T2 Improving the suspension: Less roll and bounce?

[baskie]

Been driving the navara since Oct last year but recently went back to the T2, forgot just how much roll and bounce it has, compared to the Nav!

Can I firm up the suspension and reduce the bounce and roll on the T2 without having a negative effect on the handling? It's never off roaded now so I'm thinking I can improve the road handling of it, but how?

Suggestions on a postcard. Or here, please ;-)

It's 2003 2.7 tdi.

 

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

could check the bushes and rplace with more resistant versions.

or commit 4x4 treason, as was suggested to me once, lower the
suspension, either new shorter springs on rear or spring clamps?
and wind down the torsion bars. 22" wheels and tyres to complete
the pimped style.

maybe tougher anti roll bars.

either that or slow down and enjoy the ride as the designers intended.

or, trade it as a deposit for an m series beemer :lol:

 

[Paul]

Don't find our Mav as bad with roll as other 4x4's we have had, but as rbt said you would have to look at changing almost all the suspension parts, alot of money spent there.

 

[wildbri]

I have noticed with the older Mavs that they ride nose down with very little clearance above the front wheels, where as the terrano like mine ride level with same clearance above front and rear, this means when I load the terrano and stick on the caravan it sits nose up, as they say that they are the same vehicle is it some the thing to do with the year they were made?.....regards...bri just off to tow from cumbria to baltic wharf Bristol, hope the weather improves...

 

[Paul]

just off to tow from cumbria to baltic wharf Bristol, hope the weather improves...

Goodluck with that!! hope the weather picks upi for you..

Paul

 

[wildbri]

thanks Paul, it cant get much worse, or can it!

 

[Paul]

thanks Paul, it cant get much worse, or can it!

It's nice here at the mo!! hold on spoke to soon! :roll:

 

[Terranosaurus]

I have noticed with the older Mavs that they ride nose down with very little clearance above the front wheels, where as the terrano like mine ride level with same clearance above front and rear, this means when I load the terrano and stick on the caravan it sits nose up, as they say that they are the same vehicle is it some the thing to do with the year they were made?.....regards...bri just off to tow from cumbria to baltic wharf Bristol, hope the weather improves...

It is to do with the year they were made but only because that makes them older, basically the torsion bars sag with age, they do on alosrts of 4x4s, Pajeros etc, tey'r all te same, they just need winding back up to compensate, which aso tend to make tem ride better on the road too.

When you are loading your truck try to put as much weight forward as you can and also check the nosewight on the caravan, putting any trailer/caravan on shouldn't make the back end sit down as you should only have 50kg nose weight and tbh thats nothing for a T2, they can carry almost 1 tonne.

 

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

nose weight and carrying capacity are hardly same thing. depending on bracket it can be upto 140 kg., the trailer will have its own max nose too, but generally providing neither are exceeded the caravan club recommend 7% of gvw of trailer.

 

[Terranosaurus]

nose weight and carrying capacity are hardly same thing. depending on bracket it can be upto 140 kg., the trailer will have its own max nose too, but generally providing neither are exceeded the caravan club recommend 7% of gvw of trailer.

No nose weight and carrying capacity are not the same but my manual states 50kg and what I was meaning is 50kg is such a small proportion of the carrying capacity that it should barely deflect the springs at all. Its like me putting my tools in the boot (or less probably) the truyck doesn't sit down cos I've got a couple of hundred kgs in the back, it just sits there.

 

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

fair point, 50 kg is only like an adult, though does seem low for manual even swb tbh. at risk of going of thread nose weight should be adequate to keep trailer under vehicles control, not other way round.

 

[elty001]

firmer springs

well i did a trail run with all my new kit on.tow bar mounted rear rack loaded with all the camping gear(just under 55kg)roof box with about the same and the springs didnt move.have yet to try it with 6 people and a full tank of fuel so will see how i get on with it.just a thought would stiffer bushes and stronger arb make the bodyroll worse as the front suspension seems to drag the body into every hole and hollow rather than just the suspension doing its thing?

 

[Terranosaurus]

Yes that can be an issue, stiff anti roll bars force the car to stay parrall to the shape of the road, if one wheel is in a hole the ar will len. Thats where mine scores off road, with no ARBs the suspension can do its own thing and the body stays relatively level. Sweety commented on it having followed me down a few lanes.

 

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

good point that old bushes will mean suspension more flexible good for off road, less for fast road work. reckon i'd sooner slow down and perform better off tarmac.

wonder if theres a compromise re the ARs, sure that a fullsize few years ago, either a patrol or landcruiser offereddisconnecting ARs. may be also a yank mod knowing how they excel in this area, ie lifts and ramp travel index contests etc.

 

[Terranosaurus]

Dosconnects would be ok on the back of the T2, I use to just drop the ball joint off but theres just no room up front. The ARB would be banging away all day with it being sat between te wishbones. I put some thought into it before I took mine offfor good some time back.