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Dobinson suspension

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suspension
8K views 20 replies 6 participants last post by  unclechubbs 
#1 ·
Just reading an add in the 4x4 mag advertising full spring strut/ shock replacement from $1045 or u can replace the struts/ shocks with the monotone remote reservoir gear from $1684. Would be interested to know if anyone is running any of this gear.


Hutch- 2014 GC Blackhawk CRD...Feel the Power...
 
#4 ·
Hi I went to ARB in Os Park, but over 10 visits I also went to Welshpool a number of times.
The OME lift is meant to preserve the rake, and is 45mm at the front, 50 at the back.
If I had my time again I'd have gone to a suspension shop instead. ARB have been good at covering the extra expenses caused in getting my lift right, but technically they seemed poor. Makes sense since they probably spend most of their time bolting up bullbars, rather than remembering to reconnect a sway bar link. Then not being able to find that fault after multiple re-visits.


Cheers, Simon
 
#5 ·
Thanks for the feedback. That's the store I was speaking to the other day so may need to reconsider now. Do you know of any suspension shops that could fit the WK2s? I did a ring around and couldn't find many places thst offered a lift for these Jeeps.
 
#6 ·
Yeah not too many choices on offer, the Murchison, OME and Dobinson.

I'm not sure anywhere else fits OME, IIRC they are ARB-owned.

TBH most of my issues came from the fact I had non-stock weight distribution, due to bash plates etc.
If you have a stock vehicle and don't plan to add this stuff later you might be OK.

They say to add your accessories before getting a lift, and I did, but still got trouble.


Cheers, Simon
 
#9 ·
TBH most of my issues came from the fact I had non-stock weight distribution, due to bash plates etc.
Sounds like a line to me Simon. I can't imagine bash plates, a fridge and the other "normal" touring stuff materially affecting suspension performance to the point you'd need to complain.

Obviously the link left off would produce negative effects, but what else was problematic and subsequently attributed to your fit out? List? Rake? Under-dampened or under-sprung? Something else?

Cheers,
Steve
 
#7 ·
I am also in perth looking to get the ome lift kit. Thanks for the heads up. Don't think we get many options for installers other than arb.

Maybe ill go to the wangara arb store instead and hope they don't stuff things up..

What was the pricing fully installed if you don't mind?
 
#11 ·
I thought it would be around $2100 but that's great price at $1870. I wonder if they could do it for even less if two of us booked in at the same time.

I'm not looking to getting it done to early January. But ill go in tomorrow to wangara and get some pricing and ask if they have done any wk2's before.
 
#12 ·
Let me know how you go with Wangara tomorrow...I may be able to get the lift done earlier if they can do a package deal; let me know!

Are you looking to get the median or heavy duty springs? I've read others have gone the heavy duty springs to get the lift with skid plates but hopefully the ride isn't too harsh (as Wanderer stated previously).

The front end of our Jeep currently sags quite a bit and all I’ve got there are Chief’s recovery hooks. This could be due to early settling from Wilbinga. I also have the Chief sump protection plate but have not installed. ARB Osborne Park suggested going for the Bullbar front springs which assume a 50kg load which may lift the nose a bit higher.
 
#14 ·
Let me know how you go with Wangara tomorrow...I may be able to get the lift done earlier if they can do a package deal; let me know!



Are you looking to get the median or heavy duty springs? I've read others have gone the heavy duty springs to get the lift with skid plates but hopefully the ride isn't too harsh (as Wanderer stated previously).



The front end of our Jeep currently sags quite a bit and all I’ve got there are Chief’s recovery hooks. This could be due to early settling from Wilbinga. I also have the Chief sump protection plate but have not installed. ARB Osborne Park suggested going for the Bullbar front springs which assume a 50kg load which may lift the nose a bit higher.

I ended up with the heavy duty springs all round. Had sag even with the lift after the light duty springs were installed. The following accessories are installed - 2 Chief hooks, LFG, sump guard, transmission plate, Mopar underbody kit. Mopar tow hitch.

The ride is somewhat harsh over bumps in the road, but only at the rear. I should add I am running LT AT tyres.

I found that even with the HD rear springs, when I tow my Jayco Flamingo, the rear sags, causing angry oncoming drivers at night.

Im pretty happy with the handling on and off road, overall. Just have a knocking noise somewhere up front now, that is proving difficult to diagnose. My 11th visit to ARB since June is tomorrow... It's getting really old now.


Cheers, Simon
 
#16 · (Edited)
Simon I really, really don't believe your fit out was in any way responsible for the ride height issues you've highlighted. There was a cock-up. Realistically, the protective parts are not that heavy when put in perspective with rear passengers and load.

Regarding the ride... IMO it can be very hard to pick what is responsible for overly harsh suspension performance. Soft is easier, well for me anyway! Consider working out the approximate kg/cm or pounds per inch of the coils for both the OME and Original Equipment. Whilst this data may be available for the OME, I suspect that it will be unobtainium for the OE part. The simple way to start getting to the guts of it would be to measure the rear suspension height of your car and an unmodified one with 3 or more (more the better) full jerrys in the boot. That will give you a comparison of spring rate. If they are similar, it's possible the shock's compression or rebound are too stiff, causing the harshness you are reporting. My gut feeling is that it's now slightly over-sprung.

Is the headlight "flaring" problem when towing all the time, or a function of undulating roads? What is the ball weight of your camper? Bear in mind you don't have load-levelling any more, and that would easily have masked the same effect with the OE spring rate.

The steering knock... is it as you strike a bump, or more as you leave a bump???

Cheers,
Steve
 
#17 · (Edited)
Damaged front passenger side strut... Being replaced now, hoping that is the end of it.

Edit: wasn't the end of it. Both front struts were found to be damaged (installer fail) and replaced. They swapped in the diesel variant springs. Ride and handling feels better, front and rear ride height has dropped an inch.
And the same clunk is still there, but sounds more muted, and didn't seem to happen as readily.
 
#18 ·
Mate that's a lot of issues, they must of really stuffed things up, not to sure but I have heard of some faulty springs, maybe a faulty batch going around.

I Had a talk to arb Wangara they say they have lifted a few wk2s with no issues and issues would be very rare. But I cant believe everything they say.

Also they didn't want to budge on price to much. Only 5% off $2186 if I get 2 cars in, but I didn't try push it, probably could get it cheaper if I was going to book my car in asap. But I don't know if I could get them down to $1870.

Sironic, when you got that price were you getting anything else done from them other than suspension?
 
#19 ·
Hi Jesse, no I just bought the suspension kit, nothing else. Because they had no competitor selling OME, I just told them I was looking at the Dobinsons, but would go with the OME if they gave me a price that was a bit closer to that of the Dobinson kit. Negotiation was done via email.
Hope this helps


Cheers, Simon
 
#20 ·
Just giving an update. Returned most of my ARB kit today.

Didnt end up fitting the front. As I had the heavy duty springs and didnt want a 3inch lift front. (problems with the medium springs only lifting like 10mm)
Only gave me a 30mm lift in the rear (would prob drop even more over time).
Also wasnt to happy with the rear shocks they wearn't any longer than the stock ones.


Keeping the front struts as they are longer and just orderd some raised king springs for front and rear.
Kings only give 40mm lift. So going to put top out plates in the front and some on the stock load leveling rears to get about 50mm lift all around.

I suggest to stay away from arb at least to they sort there shit out.
 
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