Ride quality on the Pajero
Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2018 7:30 pm
I’ve just spent 3 weeks in the Kgalagadi on the corrugated roads and my lwb ride was teeth rattling to say the least.
Fortunately I had the dash rattle treatment done by Kurt before I left, but it did not prevent the bolt on the right hand side of the dash from falling out
My observations now:
People have been complaining about the ride quality for years!
My lwb is a 2016 model but nothing has improved from my previous 2012 swb as far as the ride quality is concerned.
People tackle the rattling dash as if it is the cause of the noises and not as a result of a suspension problem.
I say suspension problem as it must be able to cope with everything that gets thrown at it under all normal conditions as applicable to a 4x4.
My observation is that the ride quality becomes jarring at very low speeds even with a tyre pressure of 150 kpa. The road holding however, does not become bad and does not cause the Pajero to wander around on the road.
It is as if the tyres start juddering over the corrugations and
then seem to accelarate the frequency of the juddering whilst driving at a constant speed. This is also experienced by observing the juddering in the steering column (which I regard as unacceptable).
It is as if the shocks and the coils don’t get it right to control the vibrations caused by the road conditions. If the vehicle was old, and not just with 30 000 km, it would have been acceptable to say that they would need replacement.
An australian article states that this is a characteristic of a monocoque body like the Pajero which is too close to the suspension. But it also states the relationship between the shock and the coil which must control this.
My opinion is that the shock is too slow to control the up and down movement of the tyres and the coils are not up to assist with this.
What is astonishing is the lack of feedback on the internet of what gains were made when the Pajero suspensions were upgraded. And I am sure many suspensions have been upgraded by Pajero owners.
I implore the guys who did this to publish their experiences with the improvements experienced as far as rattling dash boards and the ride quality over corrugations. This will prove my view that the problems are suspension related.
I would also love to hear from people who had air cushions installed in their coils.
We need to know where compromises must be made to improve the ride quality.
My local workshop manager informed me that only one brand has been approved for installation on the Pajeros.
Personally I think that we are taken for a ride by Mitsubishi who does not seem to care.
Fortunately I had the dash rattle treatment done by Kurt before I left, but it did not prevent the bolt on the right hand side of the dash from falling out
My observations now:
People have been complaining about the ride quality for years!
My lwb is a 2016 model but nothing has improved from my previous 2012 swb as far as the ride quality is concerned.
People tackle the rattling dash as if it is the cause of the noises and not as a result of a suspension problem.
I say suspension problem as it must be able to cope with everything that gets thrown at it under all normal conditions as applicable to a 4x4.
My observation is that the ride quality becomes jarring at very low speeds even with a tyre pressure of 150 kpa. The road holding however, does not become bad and does not cause the Pajero to wander around on the road.
It is as if the tyres start juddering over the corrugations and
then seem to accelarate the frequency of the juddering whilst driving at a constant speed. This is also experienced by observing the juddering in the steering column (which I regard as unacceptable).
It is as if the shocks and the coils don’t get it right to control the vibrations caused by the road conditions. If the vehicle was old, and not just with 30 000 km, it would have been acceptable to say that they would need replacement.
An australian article states that this is a characteristic of a monocoque body like the Pajero which is too close to the suspension. But it also states the relationship between the shock and the coil which must control this.
My opinion is that the shock is too slow to control the up and down movement of the tyres and the coils are not up to assist with this.
What is astonishing is the lack of feedback on the internet of what gains were made when the Pajero suspensions were upgraded. And I am sure many suspensions have been upgraded by Pajero owners.
I implore the guys who did this to publish their experiences with the improvements experienced as far as rattling dash boards and the ride quality over corrugations. This will prove my view that the problems are suspension related.
I would also love to hear from people who had air cushions installed in their coils.
We need to know where compromises must be made to improve the ride quality.
My local workshop manager informed me that only one brand has been approved for installation on the Pajeros.
Personally I think that we are taken for a ride by Mitsubishi who does not seem to care.
