Pajero - Suspension

[BTS]

Was hoping in getting some feedback from the Pajero owners, with regards to suspension.

We have a NW Pajero and looking at fitting Bilstein shocks with lovells springs with some airbags.

However the difficulty that I’m having is deciding if it is worth to get the 2inch lift or not. My wife says that she doesn’t want to be using a ladder to get into the car, and doesn’t want it looking like a monster truck. I’m on the fence if we actually need the lift or not, as we do not do a lot of heavy 4WD, mostly beaches & dirt tracks, but the extra clearance would be nice. This is our second Pajero and the ride height hasn’t been an issue thus far, but planning a trip later in the year up the centre to Darwin and will be doing some of the easier tracks (ie Oodnadatta track and MacDonnell ranges etc)

Would be great to get your thoughts and any experience on what the ride quality might be like.

Thanks
Brett

 

[achjimmy]

I had a Paj we started with EFS (which is kings) lift with Hd front and progressive rear and Bilstiens. The front springs sagged and were shite, they were replaced with HD Lovells and it was great. The rear progressive rate where great, airbags not needed. I would go the lift, it's only 40mm on the Paj and it works really well, unlike the cruiser that goes up 100mm and becomes a biggggg step up. Try bushskinz for the gear great guy and knows Pajeros, also make sure you get his bash plates. I wouldn't take the Pajero on a gravel driveway without an intercooler/sump guard.

 

[Matty4]

I agree with @achjimmy , I had an NP Pajero and I had a lift kit put in it with Lovells SD in the front and HD in the rear, with Bilstein dampers all round. It also had polyairs in the rear too.
I will add though that I did all this as soon as I took possession of it from my father-in-law, so I don't know how it really drove beforehand.
We took it to some brilliant spots and the lift certainly helped in some of those places.
Apart from the polyairs, I bought all the bits from Bushskinz.
Have a look around on the Pajero forums, heaps of info on there
http://www2.pajeroclub.com.au/forum/

 

[yabbietol]

I also have fitted rear Bilsteins and Lovell springs to my NW Pajero, I could not afford to do the front, but intend to. I already had polyair bags which are great for levelling.

To answer your question about raising the the ride height. I did not. I went with Lovell springs that kept the ride level the same as standard. The new rear suspension set up really does make the ride better, I have yet to tow with the modified suspension due to some complex problems associated with getting my new van. I just got back from a 2600km drive to Brisbane and back and the Pajero handled better on this trip than previously with the standard suspension.

Previously I have an NP Pajero which had Bilsteins all round, but standard springs and rear Polyair bags. It handled really well and towed my little Avan Cruiseliner (1.2t ATM) really well. This time I decided to upgrade the rear springs as the standard NW springs seemed softer than the NP springs.

In summary, In my humble opinion, I would go for the standard height Lovell springs, Bilsteins and the air bags (I am happy with the Polyairs). It will ride nice and the air bags will allow you to adjust height and firm up ride as required.

 

[Bushman]

Cant add much more to what the others have said other than mine is fitted with ARB (Old Man Emu) all round, yes it lifted it as 50mm rear and approx 40 at fron from memory, as runs airnags from Airbag Man (Firestone). As the others have said look at Bushskinz, I fitted the sump guards a couple years ago as Skippy took out the oringinal
Also keep an eye on rear trailing arm bushes on the suspension weather you up grade or not as the PJ are notorious for chewing them up.