Dobinsons MRA - 3-way adjustable struts/shocks w/resi - FJ Cruiser (1 Viewer)

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crikeymike

ExitOffroad.com - Dobinsons Specialist
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The time has come everyone, time to list the features and details of the long awaited Dobinsons MRA.

**Reminder, Dobinsons coils for FJ Cruiser are offered in teal, red, or black, so you can choose that when buying

Now first up, are they called MRR, MRA, or what?
Well here's the thing - Dobinsons MRR's have been sold out of Australia for many years now, and they have been going thru a constant evolution of upgrades. First they had no valving adjustment at all, and the standard MRR's still do not but they are being phased out, which is also why they weren't ever fully stocked in the USA. So the new 3-way adjustable versions have been nicknamed "MRA" in part numbering for "MRR Adjustable" essentially and so that it's easy to keep track of. So you can call them MRR Adjustable, MRA's, or whatever you like, but for ease of keeping a separation between the regular MRR's and the new adjustable ones, I'll call them MRA's.

3-Way Adjustable - what does that mean?
First, on the external reservoir, it has high speed and low speed compression adjustability. 10 High Speed Compression Adjustments and 20 Low Speed Compression Adjustments.

On struts, the rebound is adjusted at the very top of the strut, via a shaft that goes all the way down inside the strut thru the piston rod. This is done by hand, turning a small knob. On the shocks, the rebound is adjusted at the base of the shock, via a shaft that goes up thru the piston rod. 15 Rebound adjustments. This is done with a small adjuster tool that's basically like a flat head screw driver to reach into the shallow recess to adjust them.

On the reservoir, the high and low speed compression can be adjusted by hand, however the "all-in-one adjuster tool" that comes with the shocks and struts has cut outs to adjust them too if it's hard to reach inside there.

Also, all MRA front struts have a fully threaded body for height adjustment. This isn't included as part of the "3-way" method, but a standard feature of the monotube lineup that Dobinsons has.

More from the engineers:

Built on the Back of the Race Winning Monotube Remote Reservoir (MRR) Shock Absorbers, Dobinsons new range of MRR Adjustable Shock Absorbers combine the best in high performance race-bred Monotube Technology, with an all new 3-way dampening adjustment system to turn your 4×4 into the ultimate off-road machine. Each component of the MRR Shock Absorber has been refined and improved to offer a higher level of ride quality, vehicle control and shock absorber performance.

The new 6063 honed Aluminum reservoir, revised light-weight floating piston, Carbon Fiber / PTFE / Disulphide composite wear band, improved 3 stage sealing system, and the ability to run lower gas pressure with the addition of the reservoir compression adjuster; have combined to provide massive reductions in shock absorber friction, resulting in an improved vehicle ride and dampening performance. The revised sealing design now provides a 3 stage FKM-HNBR shaft seal system that, when combined with the reduced operating frictions, provides a vastly increased service life with reduced wear.

The Micro Polished, Hard Chromed and Heat Treated shock shaft, revised CNC aluminum high flow race piston, and DOM seamless tubing body provides the ultimate in performance and off-road durability. The 3 Way adjustment design reduces the main piston working load, distributing heat more evenly between the main piston and the reservoir piston for reduced operating temperatures, and allows quick and easy damping changes for the ultimate in shock tunability in varying terrain and vehicle loads, to keep you controlled and comfortable.


Attached is the component sheet showing the main features of the MRA's, however here are some quick main points I want to pull out of there.
  • 3mm DOM (steel) thick main body
  • 6061 Aluminum spring seat and reservoir
  • Fully rebuildable design (No set rebuild mileage or timeframe!!)
  • Uses existing range of Dobinsons coils and top mounts
  • Direct bolt on design, no vehicle mods required for strut and shock fitment
  • Maintains rubber lower and upper bushings for maximum NVH dampening

So what options will be offered for FJ Cruisers. To start, it will be these:
For Early up to 2009 models (120 platform)
MRA59-A220 - For 2-3.5" Front lift - longer travel - 570mm extended, 420mm compressed
For Late 2010+ models (150 platform)
MRA59-A700 - suitable for 0-3" front lift. MRA59-A700 560mm extended, 420mm compressed
MRA59-A574 - For 2.5" to 3.5" front lift. Front Long Travel - 575mm extended, 430mm compressed

For all model Rear Shocks
MRA59-A701 - For 0-3" Rear - MRA59-A701 609mm extended, 389mm compressed
MRA59-A575 - For 3-3.5" Rear - long travel. 730mm extended, 425mm compressed

As far as resi mounts, the struts come with universal resi mounts. Vehicle specific front mounts still need to be checked on a US spec FJ Cruiser. The rear shocks do come with bolt on resi brackets. They do suit a Lexus GX470 and FJ Cruiser without any problems, and that's the same frame, so we're not expecting an issue. Just be aware - it's best to have a professional with the correct tools on hand to mount reservoir suspension. Drilling, trimming, adding nutserts, and hose routing all need to be taken into consideration for proper resi fitment.



Dobinsons-MRA-strut-shock.PNG


Dobinsons-MRA-component-list-features.PNG


Dobinsons-MRA-chart-specs.PNG


Dobinsons-MRA-description.PNG
 
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Fitment of front and rear MRA's on my 2014 4Runner. Appearance would be virtually the same on a 2010+ FJ Cruiser

MRA59-A700-exit-offroad-a.jpg


MRA59-A700-exit-offroad-b.jpg


MRA59-A701-exit-offroad-c.jpg


MRA59-A701-exit-offroad-b.jpg


MRA59-A701-exit-offroad-a.jpg
 
I hate knocking a well engineered product. . . but

Man, they gotta hire a proper marketing person to work on their color palette. That 90's green with the purple anodized parts, and then the white/yellow logo is just all kinds of wrong.
 
I don't disagree with the color clashing.

Dobinsons front and rear FJ Cruiser coils are also available in red and black.
 
Needs a 590mm front strut, rhen id be interested
You must be running long travel and custom CV's then? Stock CV's bind at full extension without a diff drop with the 575mm extension struts.
 
Im currently running 575mm bilstiens with out a diff drop, with a diff drop you can run up to 595mm with out binding, a true long travel kit allows you to run around 620mm
 
My 5th gen 4runner with 575mm GS59-574 struts had mild binding at full extension in the air. Not that they would hit full extension very often but still...

Anyway, we won't be doing longer than those we have already.
 
4runner may have slightly different geometry.
Fair enough i cant justify upgrading mine with out going to longer struts, i have some im interested in its just a shame they arent adjustable and are only 2.0, although i find a lot of people actually dont know hot to tune adjustable suspension properly
 
Stock update:
These MRA's are now in stock and have been shipping out.

Front struts
MRA59-A220 - early FJ's
MRA59-A700 - late FJ's

Rear shocks
MRA59-A701 - all FJ's
 
That makes the price more bearable, do they take the standard design top hat at the front
Yes, it uses normal coils and original top mounts or new replacements.
 
Awsome i could then run a hilux strut cap which im told is 15mm shorter in the strut mount which on a 575mm strut gives the same droop as a 590mm with out the extra closed length. Really just have to decide between these and the other brand im looking at
 
Awsome i could then run a hilux strut cap which im told is 15mm shorter in the strut mount which on a 575mm strut gives the same droop as a 590mm with out the extra closed length. Really just have to decide between these and the other brand im looking at
Hmm, maybe the OE mounts are different. I haven't compared them. Dobinsons uses the same replacement mount for all 05+ Hilux, Tacoma, 2003+ 4Runner and Prado 120/150.

The 575mm strut maxes out the CV's at full extension though, they start to bind
 
The oe part numbers between hilux and 150 prado are different, i have noticed most brands use the same part for all models above. I will be running a diff drop so should be fine for at least 585mm
 
So i Would better off running the 80 series 4 inch shock which is 410mm closed and 670mm open then if i wanted 2.5 inches of lift and max droop,

The fj 3.5s require me to run more lift in the rear, longer brakekines then my 100mm extended ones, massive sway bar links and massive bumpstops
 
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