Friday, December 23, 2005 - 08:26 am, by: Mark Donovan(Mark_donovan)
Christmas is still on although I will definitely be living in paupery for the first few months of 2006. Just as well there's no girlfriend in the picture at the moment; I can only afford the one high maintenance item, and besides, the car always drives better with no passengers.
Hope you all have a relaxing break over the holiday period!
Sunday, March 05, 2006 - 08:16 pm, by: Mark Donovan(Mark_donovan)
Just picked the Soarer up on Saturday morning after having the new airbags fitted. (Also had all bushes replaced with Vlamos bushes just over 2 weeks ago.)
I'm very happy to finally have it all done, with a definite difference in ride comfort over bits of road I drive daily. Whilst I was obviously a little too optimistic in believing I'd no longer even feel potholes, the difference is there, and anything that stops the car from shuddering is a plus in my book.
I've also been reacquainted with my two new best friends:
HEIGHT NORM + TEMS SPORT =
I would like to thank everyone who posted above, with special thanks to Don Bagnall, Andrew Vlamos & particularly the legendary Neil Griffiths whose patience and quick replies were key to solving some of the issues I came up against. Neil and Don have both been extraordinarily patient with my requests for help and they both have my deepest gratitude.
I should also add that I have just fitted the metallic walnut burl woodgrain kit which I purchased from Gregg Holden at Importscene.com.au. The colour match is alot closer than I had come to expect from photos I had seen online, and I am a very happy customer.
I thoroughly recommend purchases through all of these guys, particularly if you are overseas, as you will be dealing with top blokes.
Wednesday, March 08, 2006 - 12:55 am, by: Kieran Ferguson(Krudman)
Hi Im Kieran, fisrt time poster, long time reader. Firstly, thanks to all the fountains of knowledge that make this scene so active. its an absolute honour to be a part.
My interest in this thread is spurred by my 91uzz31 having the dreaded and afforementioned Dead Airbag Phenomenon. After 10 minutes on dirt road one day, i get hissing noise on FR-L TEMS strut, and no liftee. Trying to drive home made my wheel scrape on guard. Not nice.
Further investigation pointed me to the inevitablilty of Airbag Strut Failure. Like all of the previous enquirers, I want to feel the same car again for the cheapest amount of $$.
Alas, I discovered what many of you have, $500+ to fix one strut with 2nd hand, with no longevity. $2000+ to replace with TEIN coilovers. Or $3000+ for brand new factory Air Struts.
It took a while to come around, and not having much coin, it was a hard decision, but I sought finance and got new factory Air Suspension.
Maitland Toyota quoted me $4000+ for a new set of 4, but Neil Griffiths/Rush Imports <http://www.rushimports.com.au>, were able to supply me the same set for many hundreds cheaper, and they arrived in a couple of days.
Installation wasnt too hard, at first the new bags dont want to pump, this, i found, was because the computer shuts down when it detects malfunction, to save the living sides. It just needs help to reset. Removing both battery terminals for a couple of hours tended to help, so did the boys who rocked the car up and down till the sensor kicked in again.
Back came the familiar fish tank pump buzzing, up goes Front Left, voila $4000+ later and several weeks off the road, and the Snorer was back to Life.
Everything the previous posters have said is true, the 2005 model UZZ31 TEMS are the sh*t, super firm in sport, or super luxo in NORM. I dont need to change from NORM to HIGH to get in my driveway anymore, I barely scrape anywhere (might be time to fix those scuffs now).
I might be super in debt, but the new found ride and handling is like a new car, twas fully worth it.
Thanks to Neil Griffiths and the [SC] community for the help. Imagine if I had of taken my first advice and had a local shop replace my 3 working TEMS with 4 second hand coilovers. EEECCCHHH
Incidently, I now have 3 A+ condition UZZ31 AirBag Suspension struts (FR,RL,RR), if anyone should happen to be in the same boat I was, and needs the affordable option of replacing the broken one.
please feel free to contact if anyone is in need. Kieran 0414 672 095. $200 ea inc post.
Thanks for looking at my first rant. sorry if it was super wordy.
Things are looking grim. Might look super boyracer, but quite dangerous.
Now my car had this thing about repeating 6's. You know they have a soul like Herbie.
Wednesday, March 08, 2006 - 01:57 am, by: Peter Nitschke(Pen)
to SC Kieran! This is certainly the place to be for Soarer-philes.
Nice to hear of a successful rejuvenation. I am about to replace all the remaining original control arm bushes on my UZZ30, and while I don't expect the improvement to be as dramatic as your 4 new legs, I don't have any problems like that as my starting point.
Keeping these cars renewed will certainly pay dividends for long term owners.
Wednesday, March 15, 2006 - 11:30 pm, by: Kieran Ferguson(Krudman)
Thanks for the welcome chaps. Glad to be involved with such a helpful bunch of people. Within hours of expressing that i had some spare parts to offer, i had a call from someone in a similar situation who was in need of the part. Very nice timing.