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Old 21st May 2023, 18:13   #4396
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Re: Mahindra Thar : Official Review

Quote:
Originally Posted by shankar.balan View Post
Yes it is 16 step adjustable.
Ive been varying between 13 and 12 in front and 14 and 13 at the back. The first is a bit firm. The second is more comfortable and no bottoming out ever. I wish to now try 11 in front and 12 at the back for a little more softness. I had done around 6000 kms with my stock suspension before moving to AVO. Largely because on account of the second and third waves and consequent lockdowns, AVO was in very short supply because it has to be imported from England. I therefore had to wait a bit for mine.
But on reflection I must say the difference between the stock and this AVO is like Night and Day. We have driven the Thar all over the place multiple times, with just me and my wife and on a few trips with my Dad too. Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Hassan, Chikmagalur, Kabini, Bheemeshwari, Coorg, Nilgiris and a lot of local loafing too bith on road and off road and some adventure-ish stuff too. They both wholly endorse the quality of this suspension and the significant increase in comfort and enhancement in ride quality. I can clearly see the difference in handling characteristics. To me it is indeed a great investment. As one hits the 50’s one needs some few extra creature comforts in these Jeepy things. Anyway Im taking the Thar tomorrow on the highway for a couple of days trip with my pal and will adjust the suspension now by one more notch as mentioned above and see how it feels on this trip.
Hi,

Needed some advice on a peculiar problem i have been facing. The vehicle becomes really unstable if it goes over small bumps/ undulations at speeds of 60-70 kmph. Scary stuff indeed.

I am not sure wether the issue is normal or is it because of the tyres (running 265/65/17). If its to do with the suspension, can an upgrade to AVO or ironman make the handling safer?

Or am I completely wrong in identifying the issue?

Thanks in advance!
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Old 21st May 2023, 19:52   #4397
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Re: Mahindra Thar : Official Review

Quote:
Originally Posted by yaniv14 View Post
Hi,
Needed some advice on a peculiar problem i have been facing. The vehicle becomes really unstable if it goes over small bumps/ undulations at speeds of 60-70 kmph. Scary stuff indeed.
!
Quote:
Originally Posted by yadavsid21 View Post
I think people selling off low mileage Thars is due to mismanaged expectations and nothing else.
.
@yaniv- check tyre pressure. If it is too high this can be a reason. And yes the AVO makes a huge difference. My Thar behaves perfectly over rumble strips and undulations and bumps. Irons them out nicely.

@yadavsid- Yes. Most people buy this vehicle with their eyes and heart. And then they realise that it is NOT the same as a soft roader.

On another note;

There is just NOTHING like a Mahindra Thar to take you anywhere through anything. In perfect comfort, safety and with full confidence.

With such a heavy downpour, the Bangalore roads were like rivers today. And my Thar just waded through everything without turning a hair.
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Old 21st May 2023, 23:07   #4398
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Re: Mahindra Thar : Official Review

Quote:
Originally Posted by yaniv14 View Post
Needed some advice on a peculiar problem i have been facing. The vehicle becomes really unstable if it goes over small bumps/ undulations at speeds of 60-70 kmph. Scary stuff indeed.

I am not sure wether the issue is normal or is it because of the tyres (running 265/65/17). If its to do with the suspension, can an upgrade to AVO or ironman make the handling safer?

Or am I completely wrong in identifying the issue?

Thanks in advance!
I think you have an intuition that it is the 'upgrade' that has ruined the vehicle , you'd be right.

Do you want to throw more money at the problem , I don't think so. Let's first swap the stock wheels, tyres back (borrow from a friend if needed) and see how the vehicle behaves. It should drive comfortably at a speedo indicated 150 kmph, no funny business, nothing.

Tyre size is one thing, if it is a chunky and heavy tyre it can alter the dynamics , coupled with heavier aftermarket wheels that are out of spec , stock suspension cannot keep the tyres on the ground as effectively as it should otherwise.
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Old 21st May 2023, 23:58   #4399
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Re: Mahindra Thar : Official Review

Quote:
Originally Posted by shankar.balan View Post
@yaniv- check tyre pressure. If it is too high this can be a reason. And yes the AVO makes a huge difference. My Thar behaves perfectly over rumble strips and undulations and bumps. Irons them out nicely.

@yadavsid- Yes. Most people buy this vehicle with their eyes and heart. And then they realise that it is NOT the same as a soft roader.

On another note;

There is just NOTHING like a Mahindra Thar to take you anywhere through anything. In perfect comfort, safety and with full confidence.

With such a heavy downpour, the Bangalore roads were like rivers today. And my Thar just waded through everything without turning a hair.
I can spot a Nano and an Auto too.

Talking of the Nano I have taken it in flooded roads and non existent roads where others didn’t dare.

Such a competent small car so it isn’t a great feat for a 4x4 Thar and having owned both I love both.

Would love an EV Nano for my daughter and Wife should one come.

Thar is such a beautiful car and so much fun everyday .
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Old 22nd May 2023, 00:15   #4400
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Re: Mahindra Thar : Official Review

Finally got the AVOs delivered and installed. Thank you @GTO & @shankar.balan for helping choose & helping connect to the right individuals. The first obvious thing to notice was that the nose dive is now almost gone.

Couple of things on my mind though.

1. Steering feels stiffer than earlier. It was pretty light all this while. I drive a P AT HT.

2. Current setting is 12 clicks clockwise followed by 7 anti-clockwise on the front and 6 on the rear. Noticed Shankar mention about experimenting with 13-12 front and 14-13 rear. What am I missing here?
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Old 22nd May 2023, 04:46   #4401
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Re: Mahindra Thar : Official Review

I am getting my AVO suspension installed today at ARKA Coimbatore. Karna of ARKA always advices a particular value to start with, which is for roads mainly. You can then adjust as you go and as per your requirement!
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Old 22nd May 2023, 09:48   #4402
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Re: Mahindra Thar : Official Review

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Originally Posted by Headoverheart View Post

2. Current setting is 12 clicks clockwise followed by 7 anti-clockwise on the front and 6 on the rear. Noticed Shankar mention about experimenting with 13-12 front and 14-13 rear. What am I missing here?
12 & 11 front and rear (from fully clockwise position) is what ARKA MOTOR Sports recommends to begin with but I felt that setting to be too soft. I am running 10 & 8 front and rear respectively & it fits my driving style perfectly. I generally use the Thar 2 on board.

Just for reference Fully clockwise is STIFFEST & Anticlockwise is SOFTEST. One needs to play around a bit to get to what suits.

But overall this suspension swap is the best modification I have done to my Vehicle. Wife loves driving the Thar now (her regular drive is a Jeep Compass) & my son isn't complaining to sit behind. (I have a Optra fr passenger seat installed at rear)
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Old 22nd May 2023, 10:58   #4403
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Re: Mahindra Thar : Official Review

Hey guys, need some advice. I am moving to BF KO2s, 285/60/18 on stock rims for now and wanted to know, what is the lowest psi I can drop to? I have used some tire calculator sites and they say normal pressure should be 27 psi if we do a comparison to stock tires.

I saw some Youtube videos where folks have gone below 20 psi. Is that ok? I don't want the tire popping out of the rim and creating a whole new problem for me. Lowering air pressure would rarely be done but it's always good to know the limits.

Thanking you in anticipation.
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Old 22nd May 2023, 12:02   #4404
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Re: Mahindra Thar : Official Review

Fellow Thar owners, how silent is your cabin?
By this I don’t mean engine or road noise but interior rattle/ squeak noise.
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Old 22nd May 2023, 12:25   #4405
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Re: Mahindra Thar : Official Review

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Fellow Thar owners, how silent is your cabin?
By this I don’t mean engine or road noise but interior rattle/ squeak noise.
Surprisingly, very very quiet. Has held up really well vis-a-vis the rough handling it has endured.

The only rattling noise comes from loose screws which are holding the rear tailgate tray. Regret putting that, since not only it ate away into the limited boot space, but they drilled holes on the tailgate which I’m not very fond of.
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Old 22nd May 2023, 17:32   #4406
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Re: Mahindra Thar : Official Review

Quote:
Originally Posted by Urorobo View Post
so it isn’t a great feat for a 4x4 Thar and having owned both I love both. .
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mushroomz View Post
I am moving to BF KO2s, 285/60/18 on stock rims for now and wanted to know,
Quote:
Originally Posted by ishlinea7260 View Post
Fellow Thar owners, how silent is your cabin?
By this I don’t mean engine or road noise but interior rattle/ squeak noise.
@Urorobo - Yesterday’s rain I much preferred (and always will I guess) being in my Thar than in any other vehicle.

@mushroomz - I suggest 265/60/18 and NOT 285’s. Because 285’s will 100% create some level of rubbing against the fenders and sway bar and all.

@ishlinea - my Thar is 26 months old or so. Silent inside. No rattles and squeaks. Even my rear snack tray is silent.
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Old 22nd May 2023, 18:45   #4407
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Re: Mahindra Thar : Official Review

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Originally Posted by shankar.balan View Post
I suggest 265/60/18 and NOT 285’s. Because 285’s will 100% create some level of rubbing against the fenders and sway bar and all.
I'm thinking of 265/60/18 BFG KO 2, I'm guessing it wouldn't need any spacers or other modifications? Should it just be a drop-in replacement, right?
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Old 22nd May 2023, 20:29   #4408
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Re: Mahindra Thar : Official Review

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@mushroomz - I suggest 265/60/18 and NOT 285’s. Because 285’s will 100% create some level of rubbing against the fenders and sway bar and all.
I did research and also found that, it brushes the stock fenders. Since I have an aftermarket bumper, I have ample space in the front. I didnt hear about tires brushing the sway bar for this profile. Really, it does? My tires have already arrived so i might have to check it out myself.

Actually I was kneen on 17inchers but didn't want to invest on rims at the moment.
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Old 22nd May 2023, 20:32   #4409
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Re: Mahindra Thar : Official Review

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Originally Posted by Mushroomz View Post
I did research and also found that, it brushes the stock fenders. Since I have an aftermarket bumper, I have ample space in the front. I didnt hear about tires brushing the sway bar for this profile. Really, it does? My tires have already arrived so i might have to check it out myself.

Actually I was kneen on 17inchers but didn't want to invest on rims at the moment.
When the steering is on full lock point, left or right, the tyre of this large size will touch the sway bar.
I also love the big fat tyres. But in my Petrol Thar I am resisting the temptation to upsize, because of two reasons. One is the above. The other is the strong possibility that my fuel efficiency will drop further, which I just don’t want.
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Old 22nd May 2023, 21:31   #4410
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Re: Mahindra Thar : Official Review

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Originally Posted by Headoverheart View Post
...
2. Current setting is 12 clicks clockwise followed by 7 anti-clockwise on the front and 6 on the rear. Noticed Shankar mention about experimenting with 13-12 front and 14-13 rear. What am I missing here?
Quote:
Originally Posted by techfreak View Post
12 & 11 front and rear (from fully clockwise position) is what ARKA MOTOR Sports recommends to begin with but I felt that setting to be too soft. I am running 10 & 8 front and rear respectively & it fits my driving style perfectly. I generally use the Thar 2 on board.

Just for reference Fully clockwise is STIFFEST & Anticlockwise is SOFTEST. One needs to play around a bit to get to what suits.

...
I remember Leela sir (owner of Arka Motorsports) say that he's working on an improved version of the dampers with 0 as midpoint and clockwise for stiffness and anticlockwise for softening (or vice versa? Don't remember) when I met him a few months ago.

This could be one of those newer ones that Headoverheart got, better check...
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