2005 Navara D22 suspension: options, loads and 33-inch tyres
Start with the spring rate and travel your D22 needs. Then choose the shocks. A bigger budget buys more choice, but the highest lift or heaviest leaf pack can still be the wrong fit for a daily driver.
Australian-market research · Checked 16 October 2026 · 3.0L D22 4WD
The answer for a daily driver with a rack and rooftop tent
This guide responds to the D22 suspension discussion on r/4x4Australia: a 2005 3.0L used mainly on-road, with occasional off-roading, a tub rack and rooftop tent, a scraping rear diff, and a possible move from 31s to 33s.
- Your front springs are the torsion bars. The rear uses leaf springs. You do not need to add front coil springs to a normal D22 suspension refresh.
- A suspension lift raises the chassis relative to the rear axle. It does not raise the rear diff off the ground.
- Nominal 31-to-33-inch tyres add 25.4 mm of radius, not 50 mm of diff clearance. That is a geometric estimate, not a promise that 33s fit.
For this use, get quotes for a matched D22 package with rear springs selected from the measured permanent load and front torsion-bar rate selected for the actual bar/winch weight. Compare OME, Dobinsons, EFS, Tough Dog, Ironman and the Formula/Bilstein packages below on the same load specification. A 300–600 kg constant-load leaf pack is not an automatic upgrade for a relatively light daily driver.
A rack and tent are permanent load if they stay fitted. Their description alone does not establish the right spring rate. Weigh the vehicle by axle in normal and trip-ready condition; account for passengers, fuel and luggage separately. Tough Dog explains the effect of mismatched constant-load springs.
Confirm the vehicle: this page covers the Australian 2005 D22 3.0L 4WD application. Check the VIN/build month, cab and current suspension. A D40 or D23/NP300 coil kit is a different application; model year or the word “Navara” is not enough. Fulcrum’s Navara suspension overview.
Suspension packages to compare
These are verified public listings and catalogue leads found in this research, not every product ever sold for a D22. Prices are advertised AUD parts prices unless stated otherwise, checked in public pages/search listings on 16 October 2026. They are not installed quotes or stock guarantees. Freight, fitting, alignment and required extra parts can change the total.
“40 mm”, “45 mm” and “50 mm” describe advertised package heights. Actual height depends on load, existing sag and adjustment. Read the contents: some packages reuse the existing torsion bars.
| Brand / package | Advertised parts price | Contents and selection notes |
|---|---|---|
| Old Man Emu / ARB | Complete quote required | D22 Nitrocharger Plus shocks, 303007 torsion bars and selected Dakar leaves. Medium or constant-load spring options; confirm matching hardware. Component prices below. |
| Dobinsons configured kit | Complete quote required | GS45-097 fronts, TB45-1446 bars, selected rear dampers and leaves, bushes/U-bolts/pins/shackles. Builder’s $0 display is not a valid price. Rear IMS is listed; do not assume IMS fronts. |
| Ironman Nitro Gas medium — NISS025BKG | $2,240.02 / kit | Four shocks, torsion-bar set, rear leaves, U-bolt kits and bushes. Australian listing specifies 12636GRC rear comfort shocks. Confirm the load rating: product heading and technical copy conflict. |
| Ironman Nitro Gas heavy — NISS025CKG | $2,304.02 / kit | Four shocks, torsion-bar set, heavier rear leaves, U-bolt kits and bushes. Rear shocks 12636GR. Select against permanent load; confirm current spring rating. |
| EFS Elite — advertised 45 mm | $1,815–$2,010 / kit | Four Elite shocks, HD torsion bars, leaves, bushes and U-bolts. 0–200 kg or constant 200 kg rear options; range includes optional greasable shackles. |
| Tough Dog 40 mm packages | $1,585 / example kitDealer “Mates” price; notify-me listing | Example foam-cell package has 0–300 kg rear option and hardware, but no torsion bars listed. Rear-adjustable / 300 kg variant $1,695; bar + winch / 300 kg variant $1,880 with bars. Configurations differ; confirm supply. |
| Formula 4x4 — NAV-017 | $1,490.01 baseD22 torsion bars +$572 | Four shocks, leaves, U-bolts and SuperPro shackle/pin/bush kit. Rear choices: 0–200 kg, 0–150 kg parabolic or 200–400 kg. Base price excludes torsion bars. |
| Bilstein / Fulcrum — NAV-003 | $2,649 / kit | Four Bilstein shocks, TB-1446A torsion bars, Formula leaves and SuperPro hardware. Multiple rear-load choices. Supplier also displays $3,804 fitted; confirm location and selected configuration. |
| Pedders Outback — 915020-3 | $2,920.01 / kit | Explicitly lists D22 3.0 TD 4WD 2001–2008. Shocks, torsion bars, leaves, bushes and U-bolts. Published page does not establish lift height or spring-load rating; request both. |
| Terrain Tamer — SK035 / SK035P | Quote required | Catalogue lists Slimline and Pro damper options, D22 NIS020HD torsion bars and approximately 45 mm rear leaves up to 150/300/500 kg. Confirm D22 components rather than the shared D21 entries. |
| PSR TTG — NAVKIT-053 | From $1,670 | Four shocks, raised rear leaves, shackles, bushes and U-bolts. Torsion bars are an option according to front load. PSR/Bilstein NAVKIT-054 is listed from $1,950. Supplier price listing. |
| West Coast Suspensions — NIS002K | Quote required | Manufacturer catalogue lists D22 1997–2015: shocks, torsion bars, rear leaves and hardware. Listed NIS13 leaf application is constant 150 kg. Confirm the full current package and rate. |
| RAW 4x4 Nitro components | Quote required | D22 catalogue: 0–50 mm shocks, TB1446HD bars, RL882 40 mm leaves rated 0–300 kg and BSK1002 hardware. Source catalogue is dated 2023; its historic prices are not used as current quotes. |
Shocks, torsion bars and rear leaves separately
If the existing springs suit the load and ride height, a repair may only need matched replacement shocks and worn hardware. On an already lifted vehicle, confirm compressed/extended lengths and full-travel clearance; a “2-inch” label alone is insufficient.
| Component / SKU | Advertised price | Application / caution |
|---|---|---|
| Old Man Emu 63034 | $226 / each$452 per pair, calculated | Front Nitrocharger Plus; confirm actual lift and clearance. |
| Ironman 4x4 12791GR | $177 / each$354 per pair, calculated | Front Nitro Gas; D22 application. Current supplier page confirms price. |
| Dobinsons GS45-097 | $175 / each$350 per pair, calculated | Front twin-tube gas; D22 application. |
| EFS Elite front pair | $365 / pair | Supplier lists standard to 50 mm raised D22 application. Confirm full-travel fitment. |
| Dobinsons GS59-649 | $175 / each$350 per pair, calculated | Rear comfort/medium twin-tube gas. GS59-651 is the heavier-duty alternative at the same listed price. |
| Dobinsons IMS59-50649 | $297 / each$594 per pair, calculated | Rear IMS monotube option; not evidence of a complete front/rear IMS package. |
| Old Man Emu 303007 | $616 / set | OME front torsion-bar set. |
| Dobinsons TB45-1446 | $439 / pair | Dobinsons D22 torsion-bar pair; do not substitute D21 TB45-1456. |
| Old Man Emu CS032R | $360 / each$720 per pair, calculated | OME medium-load rear leaf; advertised 40 mm application. |
| Old Man Emu CS031R | $421 / each$842 per pair, calculated | OME constant 200 kg rear leaf; advertised 40 mm application. |
| Dobinsons NAV-4WD-R | $351 / each$702 per pair, calculated | Dobinsons rear leaf: up to 70 kg constant load; advertised 40 mm. |
| Dobinsons NAV-005-R | $366 / each$732 per pair, calculated | Dobinsons rear leaf: 350 kg constant load; advertised 40 mm. |
| Dobinsons NAV-006-R | $534 / each$1,068 per pair, calculated | Dobinsons rear leaf: 600 kg constant load; advertised 40 mm. |
| Formula parabolic rear kit — FLSKIT-019P | $890 / rear kit | Approximately 45 mm / 0–150 kg. Leaves and hardware only. Supplier requires long-travel shocks, which are additional. |
Pair totals above are calculated as two individual units where stated. Separate bushes or mounting hardware, fitting and freight may add to those totals. A kit price and a single shock price are not directly comparable.
Other brands and replacement routes
These extend the shortlist but need additional confirmation. They are not represented as complete, directly interchangeable kits.
Outback Armour and Ultimate Suspension
Outback Armour D22 rear Performance Expedition is listed as a roughly 40 mm / 200 kg rear package; obtain a configuration-specific quote. Dealer ranges combine front-only, rear-only and other options, so their lowest price is not a full-kit price. Ultimate UK-NIS-003 is a custom-matched quote lead. Its 2021 PDF has a torsion-bar specification conflict that needs manufacturer clarification before ordering.
Standard replacement: KYB and KONI
KYB Excel-G 343369 has a retailer-listed 2001–2008 D22 3.0 TD 4WD application; lifted suitability and current price remain unverified. KONI Australian distributor catalogue lists D21/D22 4WD, including the 3.0 diesel, through February 2008: front 30-1342 and rear 30-1343 at standard height. It separately lists rear 82-2138 for up to 30 mm lift, without a corresponding front entry. Obtain a current quote and match actual travel; this does not establish a 50 mm KONI package.
Rancho / Rockcrawler packages
4WD1’s D22 4WD 1997-on package is advertised at $1,541, with an unavailable/backorder status when checked. The approximately 40 mm kit includes four Rancho shocks, Rockcrawler torsion bars and rear leaves, bushes and U-bolts. RS5000 or adjustable RS9000XL shocks, 0–300 kg or constant 300 kg leaves, and shackle options change the configuration; request a matched price and supply date.
TJM XGS components
TJM’s 2023 application cross-reference lists D22 1997–2015 Balance shocks: 650TTB108R front and 650TTB250L rear. TJM Northern Beaches lists the rear shock at $210 each with a 0–30 mm application, and its 653RRLD08Q rear leaf at $451.50 each, approximately 40 ±5 mm at 300 kg. Both are enquiry listings. Ask TJM to specify compatible shocks, torsion bars, leaves and hardware for the chosen height; these component prices are not a complete-kit quote.
Lovells and Monroe: further quote routes
The Lovells 2023 kit catalogue hosted by its Adelaide supplier includes D22 pickup/tray-back applications. Confirm the 2005 3.0 4WD build, present availability, spring rating and complete contents before comparing a quote. Monroe 331053MM has a retailer-listed 2005 D22 3.0 TD 4WD application; the required axle position, current manufacturer cross-reference and lifted suitability still need confirmation. No current matched-kit price is established here for either route.
PSR long-travel and larger-lift packages
TTG long-travel NAVKIT-064 is listed from $925 and Bilstein NAVKIT-065 from $1,285. These retain original rear leaves and use extended shackles; they are not equivalent to complete new-leaf packages. PSR also lists 3-inch packages. Treat these as specialist geometry, steering and approval discussions, not a routine cure for a scraping rear diff.
Rear load assistance, bushes and arms
Polyair 85123 / raised 85123R is advertised at $850 per helper kit; verify actual lift compatibility. Airbag Man also lists D22 4WD assistance. SuperPro suspension repair parts and the Fulcrum D22 parts finder cover selected bushes, arms and related hardware. These are supporting or repair products, not all-in-one spring/shock packages.
A scraping rear diff: what actually changes clearance?
| Change | Chassis / body | Rear diff |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension lift | Raises chassis relative to the rear axle | No meaningful gain on unchanged tyres |
| Body lift | Raises body relative to chassis | No gain |
| Nominal 31 → 33-inch tyres | About 25.4 mm higher, geometrically | About 25.4 mm higher, geometrically |
| Correct sagged springs | Restores suitable loaded ride height | Does not change axle-to-ground geometry |
The rear axle housing follows the wheel centre. Raising the chassis on the same tyres leaves that housing at substantially the same ground clearance. This distinction applies to the D22’s rear live axle; the independent front suspension behaves differently. Superior Engineering: lift and differential clearance.
Will 33s rub?
There is no universal no-rub answer for a D22, even with a suspension lift. Record the exact tyre’s measured diameter and width, wheel width and offset. Check guards, liners, mudflaps, steering and suspension clearance at full lock, compression and articulation. A parked vehicle with an empty tub is not a full-travel test.
Moving from nominal 31s to 33s changes diameter by about 6.5%. That also changes effective gearing and speedometer relationship; actual results depend on the tyre and the vehicle’s existing calibration. Use the tyre-size calculator to compare sizes, then have fitment and approval confirmed before ordering.
First identify what is touching: the diff housing, spring/U-bolt hardware, towbar or rear body. Those are different clearance problems. Tyre choice, line choice and protection may matter more than extra spring height.
Supporting parts and setup checks
Front torsion bars
Select rate for the actual front load. More preload is not extra suspension travel. Tough Dog specifies at least 60 mm droop in its torsion-bar guidance; treat that as the manufacturer’s setup requirement, not a universal Nissan specification. Torsion-bar guidance.
Rear leaf hardware
Check spring-eye bushes, shackles, pins, U-bolts and bump stops. Compare kits with the required hardware included, and follow the supplied installation and recheck instructions. Load labels describe spring applications; they are not extra legal payload.
Control arms and steering
Inspect worn joints and bushes first. Correction arms are conditional on geometry and clearance. Roadsafe says its Blackhawk D22 UCA4821N does not suit factory four-spoke alloys and requires full-travel checks. An OE-style replacement arm is not automatically a lift-correction arm. Roadsafe D22 bulletin.
Air helpers
Airbag Man lists D22 4WD rear assistance for variable loads. Confirm the exact kit and lift compatibility. Helpers do not increase GVM, GCM, axle or tow-ball ratings and are not a cure for worn springs. D22 applications · Manufacturer limits.
Body lifts, extended shackles, major lifts and coil conversions need a separate assessment. They are not substitutes for a matched conventional D22 suspension package, and a body lift does not raise the rear diff.
Fitting and approvals
A full suspension change should include a condition inspection, installation to the vehicle and kit instructions, final alignment and full bump/droop clearance checks. If you do not have the equipment and experience to support the vehicle safely and verify the setup, use a qualified suspension workshop. This guide does not provide workshop torque figures or a DIY fitting procedure.
Check the rules for the vehicle’s state or territory of registration and the combined suspension, body and tyre changes. There is no blanket Australia-wide approval attached to the words “2-inch kit”. WA’s current simple-modification pathway and the national VSB 14 suspension/steering code are reference points; the registration authority determines the applicable process. No certified D22 GVM upgrade was verified in this research.
Take this checklist to the suspension shop
- Identify: 2005 D22 3.0L, VIN/build month, drivetrain, cab, current lift and existing shock/spring part numbers.
- Measure: normal and trip-loaded axle weights; permanent front/rear accessories; current ride heights; tyre size, wheel width and offset.
- Describe: daily-road comfort, occasional trail use, towing if any, and exactly which rear component is scraping.
- Specify: front and rear shock models, torsion-bar rate, leaf load option and expected ride height. Ask why that spring rate suits your measured load.
- Itemise: all four shocks, both leaves, torsion bars if needed, bushes, U-bolts, pins/shackles, any correction parts, labour, alignment, freight and follow-up checks.
- Verify: full-travel clearances, retained droop, steering/brake-hose/CV requirements, tyre fitment, applicable approval and the supplier’s warranty/service terms.
Compare the sourced catalogue entries, or bring the measurements above to a fitter.
Suspension load worksheet · How load ratings work · Find a fitter
Sources, coverage and open questions
Product links in the tables identify the evidence used. Manufacturer listings are preferred; dealer listings are labelled. A listing establishes what the supplier advertises, not an independent durability test. We have not road-tested these packages or ranked brands by reliability.
Unconfirmed items are labelled quote/confirmation required. We did not verify a complete D22 BP-51, MT64, MRR/IMS front-and-rear or Foam Cell Pro package; those family names must not be assumed compatible from a generic Navara search. Nor do these listings establish a safe maximum lift or a guaranteed 33-inch tyre combination.
Exact vehicle build, current suspension, axle weights, wheel specification, registration jurisdiction and installed prices remain unknown. This is a dated research snapshot, not a live inventory feed. Use the linked supplier to reconfirm price, stock and the complete application.
Disclosure: editorial selection is based on the fitment evidence described here. No commercial relationship, manufacturer endorsement or hands-on testing is asserted. FitFourby independence and disclosures. Send a correction.