surf SAS strut springs

[mudsurfv6]

part way through the SAS on my 185 surf, was going to use prado springs & shocks but the 185 chassis is too wide. SO attached the factory struts to the top of the prado diff housing and cut the top of the tower to angle the struts closer to the chassis so they are more verticle side to side, are still leaning slightly front to back.

problem is they are WAY too hard and the vehicle is just sitting at the fully extended length. obviously there is more leverage when used on the independent, but too hard for straight up and down.

thought about lifting top of tower but that only changes ride height not suspension, same with cutting springs.

at the moment its sitting there with about a 6" lift in the front, was planning on 2" lifted prado springs/shocks, but if it ends up a bit more then can live with that, 6" is a bit too much though.

its the travel part we are trying to figure out.

the springs have a outside diameter of about 110mm. and the bottom coil tapers in a bit to sit in the cup? at the bottom.

does anyone know of a coil from any other vehicle that would fit in those struts that is way softer? so that it can sit down and have upwards and downwards travel. and also not be so high.

OR a complete strut out off something else that would fit in that would have a softer spring?

otherwise might have to look at getting some springs made to fit.

be nice to go aftermarket struts but $$$$$$$$$

i'll update 'projects' sometime.

[mudlva]

Give the coil stats ie.
Wire dia
Overall dia main
Dia of tappered in section
Over all height
Number of coils

That way others can try and match with either less coils and smaller wire dia

[mudsurfv6]

should have thought of that.

16.6mm wire dia
112mm OD
100mm dia reduced part at bottom
9 coils
305mm total length of spring assembled, uncompressed length of spring to come once welds are done

length of total strut from mounting flange at top to centre of bolt at bottom is 480mm.

[Mattman]

Can't you move the diff spring seats out a touch so you can run stock Prado coils etc?

[mudsurfv6]

Can't you move the diff spring seats out a touch so you can run stock Prado coils etc?

was planning on using prado coils, but no, apparently the 185 chassis is 100mm wider than 130 & prado. looked at moving seat but still won't fit. the factory strut has a slightly smaller dia spring and the bottom shock part bracket only just fits on housing with a few mms spare between coil and chassis.

[Mattman]

Someone on here has done a 185 SAS so do some searching

[mudsurfv6]

Someone on here has done a 185 SAS so do some searching

vvilly used fox coil overs.

[Mattman]

Ah true. A bit smaller in diameter

[mudsurfv6]

have pm'd bob or jim to see what he used.