lang sila magreklamo :lol:

Djerms found the ride soft. Or baka effect lang ito ng suspension seats :roll:

[kimpOy]

eto gawin mo para medyo hindi masakit sa bulsa
baligtarin mo yung isang leaf spring,
then change mo yang shocks ng KYB (GAS) shocks not liquid
tapos set the pressure to a minimum muna

usually naman sa likod ang matagtag eh

[ARB]

the OME will cost 17k for four pieces.

why dont you check the leaf springs, since it is 92 model maybe they are worn out already. check if the axle is near the bump stops already and the suspension has no travel left.

also count how many springs there is, previous owner may have added some for higher load capacity.

its better to maintain correct tire pressure than make the pressure compensate for the harsh ride. underinflating is dangerous and will damage the tires, and tread life, and will feel spongy when cornering. best measure if the shocks and suspension set-up is good is that it will ride well regardless of tire pressure and tire brand.

[Ikabod]

Since makapal pa ng tread ng mga tires ko, malamang na hindi muna ako magpapalit ng tires. So for now, out na muna yung mag-change ng tires.

Mukhang maganda nga yung suggestion ni Otep and kimpoy na palitan ko muna ng KYB gas shocks. Medyo tight kasi ang budget ko ngayon e. Kasi ang laki ng difference in price ng OME at saka yung KYB. Tutal, normal on-road driving ko lang naman ginagamit ang Pajero ko e.

ARB: Titingnan ko rin kung mukhang tired na yung mga leaf springs ko. Kung sakali mang worn out na ay yun siguro ang isusunod kong palitan after the shocks. Pero as far as I know, the previous owner maintained this stock pa rin kaya I don't think he messed around with the leaf springs.

Thanks for all the advice you guys have mentioned.

[ARB]

try mo KYB gas shocks na i compress if you can do it using your hands only one end on your left hand the other end on your right hand. this shows kase that it is really hard. you have to put it in the floor and push with your hands to compress it. suggestion lang it may harden your ride more.

[OTEP]

Gas shocks are indeed firmer. Ang OME nitrogen shock din. Most of them give better rides because they control the suspension movements better. Your wheels won't be bouncing all over the place as it used to do with conventional fluid shocks.

[Ikabod]

Otep and ARB,

You're right that gas shocks will result in a somewhat firmer ride compared to hydraulic shocks. But I agree with Otep that I think what I really need initially is to have shocks that will compliment the exisiting springs. Ang feeling ko nga dun sa Baguio trip namin ay parang out of control ang bounce nung springs kasi parang hindi napipigilan ng shocks.

Besides, as Otep has mentioned, yung OME shocks will basically do the same thing as the KYB gas shocks but better siyempre kasi mahal siya. Update ko lang kayo, ang sabi sa akin ay 4 OME shocks = P17,800 at 2 OME leaf springs = P22,900; total price would be P40,700!!! Medyo mas nagustuhan ko lalo yung suggestion nila Otep na mag-KYB na lang ako muna kasi less than P5K ang set of four.

[ARB]

OME shocks will outperform the KYB by a long shot.
OME has multi stage damping, the stiffness of its damping will depend on what road you are on. it will harden when needed so that your suspension will not bottom but it is softer than most gas shocks and fluid types for a great ride but not that it feels like you have worn shocks. it has thicker rods and more gas to prevent it from fading after long drives,and will maintain its damping qualities. it also comes with poly urethane bushings. as for KYB one stage damping lang and it has a small rod and smaller amount of gas which is prone to fading.

OME will only cost 17,000

[OTEP]

Yup, OME does perform better. We have a set on our Land Cruiser II here. Unfortunately my wallet is not performing as well. :mrgreen:

Pwede na din yung KYB, Rubicon-tested. Hehehe.