Formula 4x4 suspension Review

Back in April I had a set of Bendix Ultimate 4WD Brake Upgrade kits fitted to my 2007 Toyota Prado at Bendix partner, Fulcrum Suspensions. And while I was in the Fulcrum Suspensions workshop in Pakenham (Vic), the team there asked if I’d be interested in also giving its Formula 4x4 suspension a go.

Now I must admit I hadn’t come across Formula 4x4 at the time and I had been quite happy with the suspension already on my Prado – Old Man Emu gear, as it happens. But that suspension was decidedly long in the tooth, having been on the vehicle previous to me buying it and, by my best estimate, having racked up around 150,000km over nearly 10 or so years.

Throw in some of the trips I’ve covered with my family in the time since – the Simpson Desert, Cape York’s Telegraph Track, South Australia's Eyre Peninsula and numerous escapes to Victoria’s High Country – and I was sure the set-up wasn’t performing as it once did.

After looking further into Formula 4x4 and its origins – check out my previous article for a lot more detail – I thought I’d go for it with a new Formula 4x4 50mm lift kit, which comprises the following:
• Formula 4x4 ‘ReadyStruts’, which are essentially pre-assembled front shockers with springs
• Formula 4x4 rear shocks
• King Coil springs, with the rear springs matched to your vehicle’s usage and load-carrying/towing duties
• SuperPro polyurethane bushes

In addition to this, the Fulcrum Suspensions team fitted a set of SuperPro front upper control arms, which make the most of the 50mm lift. They’re said to offer better wheel articulation too, while avoiding the potential uneven tyre wear issues that can result from running the standard arms in a set-up with altered camber and castor.

The Formula 4x4 50mm lift kit I had fitted has an RRP of $1339 if you buy the kit and fit it yourself or $2058 if you have it fitted at an authorised Fulcrum Suspensions outlet. The upper control arms cost $730 (or $1135 fitted). So this Formula 4x4 gear is certainly budget-friendly but it’s a reasonably basic shock without any adjustment, remote reservoirs etc. But they are backed by a solid warranty and the expertise of Australia’s homegrown Fulcrum Suspensions team.

Right, enough pre-amble – what has this Formula 4x4 gear done for my Prado’s ride? Fulcrum Suspensions says this Formula 4x4 gear is some of the most comfortable heavy-duty off-road suspension you’ll find and, three months on, I wholeheartedly agree.

From the moment I pulled out of Fulcrum's workshop, the Prado’s ride is more supple and compliant – it effectively smooths out those little road imperfections over which it was previously quite harsh. It’s also noticeably more comfortable over speed humps too, which helps to make the Prado an altogether more refined option for around-town family transport.

Given that my vehicle spends about 80 per cent of its time in town on sealed roads, this aspect has been a big improvement in itself. However, it accounts for little if that smoother ride only comes at the expense of off-road and towing ability, which are also very important considerations for many 4x4 owners, myself included.

So it was with a hint of trepidation that I initially hooked up our camper trailer. Admittedly, this camper is light – it weighs just 500kg tare and has an ATM of 750kg, so it doesn’t even legally require trailer brakes – but when it and our Prado are loaded up for a family adventure, I still need that suspension to perform.

Happily, with the Formula 4x4 set-up, the rig has remained flat and level while the ride is on the money too. I don’t tackle anything too gnarly with the camper in tow – corrugated outback roads is about the limit in this respect – but the ride has remained controlled and composed, and very comfortable.

And that leaves proper off-road travel – the sort that abounds in Victoria’s High Country, which is my favoured destination for a long-weekend camping trip. I don’t have a winch fitted to my Prado and there’s a reason behind that – for the sort of family escapes we enjoy, I generally don’t want to tackle anything so technical that I might need a winch to recover the vehicle. We like a bit of adventure, but without my wife and kids screaming in abject terror.

Bearing that in mind, this Formula 4x4 suspension is a winner. Over bigger hits and particularly in slow-speed technical going, the Prado soaks up the broken ground well and displays a nice sense of poise, which is showcased especially well in those low-first, tipping-point moments when you’re j-u-s-t edging over a sharp obstacle or using your brakes to control your descent into a steep drop.

And I've got a bit more clearance now because the old setup, which also had a 50mm lift, had sagged a bit. The Prado now sits tall and proud with its genuine 50mm lift, and that instils further confidence when you're well off the beaten track.

The setup irons out corrugations at faster speeds beautifully and it swallows bigger impacts well too. In short, I haven't come across any situation yet where I've found the Formula 4x4 gear to be lacking.

On the whole I would say this setup is a little bit softer than my previous suspension, but I haven’t experienced any bottoming out in technical off-road going and it's totally happy with the camper in tow. It really is very comfortable suspension, yet it's still thoroughly up to the job of off-roading and towing.

I opted for a slightly heavier rear spring rate to account for the times when I do load up or tow the camper on a trip away, and I feel that was a good move. But if you regularly tow heavy loads, or say a large caravan or boat, Fulcrum Suspensions offers a range of other solutions, including airbag set-ups.

It’s easy to not give your suspension a second thought and, over time, not notice how your suspension performance has deteriorated. I’m thoroughly satisfied with this Formula 4x4 gear but, beyond that, it’s been really beneficial to go through the entire Fulcrum Suspensions process.

From speaking with the firm’s experts about what you want and what you’re looking to get out of a new set-up, to the pre-fitting safety inspection, to the fitting itself, the laser wheel alignment and the later post-fitting check-up, I not only have new suspension, I have the peace of mind that comes with knowing that every aspect of my vehicle’s suspension is fresh and working as it should. And when you’re setting off on your next trip, be it across town or across the country, that confidence is priceless.