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Post by justrockfocker on Jun 11, 2004 17:07:09 GMT -5
I know the Montero Sport is not a rugged vehicle in any way shape or form.. but I feel the suspension is too spongy and soft to the point that it is difficult to maneuver at times, especially when there is a little weight in it. When I say a little, I am not packing it to the roof with kegs or mulch or whatever.. It is entirely within its payload..
Have any of you upgraded the suspension or shocks? I have no interest in making this an offroad vehicle, I just want it to feel tight.
I was thinking stiffer shocks.. or something along those lines.
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Post by kurtvee on Jul 7, 2004 16:09:34 GMT -5
 I'm not into hardcore off-roading, and maintain driving 85% on paved roads. I travel roughly 380 miles a week 98% of which are on "tollways" and "expressways". I am pleased with the combination Bilstein Shocks and Torsion Bar tweeking to adjust the front end height. Ditto the rear with Bilstein Shocks and replacment of the "stock leaf springs" with "Old Man Emu" leaf springs. Okay now imagine Philippine roads whether urban or provincial either with pot holes larger than cows, or paviment though reasonably smooth yet built like dominos end on end with equaly spaced seams thumping endlessly. We have potholes with roads built around them. But back to the suspension though this set up suits the environment above. Hope this would be of help to you.
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Post by CerOf on Jul 8, 2004 9:00:38 GMT -5
I had the same issue. The rear suspension bottoming out SUPER easily. I had the dealer perform the TSB installing jounce bumpers but that did nothing really.
I installed the 2" Old Man Emu lift kit and it made the ride a bit firmer and handling seems to have gotten better as well as the ability to tow a trailer and haul gear in our '01MS with out it bottoming out.
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Post by kurtvee on Jul 10, 2004 12:01:11 GMT -5
>:(sorry i forgot to mention that wheel and tire choice comes into play here big time. i've been able to soften the ride of the bilsteins to great comfort by using a combination of O.Z. CRONOS 8" X 16" -30 wheels (with a 2mm spacer on the rear wheels) clad with PIRELLI SCORPION STR(A) 265/75/16 TIRES. 70 series/profile tires (235 and less) on 15" (stock) or even 16" diameter wheels were a bit too harsh for my comfort zone. but again i'm refering to philippine road use. tire pressure is also a factor though some may think it of minimal effect you'll be surprised at the difference 3-5 psi feels. hope to be of some help again.
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Post by justrockfocker on Jul 11, 2004 23:54:06 GMT -5
I think the lift is gonna have to happen. I am going to be happy to get trid of the lean on turns.
Thanks
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Post by Mitsuman on Jul 20, 2004 17:04:03 GMT -5
I felt the same problem. I installed "Airlift1000" air bags in the coils and adjusted as needed. 1-1/2 T-Bar lift in front to level off, and added KYB Gas Adj. shocks.
She rides alittle stiff unloaded, and smooth out the more weight you add, and best of all no more sagging rear end!
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Post by justrockfocker on Jul 31, 2004 9:16:36 GMT -5
thanks mitsuman.. that was the kind of info i was looking for.. Next step is to price out and see whether it makes sense.
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Chips
Junior Member
Posts: 26 
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Post by Chips on Aug 1, 2004 1:52:11 GMT -5
Hello,
I just lifted my 99 Montero Sport last week and here's what I initially put on.
ARB (Old Man Emu) Shocks
Front: Model N57G
Rear: Model N54 (Medium)
Old Man Emu rear spring bushings
5 - 32 x 11.5 BFG ATXO Tires (Including the spare)
John Baker Performance Products (Add-A-Leaf) kit
Front torsion bar lift
This set-up lifted my truck about 1.25-2" and I had used 2 of the 3 add-a-leaf spring provided in the John Baker Kit.
The Cons: the ride was definately rough initially and the add-a-springs didn't come with rubber/poly pads. This meant that when I drove around town the rear leaf springs squeaked. Annoying.
I went to a local steel fabricator and had them make me one newleaf spring per side that would fit just below the upper most leaf on the factory setup. This new leaf was much longer than the add-a-leaf kit from John Baker and the shop arced it to match the exact curvature of my OEM springs. The fab shop also installed a set of poly bushings. The overall lenght of the new leaf was 41" long x 2 1/2" wide x 1/4 thick. This is a standard thickness and width of U.S. trucks. The OEM Mitsu springs are actually 2 3/4" and they are thinner.
End result, I removed the add-a-leaf system form Baker (I would recommend this kit for off roading, but on roading was a bit to stiff for me) and inserted my custom fabbed leaf into the spring pack. (Overall it's the same lift [1.25-2"] and I dropped the front down to about a 1- 1.5" lift.
The truck feels like the original factory feel and I have the lift that I wanted.
The custom springs ran me about $70 for the set and that's in California with $80 per labor hour.
I hope that this helps.
Chips
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I'm not into hardcore off-roading, and maintain driving 85% on paved roads. I travel roughly 380 miles a week 98% of which are on "tollways" and "expressways". I am pleased with the combination Bilstein Shocks and Torsion Bar tweeking to adjust the front end height. Ditto the rear with Bilstein Shocks and replacment of the "stock leaf springs" with "Old Man Emu" leaf springs. Okay now imagine Philippine roads whether urban or provincial either with pot holes larger than cows, or paviment though reasonably smooth yet built like dominos end on end with equaly spaced seams thumping endlessly. We have potholes with roads built around them. But back to the suspension though this set up suits the environment above. Hope this would be of help to you. 
