OME or Kings and Billies

[rocks Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close rocks]

After 142k on the original set the time has come for an upgrade, have read a lot of info and it`s come down to these 2.
Not looking for a really big lift, just want to put something under it and forget it. Which would last the longest?
What are your experiences with these 2.

My 120 lives 80% of its life unloaded, and the other 20% on trips with a 2.3ton caravan fully loaded, ballweight approx. 200kg.
Do use a WDH on a Hayman reese bar.
it probably spends 10% of its life on the dirt or off-road with moderate tracks the worst it will see.

I am thinking medium springs all round as I have sovereign front bar with dual batts. Whichone suits me most, OME or KIngs and Billies, after all the reading I`m still confused, just want something that will last.

[Prerderp Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Prerderp]

Mate they're both great brands, you couldn't go wrong either way. You're going to get a lot of people telling you to get what they run, because they "bought them years ago and haven't had a single problem with them", and that's because nobody breaks one then buys the other, they're too tough . Best advice I can give is to find a mate who's running one or the other, take it for a spin and see how you like it.

Whichever way you go, I'd look into buying airbags for the back. Seeing as you spend most of the time unladen, you won't want to get really hard springs or it will ruin your daily drive. But too soft and you'll be dangerously unsteady in the back when towing your van. Spend a few hundred more when you're upgrading your springs and chuck some airbags in them, that way you can have soft comfy coils for you drive to work, but solid load carrying capacity when you're hitching up for a holiday.

[rocks Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close rocks]

Thanks for the reply mate, like the idea of the airbags will look into it this week. Currently leaning towards OME as the size of the lift isn`t to big and that is what I need. Will most likely go that way if I don`t hear or read any horror stories about it in the meantime.

[404pug Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 404pug]

I have had OME in for about 90,000. No problems at all but did replace the rear shocks after about 70,000 of hard work. My springs are the medium ones but if I was doing it again I would go medium in the front and the soft ones in the back with polyairs [which I have] rather than the medium springs which are there now. As above this will make for a softer ride for the 90% of the time you don't need hard springs.

[Whitey Shockie Maker of the Month Award Find all posts View Profile Close Whitey]

Hey rocks,

While the OME struts and shocks will last you many km, there has been mention of issues with irregular coil sag from OME coils, see for instance this thread;

http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...er-vs-warranty

It's not a good solution having to use packers to get the Prado level.

I'm not sure why this has been an issue, maybe a bad batch of coils through ARB for a while? In any case, you may want to consider using coils from another manufacturer to avoid this potential levelling problem. King coils (KTFR-101/KTRR-102) will give you a moderate lift, and many here are running them without levelling hassles.

Take a look at the suspension database for some options;

http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...nsion-Database

Best

Mark

[rocks Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close rocks]

Hey Mark,

Thanks for the link mate, have now made up my mind and it will be kings and billies. Booked in for 7.30 Friday.
1. kings and billies set fitted 1750, airbags 295, 50mm lift all-round
2. OME set fitted 1965, airbags 600

After reading that link and hearing the price of their airbags did it for me. Thanks for the replies people...

[Whitey Shockie Maker of the Month Award Find all posts View Profile Close Whitey]

Hey,

The King coils and Bilstein struts/shocks have been used by many!

What Bilsteins are you getting? Who is doing the install for you?

Best

Mark

[rocks Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close rocks]

Getting it done with Toowoomba steering and suspensions, they have a full kit for 1400 with 350 fit. Mate, she behaves like a pig at the moment so it should be better.
Cheers Nick

[nigelh Member Find all posts View Profile Close nigelh]

I believe if you read everything you read in forums you'd stay hidden under your bed. I run OME in my 120 and the 25mm front lift came up 50mm and the 40mm rear lift came up 50mm as well. I got 400kg extra load in the rear and 100kg extra in the front. I tow a camper and have 3 kids plus luggage in the rear with no sag and also tow a boat without any sag. Rides plush not hard. ... No air bags.
Had a previous 120 kz fitted with 50mmIron man lift kit.... Came up 65mm when fitted and looked ridiculous... The front struts topped out over bump for the first few months....gotta look out for those CV angles....... That's why went with the OME this time round and as I'm running 265/65 it doesn't look like they're rollerskate wheels with the lift.
Just my 2 cents good luck mate........

[matt150 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close matt150]

Pic or report Rocks ???

[Vaelen Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Vaelen]

So the time has arrived for to finally get the prado lifted and I am considering the exact same setup. Kings and Bilsteins.
Found a place in Brissy that'll charge $1560 with installation and alignment.
My biggest concern is the opinion that kings won't / don't provide the full lift as they are shorter.
Is this accurate?

[Whitey Shockie Maker of the Month Award Find all posts View Profile Close Whitey]

Hey Vaelen,

True, the King Coils are a bit on the limited side in terms of free height options, take a look here to see the kind of lift they give;

http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...0-series-Prado

Somewhere in the 1-2" range is typical.

If you have a bullbar, secondary battery in engine bay etc., the front lift with KTFR-101 can drop below 1", so you may want to consider the 101H for example which is 10mm taller in free height. The King HD options have too high a spring rate in my opinion, and if you're struggling to get the lift you want from a 101H, then I would look at other manufacturers like Dobinsons, which have a larger selection of free height for both front and rear.

Best

Mark

[Guest Close Guest]

Even though the King springs are a bit limited in free length, it can be compensated by moving the circlip up a position or 2 on the Bilstein struts.

[CaLLaN 52 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close CaLLaN 52]

I've had OME Sport suspension in for about 4 years now, no problems at all. Good lift, no sag, bit firm unloaded but handles great

[Vaelen Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Vaelen]

Yeah OME are just way too overpriced. From gathering info, apparently OME are rebranded King springs and Monroe shocks. I was looking at the ktfr-101ht coil which is a longer progressive rate spring. I can't find lengths or spring rates, but if it's anything like the ktpr-102 then it should be more than long enough and with a progressive rate, should be just right for my stock sovereign front end.