[jaysmokesleaves]

Originally Posted by ThE Godfather

Not really, I have taken quite a few friends with me to my routine trips to Delhi, every one comes down saying we are too tired and this car isnt comfortablng. Or Its only me sufferring from suspension issues?

In May I took a bunch of friends on their first long road trip ever to Kanha, Bandhavgarh & Khajuraho. These were folks for whom a 40km round trip to the airport is like a world tour and a Benz is their choice of transport for their world tour. We covered a total of approx 3800kms in 1 week in my Safari. The last leg which was the return journey, we left from Khajuraho at approx 730am and touched Bombay at 230am next day. They were back in the offices same morning at 11am and were all praise for the Safari's comfortable touring abilities and are now diehard "Safari roadtrip fans".

For all the niggles and the problems that crop up, that I hate in the Safari, when I hit the road, and especially now in the monsoons when Bombay roads look like the surface of the moon, Im in love and all praise all over again.

Maybe its the way you drive a Safari that you probably dont enjoy the ride. In a Safari, if you want to enjoy the ride, you dont slow down for potholes and bumps, you just fly over them. Slowing down for these undulations only makes the 2.5 ton truck bounce and hence the bumpy and uneasy feeling. So my conclusion is, that its probably got to do with driving style too.

EDIT: On stock Bridgestones, which is a hard compound tire, 28-29psi is best. anything higher will make the ride harsh. Lower will make it bob and weave like a boat. If you are running Yokos, 30 psi is best. Even 31/32psi is fine because the Yokos are a tad softer than the Bridgestones.

[tsk1979]

Godfather, what is the tire size you are running, and what pressure do you run in the tires.
It makes a big big difference.

[sidcruise79]

I have been wanting to fit the Fortuner 'fender mirror' on my beast. But I was advised today by teh Toyota Service advisor that thi is not possible due to the different fender shapes of the safari and fortuner. Has anyone thought about this, and is tehre a way out.

[amitk26]

Originally Posted by ThE Godfather

Then why people here say it loud that Safari is the most comfortable vehicle? It jerks on acceleration, it does not absorb the bumps, it gives a lot of problems, it gets the bad smell inside the cabin still people say its the most Comfortable SuV?

It is most comfirtable SUV in fact , In month of may I could 1100 KM in a day with my wife , mother in law and 3.5 year old son with just break for lunch and tea and next day travel further around 400 KM, In all 2800 KM in 4 days . No other vehicle SUV or Sedan under 14 L provide that kind of drivability.

PS I keep tyre pressure of 34 , 36 on stock bridge stone tyres. ( 2 PSI more then recommended). Top speed attained 165 Km , High speed continuously maintained = 130 -140. Speed on state highways with potholes 60 - 90 kmph.

I think while driving you need to keep in mind that this is a Diesel 140 bhp engine with enormous torque so you need to push the pedal gently. Also published power curve and torque curve tells there is no point in trying to reach red line like petrol car , You should upshift after 2K RPM and before 2.5K, downshifting under 2K.

[condor]

Guys, OT for this thread, but I'll still ask :

My Sumo has leaf-springs + 1 shock absorber for each of the rear wheels. I have asked my SA about changing this to the Safari's coil based suspensions, but he advised against it. Basically too many changes will be required, including the different mounting for these.

My question : is there a good / better shock absorber that I can use instead of the standard OE one ? Which One ?

TIA !

[jaysmokesleaves]

Originally Posted by amitk26

PS I keep tyre pressure of 34 , 36 on stock bridge stone tyres. ( 2 PSI more then recommended). Top speed attained 165 Km , High speed continuously maintained = 130 -140. Speed on state highways with potholes 60 - 90 kmph.

Amit, High air pressures has its advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages ; good for hypermiling, and helps ride faster.
Disadvantages ; With just 2 adults the Safari will bounce around, and negate the effects of the suspenion and make the ride harsh. Under full load maybe it wont be so harsh, But Godfather's prerequisite was better ride and not top speed.

Originally Posted by condor

Guys, OT for this thread, but I'll still ask :

My Sumo has leaf-springs + 1 shock absorber for each of the rear wheels. I have asked my SA about changing this to the Safari's coil based suspensions, but he advised against it. Basically too many changes will be required, including the different mounting for these.

My question : is there a good / better shock absorber that I can use instead of the standard OE one ? Which One ?

TIA !

Maybe you can try reducing 1 leaf.. it does help. Retrofitting coils on leaf type suspension is a specialist job and not worth the expense... not worth a try even if it was possible. Also try getting shocks of a lesser load/shock rating.

[condor]

Jay, I'm not looking at replacing the leaf's with coils. I prefer to keep things stock, but with better parts.

Just want to try a better shock absorber than what is there currently. Hence the question reg a better shock-absorber.

[cool_dube]

Originally Posted by amitk26

Top speed attained 165 Km , High speed continuously maintained = 130 -140.

Coming back to my query posted sometime back on this thread - do you guys not experience high cabin noise over 100 kmph??

[ThE Godfather]

I am runnin on stock tires with 30psi. Sometime back, he service guys raised the height of the car. Would that be a reason of bumpy ride?

[amitk26]

Originally Posted by cool_dube

Coming back to my query posted sometime back on this thread - do you guys not experience high cabin noise over 100 kmph??

Yes , Cabin noise is high above 110 I think , but is it any different in other cars ?

[jaysmokesleaves]

Originally Posted by ThE Godfather

I am runnin on stock tires with 30psi. Sometime back, he service guys raised the height of the car. Would that be a reason of bumpy ride?

Hey how did they raise the height of the car...??
Are there suspension adjustments to do this...??
Why did they raise the height of the car...??

I feel Safari has adequate GC to tackle the odds that our roads throw up.

[cool_dube]

Originally Posted by amitk26

Yes , Cabin noise is high above 110 I think , but is it any different in other cars ?

It is much lesser in sedans, understandably, due to better fit/finish in terms of smaller panel gaps b/w door frame and body. coming to SUVs, I have owned a Sierra and a Bolero prior to the Safari and IIRC, they were much better on this aspect. Not sure about other SUVs.

What I have also noticed is that the cabin 'insulation' in general is poor - I get a whole lot of outside (traffic, honks, etc) noise even when the car is standing still in traffic or moving at slower speeds. This leads me to believe that the cabin insulation in general is poor in the Safari.

What I wanted to know was - has anyone tried anything to improve the cabin insulation and been successful at it?

[amitk26]

Originally Posted by ThE Godfather

I am runnin on stock tires with 30psi. Sometime back, he service guys raised the height of the car. Would that be a reason of bumpy ride?

It should be 82-84 mm on the front , For raising height he must have added shim plates. yes improper suspension setting can give bumpy ride.
But question is why ? If it aint broke dont try to fix it that's the best policy to maintain anything.

[dadu]

Originally Posted by sidcruise79

I have been wanting to fit the Fortuner 'fender mirror' on my beast. But I was advised today by teh Toyota Service advisor that thi is not possible due to the different fender shapes of the safari and fortuner. Has anyone thought about this, and is tehre a way out.

Its been done already, you need to check on the height and the distance from front so that you are able to view the side and the front bumper comfortably together.

[ThE Godfather]

Well, the service guys just adjusted the height with the help of some screws. Nothing opened or addd. They turned some screws and raised the height.s

@amitk, are you sure its 84mm?