Nissan Patrol 4x4 (Africa)

I had a 2" Terrain Tamer kit fitted yesterday

I selected the expanded body shocks, and on Marinus' advice, 50kg/40mm springs for the front, and 300kg/50mm springs for the rear, with a view to not being oversprung
I don't have many extras fitted, I don't plan on fitting much more, but if I put a bumper on the front in future the springs are easy enough to change

The fitment centre kindly allowed me to photograph the process
It's not often I get to see my car without its bits, so it was interesting and a learned a fair bit

Basically what they did was disconnect the axles completely: sway bar, brake lines, shocks (obviously), and some other bits
This allowed the axles to drop down far enough so that the springs could be removed without having to compress them
The trailing arms had to come out to fit the caster correction bushes

They installed PC's bashplates at the same time

Here are some highlights, and a link to all the photos i took:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/chirVrys2ePnFvRb7

Looks like your front bump stops are poked. You will need to replace them some time. ...

Nice.
Im very happy with my terrain tamer kit I must say.

Unkredible wrote: ↑15 Apr 2021 14:51 Looks like your front bump stops are poked. You will need to replace them some time. ...

but thank you sir, without this i wouldn't have realised - only just seen what they are supposed to look like
my balletjies are off, both sides

Nice job Adrian. Pity, it would have been so much easier to replace those bump stops as part of the job.

So the big question: how does it drive?

Peter Connan wrote: ↑15 Apr 2021 19:54 Nice job Adrian. Pity, it would have been so much easier to replace those bump stops as part of the job.

ignorance is curable, i'm getting there slowly

Peter Connan wrote: ↑15 Apr 2021 19:54 So the big question: how does it drive?

much much better

tbh, i could have slapped a pile of wet newspaper in where the shocks are and it would have been an improvement
they were REALLY bad
absolutely no resistance on the close stroke

but yes, driving on tar is now awesome, i don't feel as seasick anymore
no trails as yet, but i'd like to get those bump stops sorted first

Just one question to the guys who know!

Should one also put a 2"spacer between chassis and bump stop or can the new shocks handle the full compression of the lift?

All the 2" lift kits I know of are designed to work with the standard bump stops.

I can't promise that it's true across the board but I would be surprised if it isn't.

For reference, to work with standard bump stops, front shoucks should be no longer than 315mm shoulder-to-shoulder, and rears no longer than about 410mm eye-to-eye.

Nice, keen to hear some feedback once you have more experience driving with it. How did the cost compare to the other options on the market (ome, tough dog, etc)?

Steele wrote: ↑18 Apr 2021 18:01 Nice, keen to hear some feedback once you have more experience driving with it.

Given that my previous shocks were so bad, it is seriously like driving a different car
I had an opportunity this weekend to drive it on some rough track and gravel road, and it handled it fine
just the extra 2" gives a vastly different viewpoint too, i.m.o

It's a bit shaky going downhill while braking at highway speeds - i have new brake pads, so i'm not sure if that has anything to do with the new suspension, or if its the brake pads bedding in
The shakes are worse when cornering at the same time is involved

Steele wrote: ↑18 Apr 2021 18:01 How did the cost compare to the other options on the market (ome, tough dog, etc)?

It was suggested to me that the Tough Dog would have been about R6k cheaper, but that is without the caster correction bushes, as well as without the steering damper if memory serves.
I bought the kit directly from Marinus, and had it fitted at Rugged Africa in Hillcrest, who charged me 5 hours labour
This worked out about the same cost as the quote from the guys who supply and fit in PMB, it was just more convenient for me to have it done locally
I had the idea of DIYing it after watching the Intents youtube episode, but i just don't have the equipment, and I realise I don't have the know-how either :)

I didn't bother with OME or any other kind of comparison, mostly due to kirsbter's thread re. his new suspension, and I'm grateful for all the good info supplied by him and others

Bump stops are R800 each at Nissan
I've read that the 80 series cruiser rear bump stops work well as an alternative - these are R1500 each