The Ultimate Guide to Suspension Upgrades for Your 4WD
Whether you’re building a touring rig, adding accessories to your daily dual cab, or just looking to level out your 4WD, suspension upgrades are one of the first serious mods worth considering.
A quality suspension upgrade can completely transform how your vehicle handles, performs, and carries weight. But it’s not a one-size-fits-all job. Choosing the right setup comes down to understanding how your vehicle is used, what it’s carrying, and what you’re trying to achieve.
At Bud’s Tyres, we’ve worked on 4WDs from weekend warriors to long-haul tourers. If you're thinking about upgrading your suspension, here's what you need to know before you book it in.
Why Upgrade Your Suspension?
Factory suspension is designed for comfort and light loads - not for bar work, rooftop tents, drawers, and recovery gear. Once you start adding weight or heading off-road, you’ll likely notice sagging, bottoming out, and poor handling. That’s where aftermarket suspension comes in.
Upgrading your suspension allows for:
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Better ride height and clearance
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Improved load-carrying capacity
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Smoother handling off-road
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More control when towing or cornering
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A better stance and tougher look
If your vehicle is starting to feel spongey, unpredictable, or constantly sitting nose-down, it’s probably time.
Know Your Setup: Front-End Weight
Before we quote or install anything, we need to know what’s going on at the front of the vehicle. Why? Because that’s where most of the added weight ends up.
Do you have:
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A bull bar?
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Winch?
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Underbody protection?
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Dual battery setup under the bonnet?
All of these affect the spring rate and shock valving we’ll recommend. For example, a Hilux with just a bull bar will need a very different coil than one running bar, winch, bash plates and a full- time fridge.
If you under-rate the front suspension, it’ll sag fast and handle poorly. Over-rate it, and your front end will feel stiff and harsh.
Rear Load: Constant Weight vs. Occasional Loads
In the rear, we look at constant vs. variable load. Are you always carrying tools, drawers, water tanks, or a canopy? Or do you only load up for camping trips or towing?
A heavy-duty leaf spring designed for 500kg+ will ride rough when empty. On the flip side, a soft spring with airbags might feel fine unloaded but won’t cope well off-road when the tray’s full.
If you’re running things like:
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A full canopy setup
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Dual drawer systems
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Steel tray or constant 4x4 load
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Rooftop tent and gear
...we’ll spec your rear suspension accordingly. We want the vehicle to sit level and handle predictably, no matter what you throw in it.
What Size Lift Do You Want?
Most suspension upgrades offer lifts between 40mm to 75mm, depending on the vehicle and purpose.
It’s not just about looks, it’s about clearance, weight distribution, and maintaining correct alignment and drivability.
Cost and Install Time
Pricing for a quality suspension upgrade usually starts at around $1,500 for a basic setup. This can go up depending on:
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Brand
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Vehicle complexity
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Whether upper control arms or extras are needed
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Custom spring ratings
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GVM upgrade kits
Install time varies. Some vehicles can be done in half a day, especially for standard setups on popular dual cabs. Others - like 200 Series LandCruisers, lifted wagons with additional upgrades, or custom packages - may take up to two full days.
We’ll always give you a heads-up on install time when quoting.
What You’ll Need to Tell Us
To get the most accurate quote and avoid surprises, we’ll ask you:
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What accessories are fitted (bull bar, winch, batteries, drawers, canopy, etc.)
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How much load is typically in the rear
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What size lift you want
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Your budget
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Whether you plan to tow or go off-road
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If the vehicle is loaded all the time, or just for trips
From there, we’ll recommend a matched system of springs and shocks, not just a height increase. Proper suspension tuning is about balance, not just throwing the stiffest spring under the car and calling it a day.
Ready to Upgrade?
Whether you’re just getting started or planning a serious tourer build, upgrading your suspension is one of the best investments you can make in your 4WD.
At Bud’s Tyres, we’ll help you choose the right setup for your vehicle, your weight, and your driving style, so it performs just as well off-road as it does on the tarmac.
Want a quote? Drop us a message or pop into the workshop with your 4WD setup and we’ll run you through the best options.
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