Torsion bars WITH coilovers?

[pblaauw]

So as I posted before, I sourced (for free ) a set of OME heavy duty Patrol Y60 rear coils. This should give me a nice 40mm lift at the rear on my NL LWB Pajero, but now I'm afraid it's going to look 'nose down'. Usually you would just turn the torsion bars, but I'm worried it's going to give it a very harsh ride. I need to add that at the moment I'm running KYB Excel-G shocks/dampers (not sure what term you guys use) on it.

So, the idea I've had is to rather look at getting a adjustable coil-over shock/damper on the front, something like these Camil Suspensions (locally made).

At the rear I'll be swapping over to a Gabriel HDP, also a locally made damper. I run these on my wife's NH SWB, and they are brilliant.

The question I have is about the coil-overs and the torsion bars...are they going to massively fight each other? Should I just slack the torsion bars slightly then? Will a good shock/damper take away the harsh ride from the 'tight' torsion bars?

[GM...]

Did you ever find a solution. I'm interested if anyone has successfully fitted coil overs.

[geopaj]

Not sure you’ll get a response from pblaauw- they haven’t been on the forum since 2014

[nj swb]

Did you ever find a solution. I'm interested if anyone has successfully fitted coil overs.

I'd be wary about it.

The torsion bar front end transfers the weight of the front end via the torsion bars to a cross member under the vehicle. The upper mounts of the shock absorber are only to resist the dynamic forces of the shock absorber extending and compressing as the suspension cycles.

Installing coil-overs will place vehicle weight on the upper mounts - at the very least, you would need to have these reinforced for the additional load.

"Backing off" the torsion bars will reduce the ride height, for the coil-overs to lift it back again, but this doesn't actually alter the spring rate of the torsion bar. The coils will add to the existing spring rate, which may or may not be a bad thing - depending on spring rate ("stiffness") of the existing torsion bars, the spring rate of the coil-overs, and the overall desired rate of the combination.

Interesting idea, and I'd be interested in following a "build thread" if somebody attempts it.

[old Jack]

100% agree with NJ and do not forget the bottom shocker mounts in regards to their design function and strength.

OJ.

[stumagoo]

I spent some time looking to see if a coil over setup from a gen 3 could be made to work with a gen 2. and short answer is yes, BUT all the mounts would need to be fabricated and welded to the chassis. this is a major undertaking and there are alternatives to getting more travel all of which involve custom controlarms or spacers and all of which have their own major drawbacks and increased possiblility for suspension failure

[GM...]

My main reason for the thought was for a more comfortable ride. The ride at the moment is very firm, like there Is no spring left.

Would replacing the torsion bars help?

Cheers

[old Jack]

My main reason for the thought was for a more comfortable ride. The ride at the moment is very firm, like there Is no spring left.

Would replacing the torsion bars help?

Cheers

Have you checked you have both compression and extension travel?

OJ.

[GM...]

yes there is room for travel if thats what you are referring to, there is about 50mm of downward travel available, and nothing stoping up travel other than torsion bar.

I have an NJ ( sons ) and NL with pretty much the same setup, except the NJ has OME sport shocks, the NL has Tough dog foam.

i think i may have answered my own question, i'll change the shocks around and see
how it rides..

cheers