Hi All. I seem to have run into a very peculiar problem with the Pajero 3.2 DiD (2000 model) I just bought.
Right from the onset i found the suspension really stiff. It feels like you are driving on 70psi in the tires. The whole car vibrates when on an uneven road surface. You feel ever single little crack in the road at 40-50kph. If you go faster it sort of goes away, but very much there. If you stand on the front, you can barely move the suspension down! But even after all the work, i cant seem to figure out what is keeping it so stiff? Could it be the roll bar???
Off-road in the big potholes, it is fine.
I changed the following:
1. All the arm bushes - got them from RBI
2. All ball joints
3. All link bushes
4. New tie rods
5. New shocks - simple gas KYB shocks
6. New set of tires
7. All roll bar bushes
None of this has made even the slightest change!
I got a set of springs from a friend and tried those too, but absolutely no difference.
We have check the prop shaft, engine mountings, gearbox mountings...all ok.
Can anyone give me an idea where to look now?
Are you sure that it is stiffer than the std vehicle? Where abouts are you? Maybe someone can meet with you and compare.
Incidently, what tyre pressure ARE you using?
CATS
Incidently, what tyre pressure ARE you using?
CATS
2009 Pajero 3.2 DiDc Lwb GLS (Gen4) - Casper (Starting to grow on me)
2001 Pajero 3.2 DiD Lwb GLS Manual (Gen3) - Snoopy (SOLD but not forgotten)
2008 Pajero 3.2 DiDc Lwb GLS Auto (Gen4) - Silvester (SOLD)
2001 Pajero 3.2 DiD Lwb GLS Manual (Gen3) - Snoopy (SOLD but not forgotten)
2008 Pajero 3.2 DiDc Lwb GLS Auto (Gen4) - Silvester (SOLD)
This week i checked out a couple of other similar pajeros and found they are a lot softer. It seems like the there is something holding the suspension up. Why i say this, when i took it for a shock absorber test, the report said the shocks were fine. When we actually opened the whole front suspension, we found the shocks were completely gone! Something seems to be holding this car up....just cant figure out what.
Do you think the anti roll bar could be too stiff?
I actually live in Kenya...bit difficult to meet up.
Tire pressures are 28psi.
Do you think the anti roll bar could be too stiff?
I actually live in Kenya...bit difficult to meet up.
Tire pressures are 28psi.
Affiliate Member
stiff suspension is dangerous.
I drove my brother's gen2 pajero down from JHB to East London a few weeks ago and on a dirt road I set a pace that I thought the pajero would handle as I drive dirt roads often with my gen2.
around the first bend with corrugations I nearly lost it as the tail bounced violently and broke loose with ferocity. Luckily I have had a tail out on a dirt road before and managed to catch it.
My brother drove ahead with his polo on low profiles and I couldn't keep up as the tail would skip and jump. I thought I had some tuna cans in the back
When I asked him what shocks he had, he told me that the previous workshop had put kubu shocks in. They were hard as stone.
Maybe have the shocks checked again as the difference between my gen2 and my brother's gen2 with hard shocks was astonishing. On a road I thought I could handle 80-90km/h I only managed 50km/h!
I drove my brother's gen2 pajero down from JHB to East London a few weeks ago and on a dirt road I set a pace that I thought the pajero would handle as I drive dirt roads often with my gen2.
around the first bend with corrugations I nearly lost it as the tail bounced violently and broke loose with ferocity. Luckily I have had a tail out on a dirt road before and managed to catch it.
My brother drove ahead with his polo on low profiles and I couldn't keep up as the tail would skip and jump. I thought I had some tuna cans in the back
When I asked him what shocks he had, he told me that the previous workshop had put kubu shocks in. They were hard as stone.
Maybe have the shocks checked again as the difference between my gen2 and my brother's gen2 with hard shocks was astonishing. On a road I thought I could handle 80-90km/h I only managed 50km/h!
Hi Fred. I see that you sent me a PM on 4x4community, but unfortunately I had quite a hectic week culminating with me in hospital for a minor procedure, so this is my first opportunity to respond. Actually, I doubt that I can be of much help. You certainly seem to have a bit of a mystery on your hands.
I would also suspect the shocks. The OEM shocks for the Gen 3 are KYB items. Are these the ones that you fitted as replacements?
I doubt whether the anti-roll bar could contribute significantly to the front suspension stiffness, because it is designed to rotate quite freely in its rubber bushes in situations where both front wheels move up/down together. The anti-roll bar ends give the lower suspension arms a massive moment arm with which to rotate the anti-roll bar in its bushes, so I really doubt that even stiff bushes will be felt. If you want to, you can disconnect both sides of the front anti-roll bar from the lower suspension arms and see if it makes any difference. If you try this, be aware that the vehicle's handling balance will be affected if you do this (the vehicle might become more prone to oversteer on the limit and body roll will obviously be much, much more), so take it easy.
I would also suspect the shocks. The OEM shocks for the Gen 3 are KYB items. Are these the ones that you fitted as replacements?
I doubt whether the anti-roll bar could contribute significantly to the front suspension stiffness, because it is designed to rotate quite freely in its rubber bushes in situations where both front wheels move up/down together. The anti-roll bar ends give the lower suspension arms a massive moment arm with which to rotate the anti-roll bar in its bushes, so I really doubt that even stiff bushes will be felt. If you want to, you can disconnect both sides of the front anti-roll bar from the lower suspension arms and see if it makes any difference. If you try this, be aware that the vehicle's handling balance will be affected if you do this (the vehicle might become more prone to oversteer on the limit and body roll will obviously be much, much more), so take it easy.
Gerrit Loubser 
2003 Toyota Land Cruiser 100 VX TD
2003 Mitsubishi Pajero 3.2 DiD LWB A/T Gone & missed
1999 Nissan Patrol 4.5E GRX M/T: Gone & missed
1996 Toyota Land Cruiser 80 VX 4.5 EFI A/T: SOLD
2003 Toyota Land Cruiser 100 VX TD
2003 Mitsubishi Pajero 3.2 DiD LWB A/T Gone & missed
1999 Nissan Patrol 4.5E GRX M/T: Gone & missed
1996 Toyota Land Cruiser 80 VX 4.5 EFI A/T: SOLD
Hi 4ePik. I totally understand your point about stiff suspensions. The good thing with the Gen3 is that it really is a much heavier car so you dont loose a of traction. However, it is uncomfortable as hell!
I will take your point about the shocks because the ones i took out were KYB and i replaced the same KYB.
Thanks.
I will take your point about the shocks because the ones i took out were KYB and i replaced the same KYB.
Thanks.
Hi Gerrit. Thanks for replying. As i said you seem to know the most about the Pajero suspension. I understand the function of the anti roll bar but that is the last and final thing i think of. What else would hold a suspension up? Every person i have spoken to said the car has an uprated shock system. But when you open it, the springs are normal and the shock is standard. No spacers. It certainly is a mystery.
This weekend i have managed to let a friend of mine take his front suspension off and try it on my car. Will let you know the outcome.
As i mentioned to 4ePik, i took out KYB shocks and replaced the same again. So this could be a worthwhile lead.
Thanks.
This weekend i have managed to let a friend of mine take his front suspension off and try it on my car. Will let you know the outcome.
As i mentioned to 4ePik, i took out KYB shocks and replaced the same again. So this could be a worthwhile lead.
Thanks.
Some news on the suspension!
We took out the entire suspension from my car and put in all the arms, shocks and springs from another Pajero. Did not not make one bit of a difference. Still getting the vibration.
I now think it could be something to do with the steering rack. Can anyone advise if they have ever had steering rack problems? Is there something we can repair in the rack?
We took out the entire suspension from my car and put in all the arms, shocks and springs from another Pajero. Did not not make one bit of a difference. Still getting the vibration.
I now think it could be something to do with the steering rack. Can anyone advise if they have ever had steering rack problems? Is there something we can repair in the rack?