Stopping the LN130 Surf handle like boat?

NA_Drifter · Post by **NA_Drifter** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 11:57 am

So, what can I do to make it handle better? All the suspension is stock apart from front shocks been replaced with Monroe. Rear still have the factory hard/normal shocks.

Is mainly use on the road more than offroad.. had a look at http://www.4wdbits.co.nz/ProductsListPr ... egoryID=39

and Polyair kit seems to solve the problem?... but looking at if there is other option, or maybe is the shocks problem... Is just too much body roll at the moment.... when driving fast...

mudzilla · Post by **mudzilla** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 12:07 pm

Put 4' lower springs in and low profile tyres on it.. :idea:

NA_Drifter · Post by **NA_Drifter** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 12:09 pm

Well, I tought of that, but problem is, I got 80mm body lift, and it will look stupid with tiny tyres on it... :lol:

I think a hiace van still handle better than the Surf...

Petemcc · Post by **Petemcc** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 12:11 pm

go for decent shocks in the rear 2. You can go for the likes of ranchos with in cab adjustment. make sure your swaybars are in good condition. At the end of the day its an old 4wd with a high center of gravity. you can get it to handel better than other trucks but its no car. oh and you could also go for stiffer springs is spose. But they will limit flex in the rear if you go off road and give a harsher ride id imagine.

Pete

philux · Post by **philux** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 1:38 pm

Ive got efs shocks and springs in my ln106 lux and it handles good, front flex's good but the rear of the ute is pretty shite. All round im happy at the mo

Engineer · Post by **Engineer** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 5:37 pm

sorry but what is a polyair kit? whats it do?

Mattman · Post by **Mattman** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 6:47 pm

80mm body lift is quite high. Hard to make a lifted vehicle handle well.

New shocks and swaybar bushes would probably wake it up a bit. The Rancho's and Koni's are adjustable so you could run hard on the street and soft offroad.

Would love to see pics of your truck.

Matt.

jumper · Post by **jumper** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 8:04 pm

Get bigger offset wheels which makes the surf wider and handle better.
I had 80mm lift on my old terrano when i changed the wheels and tyres it got 6in wider.

swampa · Post by **swampa** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 8:06 pm

put nolothane bushes in, a lot more stiffer than factory ones

NA_Drifter · Post by **NA_Drifter** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 12:19 am

Cheers.. might look into getting new springs.. as I need to raise the back abit more to clear the rubbing on the rear drive shaft top hoop, when the truck have alot of weight in it... This is due to have to raise the gearbox abit too for the motor and body lift...

Emmm.. high and want to make it handle seems to not come together... I got 15x8" (-26 offset i think) mag with 265/70/15, which just sit at the edge of my big flares.. so I guess the wheels department is all sorted... well kind of.

Thinking to get bigger and wider tyres such as BF Goodrich All-Terrain T/A 35/12.5R15 since it will be on the road 90% of the time.. or maybe 33".

Can I get away with higher /stiffer springs and standard shocks?

NA_Drifter · Post by **NA_Drifter** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 12:26 am

Mattman wrote:80mm body lift is quite high. Hard to make a lifted vehicle handle well.

New shocks and swaybar bushes would probably wake it up a bit. The Rancho's and Koni's are adjustable so you could run hard on the street and soft offroad.

Would love to see pics of your truck.

Matt.

Not sure if you seen it, as I post on the other topic about the conversion.. http://www.offroadexpress.co.nz/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=6035

NA_Drifter · Post by **NA_Drifter** » Mon Jun 25, 2007 12:01 am

Well, I notice it more that the Surf tend to follow the road camber... make it really hard to drive on country side road which off camber at 100km/h.. hard to drive straight unless the surface is flat... Is this just a 4x4 thing or just my Surf?? or is that anything to do with IFS or the suspension I got??
how can I make it better?? Will changing the steering dampener helps?

spankmeister · Post by **spankmeister** » Mon Jun 25, 2007 9:08 pm

I too put EFS springs and shocks in all round. Pretty happy with the performance. Goes great offroad, and handles well for daily driving also.

NA_Drifter · Post by **NA_Drifter** » Mon Jun 25, 2007 9:34 pm

Cool, will look into it... cos I found it quite dangerous to drive on open road with camber..
What $$ it set you back for the springs and shocks?

MATT4U · Post by **MATT4U** » Mon Jun 25, 2007 10:06 pm

NA_Drifter wrote:Well, I notice it more that the Surf tend to follow the road camber... make it really hard to drive on country side road which off camber at 100km/h.. hard to drive straight unless the surface is flat... Is this just a 4x4 thing or just my Surf?? or is that anything to do with IFS or the suspension I got??
how can I make it better?? Will changing the steering dampener helps?

Ifs is ment to be better on teh road, so its not an ifs thing. to be honest part of your problem sounds like alignment. You say you have a 80mm body lift, why so high?? you should be able to half that.
Your springs and shocks are roughly 15 odd years old?? new shocks front and rear should sort ya out.

NA_Drifter · Post by **NA_Drifter** » Mon Jun 25, 2007 10:14 pm

Cheers..
yeah planning on getting new springs for the rear... might replace the rear shocks too.

It had alignment done (i hope) as I just had the Toyota recall thing on the surf 2 months ago.

Is fine when driving straight. 80mm? well, part of the reason is that it need cert anyway, so just make it higher... the plan was 50-60mm, but then added both end plate welded on the block, it make it higher.. :p Future plan to run bigger tyres at least the body lift is done..

I can just fit a massive air tank for my airhorn between the spare tyres and the body! :lol:

MATT4U · Post by **MATT4U** » Mon Jun 25, 2007 10:27 pm

NA_Drifter wrote:Cheers..
yeah planning on getting new springs for the rear... might replace the rear shocks too.

It had alignment done (i hope) as I just had the Toyota recall thing on the surf 2 months ago.

Is fine when driving straight. 80mm? well, part of the reason is that it need cert anyway, so just make it higher... the plan was 50-60mm, but then added both end plate welded on the block, it make it higher.. :p Future plan to run bigger tyres at least the body lift is done..

I can just fit a massive air tank for my airhorn between the spare tyres and the body!

either do both springs and shocks or just shocks

Sadam_Husain · Post by **Sadam_Husain** » Mon Jun 25, 2007 10:28 pm

Whatever you try and do to improve the handleing it'll always be a top heavy 4x4 that was designed to have its road handleing compromised by its offroad capability :thumright: