It is the constant load kit and has transformed the onroad and offroad handling of my ute. Included with the kit are the usual components plus the rear axle wedges and tailshaft spacer.
Ride Heights:
Stock Suspension when new (measured on a new 08 GLXR in my dealers yard):
- DF= 530mm - PF= 540 - DR= 590 - PR=585mm
- DF= 515mm - PF= 510 - DR= 550 - PR=545mm
- DF= 585mm - PF= 580 - DR= 650 - PR=640mm
- DF= 575mm - PF= 570 - DR= 650 - PR=635mm
As you can see the Dobinsons kit has lifted my ute from its OEM sagged height by 60mm in the front and 90mm in the rear. I expect both ends to drop a little more as everything settles, but I am happy with the height increase. The front has dropped 10mm over the week I have had the kit in.
Handling
- The stock suspension after it had sagged down used to bottom out on everything. Both the front and rear bump stops had polished the chassis contact points back to bare metal.
- The shockers were stuffed, my ute would axle tramp and hop all over the road on potholed or corrugated roads. People used to complain of feeling car sick as the ute wallowed all over the road.
- My Dobinsons kit is the constant load version and it handles all the extra weight of my accessories perfectly. The front springs are stiff enough not to bottom out the front end anymore without being too harsh.
- The rear end has a few more leaves in it but it still flexes well and is not too harsh.
- The handling has been transformed. My ute is much more predictable on rough roads and is more relaxing to drive.
- I have already done a few trips up to the Newnes Plateau to do a few high speed dirt runs and the shocks hold up well and I have not noticed any fade so far due to heat buildup.
Issues/Problems
- The front springs are a bitch to fit, they are so stiff I had to use 4 spring compressors to get them compressed enough to fit them in the shock.
- Upon initial installation, the front end had next to no drop travel, at rest the bump stop only had about 2mm clearance. It has settled over the past week to allow a bit of down travel.
- I have installed the tail shaft spacer and the wedges on the rear axle and rotated the centre bearing but I still have bad shudder through most of first gear!
- On full flex, the brake lines to the rear axle are almost tight. It looks like I will have to get some longer one fitted. Dobinsons should probably add new longer lines to the kit.
- The front is lifted so much that I have a mystery clunk somewhere in the front end. I am unsure if it is ball joint related or something in the steering. I can feel the clunk ever so slightly through the steering wheel!
The Triton looks tougher with a lift, it makes the 32inch tyres look small.
Almost 90mm lift to the rear.
A good increase in clearance under the front bash plates.
The tailshaft spacer is included with the kit.
Full flex on the rear passenger side wheel sees the flexible brake lines almost at full stretch.
Looks like I need some new flexible brake lines that are 50mm longer.
After speaking with GLXR-Silver and others, I am planning on getting my tailshaft fitted with a slipjoint in the hope of getting rid of the shudder, I am surprised my ute shudders as bad as it does, considering others have noted that the spacer, wedges and centre bearing tricks usually work in eliminating the shudder.
I will update this thread as the situation changes.....