How to Gen3 and later DIY suspension install

[rgrubby]

Just swapped my suspension out last night and this post and the following link were invaluable.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9avQNkfUyPw

The only issue I had was when I removed the rear springs, I found the rubber pads above and below the spring were worn and deformed. The lower pads are still usable for now, but the top ones were well deformed.

Rear Suspension Pad 1.jpg
As it was late at night and I needed to drive, I fit them back in as best I could. As soon as I drove off the noise was horrible, the spring seemed to be rubbing metal.

Today I ordered new ones, but its over a week to get them so I made some temporary ones from 5mm heavy duty rubber
Rear Suspension Pad with temp.jpg
The noise is gone, so they must be working


Thanks again for the great post

[swys42]

Thanks just used this instructions to remove rear springs and install upper and lower rubbers, old ones was shot and then installed airbagman with sleeves. Car looks like it gained another 5 cm of lift.
Followed all instructions even using thongs to press lower control arms down :P worked great

[Gravel Seeker]

I have a 2014 and bought a OME lift kit for it.
Anyone know where I can find details on how to remove all the OE mounting hardware from the old stock front shocks and mount it on the new OME shocks? The kit came with just shocks and springs and nothing else so have to reuse all original mounting hardware, but I've never done this before so would like to know what I'm getting into before digging a hole I'm unable to get out of.
The parts could be sourced from ARB, but the shop said it's cost AU$840 + freight to Norway so it wasn't really an option. I could get the parts from Mitsubishi here, but would like to try and re-use what I have.

Alternatively I've been thinking of bringing the old and new front struts to a shop and ask them to switch the parts over then remount them in the car myself.
Last resort I guess is just handing them the keys for a few hours and pick it when it's done. But then again I could get the alignment control done at the same time.

So if anyone has a link to somewhere where the actual swapping over of the mounting hardware is done I'd appreciate it.

[Two Emms]

Alternatively I've been thinking of bringing the old and new front struts to a shop and ask them to switch the parts over then remount them in the car myself.

This is probably your best option. Assembling the struts yourself can be difficult. When assembling them with aftermarket springs which are often longer and may be heavier duty (So harder to compress) it's even harder. Standard spring compressors may not be strong enough.

Plenty of "Assembling front struts" vids on YouTube. This gives you an idea of what is involved.

Once they are assembled, installation is pretty straightforward and you can save a few dollars by doing that yourself.

[Jasonmc73]

Alternatively I've been thinking of bringing the old and new front struts to a shop and ask them to switch the parts

My thoughts,

I use to swap heaps of springs 20 years back as accesory fitter, they were cars, not hard.

The springs your looking at, 4wd, if you have the correct equipment & experience you'll be fine, not hard.

If you don't you have no option, pay the money as if it goes bad, you will end up dead or quite smashed up.

I don't & once i get around to it i will definately be paying someone, not a cosideration for me.

[Gravel Seeker]

Thanks guys.

This is probably your best option. Assembling the struts yourself can be difficult. When assembling them with aftermarket springs which are often longer and may be heavier duty (So harder to compress) it's even harder. Standard spring compressors may not be strong enough.
Plenty of "Assembling front struts" vids on YouTube. This gives you an idea of what is involved.
Once they are assembled, installation is pretty straightforward and you can save a few dollars by doing that yourself.

I know there are videos, but I can't find one for the Pajero. If all cars/4X4 are the same then that's not a problem, but I have no idea if they are all identical. It would surprise me if they are all exactly the same
There's this video, but looks like that's for a 4-Runner or a Tacoma as their later videos are about installation on those, but pre-assembled.

My thoughts, I use to swap heaps of springs 20 years back as accesory fitter, they were cars, not hard.
The springs your looking at, 4wd, if you have the correct equipment & experience you'll be fine, not hard.
If you don't you have no option, pay the money as if it goes bad, you will end up dead or quite smashed up.
I don't & once i get around to it i will definately be paying someone, not a cosideration for me.

Problem is that since I can't find a video or detailed instructions of moving the parts over (on a Pajero), I have no idea if I have the tools needed. I think I probably do. I have a large bench vice, all the hand tools in spanners and sockets and such and a set of manual spring compressors, but like you say those can kill you if you're the unlucky one from the statistics.

Springs are longer and maybe stiffer. It's the TÜV approved 40mm front/ 50mm rear lift from OME (only lift that's legal here). Also my 2014 has 100K kms on it so the old ones would've sagged a little I'm sure.

[Two Emms]

Maybe look at the diagrams of what is fitted to original struts and make sure all these bits and pieces end up on the new ones. AC603514AC00ENG.pdf

[Gravel Seeker]

Maybe look at the diagrams of what is fitted to original struts and make sure all these bits and pieces end up on the new ones. AC603514AC00ENG.pdf

Thanks. I had found an image of the fiche, but the quality is much lower than your pdf. Looks like #3 is threaded internally and may require a shock wrench to tighten? (like the ones you use to adjust motorcycle shocks)

[Jasonmc73]

Maybe these links can help?

http://faq.out-club.ru/download/paje...514AC00ENG.pdf

http://faq.out-club.ru/download/paje...3/index_M1.htm

https://www.amazon.com.au/Mophorn-Co...7676614&sr=8-6

[Two Emms]

Thanks. I had found an image of the fiche, but the quality is much lower than your pdf. Looks like #3 is threaded internally and may require a shock wrench to tighten? (like the ones you use to adjust motorcycle shocks)

Don't think so. Just looking at the assembly/disassembly instructions in the Russian manual linked above by jasonmc73. The instructions seem to show that only the small lock nut (part no 1) holds it all together.

Have a look at 33 Front Suspension and "shock absorber assembly " in detail.

I can tell you that part 9 is very important as it acts as a bump stop at full compression

[Jasonmc73]

https://www.amazon.com.au/8milelake-MacPherson-Spring-Compressor-Interchangeable/dp/B01DP2CDJU/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=3+Tonne+spring+compressor&qid=1607676613&sr=8-4

[Jasonmc73]

I think you'll find all the nuts doing is holding the assembly when not assembled into the vehicle basically.

[old Jack]

Unless the vehicle is new, I would not be reusing the top mount, bushes and compression stop, top mounts wear and crack, bushes wear and compression stops age harden. You need to compress the coils about 50mm and with spring rates of 10kg/mm to 12kg/mm, that is 500kg to 600kg of force required. Unless you have a heavy duty strut compressor it is just not worth the risk.
Just by preassembled struts an save yourself the hassle and danger of disassembling and reassembling struts.

OJ.

[Jasonmc73]

Just as example of parts for my VIN

https://partsouq.com/en/catalog/genuine/unit?c=Mitsubishi&ssd=%24%2AKwGWorOul9Lv1Yny4dGRus7a-v3jkp2QkYOQr9-H1oGeh_iC0dGMhp-Q3trQ4tvfh82eh_iBiIfBzt_Jzebj45Dqk-OYvNHDhsbLgZ6XjoKI0dWGlpGOlZSSgtHRhoafgJKXlo2RzsCwlZSS55SVkpXNp83Z29TGzOXZgpTR1Ybv7-Xo_PSZxaSo7pWSkpeUl4LR0YyGn4Dh4uSR7suy1-WHjoHJh5iCq8rX84eOgcfJgJrfv7bs__CbhtgAAAAAsigrqQ%24&vid=0&cid=2&uid=99599&q=JMFLYV98WGJ001315

[Two Emms]

Just another thought, you may not be able to use the Mitsubishi parts. The shaft of the new struts might thicker than the factory ones. And the factory bump stop etc fit over the shaft.

Might be worth checking before you go any further.

Even if you can use factory components, Old Jack is right, new parts is the best option.