Nissan Patrol 4x4 (Africa)

Hello Gents

I am a little (lot) confused on the subject of coils for the Patrol.

Cedric gave me set of OME coils on apro. Nobody would fit it because the original shocks were to short. Surfed the internet ad got a set of used but good Monroe Extreme 4x4 shocks for R500. With this came a full set of 2005 4.8 coils.

At home I placed the OME shocks next to the Nissan coils and the Nissan coils in longer both back and front. OME are thicker and closer spaced than the Nissan Coil.

In the photo's the Ome is on the right hand side in both foto's.

Now my Question is if the Nissan Coil is longer and softer then in theory they should be able to stretch longer thus stretching the shocks more and thus these Monroe’s will work fine.

Next question, with all the franchised dealers being reluctant to fit the coils and shocks that are not a set bought from them, whom can I approach to do the installation for me?

Regards

Izak, that's quite interesting.

Your surmise is correct, since the OME coils are shorter, they certainly shouldn't stretch further.

As for fitment centres, I am afraid I can't really tell you who to go to, but if you are willing to trust an amatuer, I guess I could give it a bash?

Hmmm... that is interesting to see the Nissan coils being longer. I assume the that even though longer, under weight they will sit lower than the OME's.

Could the OME's have ( I use the word tentatively ) "collapsed" that they are shorter? I assume the few mm height difference can be taken up by a 10 or 15mm spacer ( trim pack as I've been told they are called) if necessary ( looking at the front coil spring height difference )

From what I saw when they fitted the new coils, they disconnected the difflock vacuum pipe and the diff breather pipe, and dropped the axle to allow the coils to fit into the seat. I'm sure with a reliable set of coil spring compressor clamps, the coils can be squeezed just enough to allow coils to be slipped into place. There is plenty room around the coils to work in. As for the shocks, it is purely a matter of removing to top and bottom bolt and refitting in reverse.

It might be a good idea to get a price on those trim packs though, at least for the front coils, or maybe Peter, could you make a set out of Teflon sheet/plank/board. ( I think I read something somewhere, possibly on a jeep forum that the guys use a 15 odd mm thick Teflon "board" and lathe it down to the correct OD and ID for the seat of the coil)

I installed my Ironman suspenion with the help of my son.

Jack the car up and let the chassis rest on very stable and strong "bokkies".
Remove the shocks and loosen the stabilisers.
There is not enough space for coil pullers.
Let the axle hang and with a little bit of force you will be able to remove and reinstall the coils without any tools.
My son stood on the axle to press it down a little bit more while I pulled the coil out.

At the front the brake line stretches a bit and might need to be replaced with a longer one.
At the back it was only the diff breather pipe that stretched a bit but it was fine once the shocks and stabilisers were connected again.

Yes simple enough job to do when you are two persons. My son and I did it in less than two hours. The coils in the back is very simple to do.
Just remember that you need the longer of the two front coils on the drivers side.
We used a coil puller in front to get them in. I added a 3 inch lift to my car.

Thanx for the advise. I will try this weekend ad if there is no joy I will cry for help.

Looked under the Patrol and the Shocks seem straight forward, so I will try with my Daughters as I do not have a grown son.

Izak.... give me a call on Sunday if you need a hand. I'll be there like a bad rash..... ..... I'm at the Nissan club 4x4 training day on Saturday

Ok sumthing i notice on the Front coils both Nissan and OME have 7 coils, but on the back the Nissan have 7 but OME
have 8 Coils, and the Nissan are spaced fearly evenly where as the OME''s are not. Might this not assist the movement of the coils??

Louis indeed, the OME rear coils are what are known as "rising rate" coils.

This mostly assists in keepint the ride as soft as possible, no matter what load is carried.