Had the oppurtunity to drive a family friends 90 series last week with OME HD springs and Nitrocharger Sport shocks fitted. I was shocked. I have Lovell's Medium springs and KYB shocks installed and its like riding a billy cart compared to their Prado.
Climbing under my prado, I found a leaking L/H rear shock. Rocked the car and it was like a see-saw. The shocks are 18 mths old and 28 000 km with very little hard work at all. I took it in to the installer and had him go for a drive in it. After putting it up on the hoist and having a look he agreed and said that the rear shocks are knackered and he'd 'never seen KYB wear out so quickly'. Apparently the front struts are fine. I looked up the model numbers and found that the KYB Excel G is defiantly not a HD 4x4 shock, and whilst I was on a budget at the time I defiantly asked for a shock that would last. KYB make a 4x4 shock called a Skorched4 or some BS name which should have been installed.
So the first thing I should say is to never buy KYB Excel G shocks for your Prado! To the retailer's credit they are being replaced on Thursday morning with a free wheel balance to fix up Bob Jane's sheer brilliance in this regard. Now, this is where it gets funny.
The retailer proposed 'Oztec' long travel shocks with a 'limited lifetime warranty'. I said I want Koni. He said "I want you to try them", like I'm some sort of guinea pig. Has anyone even heard of oztec? Their website seems a bit dodgy. http://www.oztecsuspension.com.au. Why should I put another below standard set of shock absorbers on the car?
He then said he'd put them on "and if I don't like them we can go to Koni". I'm sure this guys been in the business for a long time but I know shocks aren't like trying on shoes. I even offered to pay the difference between the original KYB and the Konis, which judging by his prices would be significant. I know if I had my money again I would have an all-round OME setup. That way I would know it was built for the purpose.
Apologies for the long winded post, just a frustrating day. Especially seeing as the KYB were 200 a corner and lasted 18 months and 28 000km.
Reidy
Climbing under my prado, I found a leaking L/H rear shock. Rocked the car and it was like a see-saw. The shocks are 18 mths old and 28 000 km with very little hard work at all. I took it in to the installer and had him go for a drive in it. After putting it up on the hoist and having a look he agreed and said that the rear shocks are knackered and he'd 'never seen KYB wear out so quickly'. Apparently the front struts are fine. I looked up the model numbers and found that the KYB Excel G is defiantly not a HD 4x4 shock, and whilst I was on a budget at the time I defiantly asked for a shock that would last. KYB make a 4x4 shock called a Skorched4 or some BS name which should have been installed.
So the first thing I should say is to never buy KYB Excel G shocks for your Prado! To the retailer's credit they are being replaced on Thursday morning with a free wheel balance to fix up Bob Jane's sheer brilliance in this regard. Now, this is where it gets funny.
The retailer proposed 'Oztec' long travel shocks with a 'limited lifetime warranty'. I said I want Koni. He said "I want you to try them", like I'm some sort of guinea pig. Has anyone even heard of oztec? Their website seems a bit dodgy. http://www.oztecsuspension.com.au. Why should I put another below standard set of shock absorbers on the car?
He then said he'd put them on "and if I don't like them we can go to Koni". I'm sure this guys been in the business for a long time but I know shocks aren't like trying on shoes. I even offered to pay the difference between the original KYB and the Konis, which judging by his prices would be significant. I know if I had my money again I would have an all-round OME setup. That way I would know it was built for the purpose.
Apologies for the long winded post, just a frustrating day. Especially seeing as the KYB were 200 a corner and lasted 18 months and 28 000km.
Reidy
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