Dobinsons 100 Series Suspension options - full breakdown (2 Viewers)

[crikeymike]

Hey guys, breaking down all of the current Dobinsons options for the 100 Series and LX470, putting it all in one place. I keep seeing various questions in various posts all throughout here about what options there are, so hopefully this can help some of you out when the time arises.

All parts are available separately, and there are also kits available with the options to pick and choose what parts you want as well.

Torsion bars
TB59-1600 - For gasoline V8 models - Heavy duty, increased rate. 1160mm length. Can be used to replace AHC or standard torsion bars.
TB59-1610 - For diesel and turbo diesel models specifically - Heavy duty, increased rate. 1210mm length (these cannot be used on a V8 Gas model)

Front Shocks - Gas and Diesel Engines
GS59-782 - Twin Tube Nitrogas Shocks - for 0-2" lift
GS59-786 - Twin Tube Nitrogas Shocks - for 2-2.5" lift - extended length so that shock doesn't max out too soon with taller lift heights
IMS59-60782 - IMS Monotube Shocks (internal resi)- for 0-2" lift
IMS59-60786 - IMS Monotube Shocks (internal resi)- for 2-2.5" lift - extended length
MRA59-A782 - 3-Way adjustable Monotube remote resi shocks - for 0-2" lift
MRA59-A786 - 3-Way adjustable Monotube remote resi shocks - for 2-2.5" lift - extended length

Front Upper Control Arms (UCA's)
UCA59-006K - Heavy Duty pair of upper control arms, ideal for lift heights up to 2.5" of lift, allowing for better suspension movement, and wheel alignment due to built-in fixed caster. Comes with Sankei 555 Ball Joints (made in Japan), OE style rubber bushings. Zero maintenance required.

Rear Upper Trailing Arms
WA59-555K - Fully adjustable, OEM quality rubber bushings installed, 5mm wall thickness tubing, zinc plated and powder coated

Rear Lower Trailing Arms
WA59-551K - Fully adjustable, OEM quality rubber bushings installed, 40mm OD and 6mm wall thickness with support brace, zinc plated and powder coated

Diff Drop Kit
DD59-532K - Complete front diff drop kit to lower the differential when lifting 2" or more and correcting the CV angle, and also allowing for the longer travel front shocks to be used on conjunction with new UCA's

Rear Coils - lift height is of course subject to replacing stock/worn out components, and AHC vs non-AHC systems.
C59-169 - 1.0" lift, linear rate, with stock weight inc 3rd row seat, 1.5" without 3rd row. For slightly above OE stock height. Ideal if someone is doing AHC removal but doesn't want to add much lift (465/475mm free height, 227LB rate)
C59-223V - 1-1.25" lift, variable rate, with stock weight inc 3rd row seat, 1.75" without 3rd row. Closest equivalent to C59-169, but variable rate for more comfortable ride quality and low lift height (445/455mm free height, variable rate).
C59-167 - 2" lift with stock weight inc 3rd row seat, 1.5" lift with 150-220LBS constant rear weight, linear rate (485/495mm free height, 227LB rate)
C59-185 - 1.5" lift, linear rate, with 440LBS constant rear weight (480/490mm free height, 277LB rate)
C59-171 - 1.5" lift, linear rate, with 880LBS constant rear weight (485/495mm free height, 328LB rate)
C59-175V - 2.5″ lift with up to 220lbs constant Load

Rear Shocks
GS59-682 - Twin Tube Nitrogas Shocks - for 0-2" lift
IMS59-60682 - IMS Monotube Shocks (internal resi) - for 0-2" lift
MRA59-A682 - MRA 3-way adjustable monotube shocks with external reservoir - for 0-2" lift
Longer shocks are available for those wanting to do a longer travel rear end - PM for more info and specifics.

I know some guys have tried different Dobinsons 80 series rear coils in their 100's, based on different heights they were looking for, or heavier rates. If that someone is you, please post up a summary of what you've used and what lift height you've got with whatever load you're carrying so that I can add those to the list.

 

[Hulsty]

Thanks for the detail, the extended length shocks, do they suit diesels and any idea how the dampening rates compare to ARB NITROCHARGER SPORT shocks?

 

[crikeymike]

Thanks for the detail, the extended length shocks, do they suit diesels and any idea how the dampening rates compare to ARB NITROCHARGER SPORT shocks?

No worries. Yeah, I guess I should have said that the shocks suit all engine models.

Definitely softer than OME valving. I've had several guys buy the shocks only to replace OME's and they've all described them as "much more comfortable". The 782 and 786 front shocks both use the same valving, just different lengths.

 

[MongooseGA]

I've got pretty much everything done on my suspension, but I am very curious about their UCAs. SPCs are on mine now, but I've had some issues with them and will eventually probably swap them out. Will keep an eye on this until they're revealed.

 

[Hulsty]

I called Dobinsons head office this morning in, they have not heard of the GS59-786, will try again later in the month hopefully sales have it up on their system.

 

[crikeymike]

I called Dobinsons head office this morning in, they have not heard of the GS59-786, will try again later in the month hopefully sales have it up on their system.

It's made specifically for USA sales

 

[ScottyS]

I'm considering doing a 2" sensor AHC lift (similar to this and this), would these UCA's be correct for that application as well as conversion to standard LC lifted suspension?

 

[crikeymike]

I'm considering doing a 2" sensor AHC lift (similar to this and this), would these UCA's be correct for that application as well as conversion to standard LC lifted suspension?

Yes you could use them for that if you'd like

 

[Sargy]

Running the The C59-269V rear Progressive / Variable rate coils on my AHC LX470 with sensor lift. Still Needed 300 lbs at the back before AHC started working. Works just like stock afterwards.

 

[crikeymike]

Running the The C59-269V rear Progressive / Variable rate coils on my AHC LX470 with sensor lift. Still Needed 300 lbs at the back before AHC started working. Works just like stock afterwards.

Nice. I think you and I maybe spoke about those last year? I think those would work out to be about stock height. Do you think you got some lift out of them?

 

[Sargy]

Nice. I think you and I maybe spoke about those last year? I think those would work out to be about stock height. Do you think you got some lift out of them?

Yes we did!

Since the AHC height is fixed by its sensors, I cant answer that with certainty. Websites show a 2 inch lift for an 80 series. With the AHC lift mod on the bracket, I have gained about 1.5 inches and still needed to weigh it down a lot in order to get all functionality of AHC to work (~300lbs, Ideal for steel rear bumper+tire carrier). Glad to say it works perfectly and I'm happy to throw anything at it.

*Only tested to see if it will cycle through heights*

 

[crikeymike]

The new Dobinsons UCA's arrived today. Just waiting for photos to share up here once they get unpacked and setup in the studio.

Front Upper Control Arms (UCA's)
UCA59-006K - New for March 2020 - Heavy Duty pair of upper control arms, ideal for lift heights up to 2.5" of lift, allowing for better suspension movement, and wheel alignment due to built-in fixed caster. Comes with Sankei 555 Ball Joints, OE style rubber bushings. Zero maintenance required.

 

[gregnash]

The new Dobinsons UCA's arrived today. Just waiting for photos to share up here once they get unpacked and setup in the studio.

Front Upper Control Arms (UCA's)
UCA59-006K - New for March 2020 - Heavy Duty pair of upper control arms, ideal for lift heights up to 2.5" of lift, allowing for better suspension movement, and wheel alignment due to built-in fixed caster. Comes with Sankei 555 Ball Joints, OE style rubber bushings. Zero maintenance required.

Correction, according to your listing, Ball Joints are NOT included, they are a $60 add-on charge. So technically, doesn't COME WITH them, they are an add-on.

 

[crikeymike]

Correction, according to your listing, Ball Joints are NOT included, they are a $60 add-on charge. So technically, doesn't COME WITH them, they are an add-on.

The ball joints are included. There's an option for $60 for the ball joints to be pressed in (installed) prior to shipping.

Add ball joint assembly? *

Dobinsons UCA’s come without the ball joints pressed into the arms. This requires a heavy duty press. We offer the service to press in the pair of ball joints prior to shipping to save time at home.

EDIT. They do come fully assembled now, all included in one price

 

[gregnash]

The ball joints are included. There's an option for $60 for the ball joints to be pressed in (installed) prior to shipping.

Add ball joint assembly? *

Dobinsons UCA’s come without the ball joints pressed into the arms. This requires a heavy duty press. We offer the service to press in the pair of ball joints prior to shipping to save time at home.

Ok thanks for the correction! Reading the description the first time that was not clear, in my head I had it that they did not come with the UCA and was the $60 add-on charge to add them AND press them in.

Question, why would someone purchase without them pressed in? Does this save on shipping or anything? Seems illogical to me, but never purchased UCAs before so don't know if others (SPC, TC, TT, etc.) do this as well?

 

[crikeymike]

Ok thanks for the correction! Reading the description the first time that was not clear, in my head I had it that they did not come with the UCA and was the $60 add-on charge to add them AND press them in.

Question, why would someone purchase without them pressed in? Does this save on shipping or anything? Seems illogical to me, but never purchased UCAs before so don't know if others (SPC, TC, TT, etc.) do this as well?

I noticed on the mobile site, the way the sentence is broken up, it looks like they cut it off right after "ball joint not...". No worries though. At least it made me re-check the text to make sure I didn't make an error.

A lot of shops and stores that install the UCA's can do it themselves "for free" with their own tools, and since that's pretty common, they're not all pressed in. Plus the arms are from one factory and the ball joints come separately from a different one. But pretty much everyone that buys UCA's from me to install at home would have them pressed in by us so that it's just a bolt-in installation at home, making life a lot easier.

SPC ball joints bolt in, no pressing, and it's just something that people do at home. The uniball designs are the same way also, bolt in, like Total Chaos and Icon as examples.

 

[gregnash]

I noticed on the mobile site, the way the sentence is broken up, it looks like they cut it off right after "ball joint not...". No worries though. At least it made me re-check the text to make sure I didn't make an error.

A lot of shops and stores that install the UCA's can do it themselves "for free" with their own tools, and since that's pretty common, they're not all pressed in. Plus the arms are from one factory and the ball joints come separately from a different one. But pretty much everyone that buys UCA's from me to install at home would have them pressed in by us so that it's just a bolt-in installation at home, making life a lot easier.

SPC ball joints bolt in, no pressing, and it's just something that people do at home. The uniball designs are the same way also, bolt in, like Total Chaos and Icon as examples.

Ah ok, that makes sense. New UCAs are something that will happen down the road. Having a small garage that is normally taken by the wife's garage princess, I don't have room for lots of special tools but still do as much as I possibly can on my own. So that was the reasoning behind my question. And the 555 are, or in my experience have been, some of the best ball joints around, so nice to see that you are utilizing them.

A piece of feedback for you, in my mind that would make it read better/more clearly...
The "Add Ball Joint Assembly" to me reads that the ball joints do not automatically come with the package (hence my initial question). When I first read it, the way it read was that the ball joints were not included, and I thought to myself "Well that's odd, why wouldn't I want the ball joints added?" Then looking at the cost and seeing that they were 555s it was like "For $60, hell yeah I would rather have 555s!"

Maybe a better way of writing it would be "Add Ball Joint INSTALLATION" thus differentiating that the ball joints DO indeed come with the UCAs but rather points to the lower section where you explain that they are not installed from the factory because you are using the higher quality ball joints. Just a thought.

 

[JohnnyUtah2]

Interested in the new IMS shocks to replace my OMEs!

 

[hickuptruck]

Regarding the UCA, made sense to me the first read. Wish the shock options would've been around a year ago.

Might be getting the UCAs.

 

[Brandon Ryder]

how much built in caster do the uca's have? and can they be installed on an unlifted truck in preparation for a lift down the road? are the 555 joints the same ones that would be used in a stock uca so we can maintain them in the future?
also where are the uca's made?

i don't know enough about alignments but was concerned your uca's might have too much caster when not lifting the truck.