OME in the Kgalagadi

Kennekam · Sat Jun 25, 2011 2:46 pm

I have just come back from 2 weeks in the Kgalagadi. It was the first time with my 2005 LWB DiD although I have been there many times with either Prado or Tucson. It was a disaster! The car was shaking itself to pieces.

The Paj has OME all round with standard up front and medium shocks at the rear. The tyres are Pirelli Scorpion ATR running at 1.4 in front and 1.6 bar in the rear. There were 3 people and the usual luggage on board. Nothing on the roof rack.

The roads were as bad a usual with lots of corrugations. Having done over 15,000 kms in the park in the past, I know what to expect. The Paj just was not up to it. The dash was shaking to piece and now has more rattles than a creche. I also rode in a Prado with similar suspension over the same roads and found it much much smoother.

What can I do to improve the ride in the Kgalagadi? It seemed like the suspension gets harder the longer you drive.

The reason I fitted the OME was to get more lift, so I do not want to go back to standard suspension. Would different shocks help? Bigger tyres?

paw_by_paw · Sat Jun 25, 2011 3:06 pm

Hi Kennekam,
I am no suspension and shock specialist. But I have posted a few questions on the same topic earlier .
After much feedback I am not so sure whether I should go for any suspension mods now. Especially after your comments here.
I will take my chances with standard equipment and see how it goes.

cloyd · Sat Jun 25, 2011 6:24 pm

Kennekam,

Die Kgalaghadi is 'n lekker plek om te besoek. We, My wife, Pajero and I have been to the Kgalaghadi anumber of times. My Pajero still has its own (standard) suspension. I have added airbags to the rear to increase the loadability and to reduce rearend sag plus I have liftedthe front by 50 mm and the rear by 30 mm. With tyre preasure at approx 1,8 bar, the corrigations are not bad at all. I have always had my doubt about thee aftermarket suspensions and every time I read about a Pajero being shaken to bits, I am pleased that I did not listen to the so called "experts" and their advice to fit after market parts.

We have been in all out neighrboring countries in the company of other 4x4s with aftermarket parts, and every time we can only say, thak heavens for keeping / sticking to the Pajero standard . My advice is: If possible, refit the standard suspension and only add airbags to the rear. I know the chorus will sing that I am wrong, but in the end, the proof is in (not in ) the shacking and ride comfort.

Regards, Cloyd.

cloyd · Sat Jun 25, 2011 6:30 pm

Kennekam, I forgot to add, during our trips we normally carry a rooftop tent, sleeping bags, toiletries, shower, chairs, tables, all our food, all out liquid refreshments - including some milk anf cooldrinks, and depending from where we enter the Park, an extra 200 litre fuel and 100 litre water plus an extra spare wheel, tools spares, etc. All with the standard suspension. Stick to the Pajero standard.

Cloyd

4ePajero · Sat Jun 25, 2011 6:38 pm

cloyd wrote:My advice is: If possible, refit the standard suspension and only add airbags to the rear. I know the chorus will sing that I am wrong, but in the end, the proof is in (not in ) the shaking and ride comfort.

Regards, Cloyd.

I'm not part of the chorus.

I agree. From what I've read here and on other forums, OME (and other) suspension "up"grades change the Pajero's excellent gravel road manners to what is not acceptable.

I travel Transkei and other Eastern Cape gravel roads a lot on Billstein shocks, which are very similar to standard, and with the correct tyre pressures, it is only a pleasure.

Kennekam · Sat Jun 25, 2011 8:16 pm

What do you suggest I do? I need the lift. How about retaining the OME coils but fitting other shocks? Which ones then?

Kennekam · Sat Jun 25, 2011 8:21 pm

cloyd wrote:Kennekam, I forgot to add, during our trips we normally carry a rooftop tent, sleeping bags, toiletries, shower, chairs, tables, all our food, all out liquid refreshments - including some milk anf cooldrinks, and depending from where we enter the Park, an extra 200 litre fuel and 100 litre water plus an extra spare wheel, tools spares, etc. All with the standard suspension. Stick to the Pajero standard.

Cloyd

What do you do about ground clearance on the tweespore?

Kennekam · Sat Jun 25, 2011 8:22 pm

cloyd wrote:Kennekam, I forgot to add, during our trips we normally carry a rooftop tent, sleeping bags, toiletries, shower, chairs, tables, all our food, all out liquid refreshments - including some milk anf cooldrinks, and depending from where we enter the Park, an extra 200 litre fuel and 100 litre water plus an extra spare wheel, tools spares, etc. All with the standard suspension. Stick to the Pajero standard.

Cloyd

What do you do about ground clearance on the tweespore?

paw_by_paw · Sat Jun 25, 2011 9:40 pm

Cloyd,
How did you manage to lift your vehicle without all these mods? Except the air spring system now.

HBannink · Sat Jun 25, 2011 11:03 pm

It would be nice to compare your set up with that of Cats, he also has OME and swears by it. Personally if I had to change my gen2 the first thing I would put in the new pajero would be OME, before I even put fuel

I did a similar trip late last year and took the van Zylsrus road.....Big mistake, the road was so bad that we had coke bottles pop inside the pajero and the brand new shocks on the trailer did not see the kgalagadi. Once inside I dropped my tyres to 1.4 and the nightmare was over. I must add that my gen 2 has 15" bridgestone AT and a full OME suspension system.
I have had the opportunity to compare my '95 with a stock standard gen 2.5 with diff lock on a trail and even the instructors commented on the increased articulation and ability. As for road holding it has only increased, whether it be tar or gravel it sticks like glue.

I would like to know why there is such a difference between gen 2 and 3