LS4 — Front Suspension and Steering Modification.
Covers aftermarket front radius arms, Superflex and hybrid arms, drop boxes and castor correction on a Patrol.
TMR Approved Person · Burleigh Heads
Nissan Patrol Suspension Mod Plates — Superior Engineering & PSR Arms Certified on the Gold Coast
Hybrid radius arms, Superflex arms and drop boxes are some of the best upgrades you can bolt to a GQ or GU Patrol. They're also a change to the front suspension, which means in Queensland they have to be inspected and certified before the vehicle is legal on the road. GC Patrols is a Nissan Patrol specialist workshop in Burleigh Heads and a Queensland TMR Approved Person. We can fit the gear, inspect it, complete the Certificate of Modification and attach the mod plate — all in the one place.
Why bolt-on arms still need a mod plate
"Bolt-on" describes how the parts fit, not whether they need approval. Replacement radius arms and drop boxes change castor, the arm's mounting position and how the front axle is located. Under the National Code of Practice for Light Vehicle Construction and Modification (VSB14), that makes it a front suspension modification that has to be certified by an Approved Person.
Without the plate, the vehicle can be defected, and an uncertified modification can give an insurer grounds to knock back a claim.
The modification codes that apply
LS6 — Rear Suspension Modification.
Covers aftermarket rear lower and upper control arms and other changes to how the rear axle is located.
No code needed.
Replacement springs, shock absorbers and sway bars are treated as substitutions under VSB14 and don't need certification on their own. We still note them on the paperwork so the whole setup is recorded.
Superior Engineering radius arms
Superior Engineering's Hybrid, Superflex and Hyperflex drop-box radius arms for the GQ and GU are sold in lift-specific versions and bolt in with no cutting. Superior states the arms have passed testing for approval under the National Code of Practice, including a lane-change test, and are approved for on-road use on GQ and GU Patrols without electronic stability control once they have been inspected by an Approved Person. That inspection and sign-off is the part we do.
PSR radius arms and drop-box kits
PSR's Hybrid Long Arm and Shorty Arm kits for the GQ and GU come with radius arms, drop boxes and, on the long arm kits, a replacement gearbox crossmember. Because they change the front suspension geometry, they need to be assessed and certified under LS4 like any other aftermarket arm. We check the kit against VSB14 and the engineering evidence available for it before anything is signed. We stock the PSR range, so we can supply, fit and certify.
Shop PSR productsWhat we check at inspection
- Parts match the kit and part numbers, and suit the lift height actually on the vehicle
- All mounting hardware is correct, torqued and uses the factory chassis mounting points
- Castor and wheel alignment are within spec
- Brake hoses, ABS wiring and breathers have enough length at full droop
- Nothing fouls at full lock or full articulation — tyres, arms, tie rod, panhard, sway bar
- Ground and running clearance under the drop boxes
- Headlight aim after any change in ride height
- Tyre size, load and speed rating
- Steering and suspension joints, bushes and welds are sound
- Road test for steering response, stability and braking
The ADRs we check for continued compliance on a front suspension job are typically ADR 7 (brake hoses), ADR 13 (lighting installation), ADR 24 (tyre and rim selection), ADR 35 (braking), ADR 42 (general safety requirements) and ADR 43 (vehicle configuration and dimensions), depending on the vehicle's build date.
Lift height matters
In Queensland a lift of up to 75 mm in total — no more than 50 mm from suspension and 25 mm from tyres — generally doesn't need certification on its own. The arms and drop boxes still do. Once a vehicle goes past those limits it becomes a high-lift job under the Queensland codes LS9 and LS10, which is a separate approval with its own testing. Tell us the lift and tyre size up front and we'll tell you which path your Patrol is on before you spend money.
How it works
- 01
Send us the details.
Model, year, lift height, tyre size and what's been fitted or what you want fitted.
- 02
Fit or inspect.
We fit the kit in our Burleigh Heads workshop, or inspect work that's already been done elsewhere.
- 03
Fix anything that needs it.
If something won't pass, we tell you exactly what and why.
- 04
Certify and plate.
We complete the Certificate of Modification, attach the modification plate and give you your copy for your records and insurer.
Why Patrol owners use GC Patrols
- Patrol specialists — GQ and GU are what we work on every day
- TMR Approved Person on site, so there's no second trip to a separate certifier
- We stock and fit PSR suspension components
- Straight answers before you buy parts, not after
- Burleigh Heads workshop, open Monday to Friday
Frequently asked questions
Do bolt-on radius arms need a mod plate in Queensland?
Yes. Aftermarket radius arms and drop boxes change the front suspension, so they need to be certified under code LS4 by an Approved Person, even when no cutting or welding is involved.
What is an LS4 mod plate?
LS4 is the VSB14 code for a front suspension and steering modification. The plate and the Certificate of Modification confirm the work has been inspected and still meets the applicable Australian Design Rules.
Are Superior Engineering Superflex arms legal on the road?
Superior states its Patrol radius arms have passed testing for approval under the National Code of Practice and are approved for on-road use on GQ and GU Patrols without electronic stability control, once inspected by an Approved Person. We carry out that inspection and certification.
Can you certify PSR radius arms?
PSR hybrid arm and drop-box kits are assessed under LS4. We inspect the installation against VSB14 and the engineering evidence for the kit, and certify it when it meets the code.
Do sway bars, springs or shocks need a mod plate?
Not on their own. VSB14 treats replacement springs, shock absorbers and sway bars as substitutions that don't need certification, provided the lift stays within the Queensland limits.
How much lift can I run before it needs high-lift approval?
Up to 75 mm in total, made up of no more than 50 mm of suspension lift and 25 mm from larger tyres. Beyond that the vehicle falls under the Queensland high-lift codes LS9 and LS10.
My arms were fitted by someone else. Can you still plate them?
Yes. We can inspect and certify work done by another workshop or by you, as long as it meets the code.
Do I need rear control arms certified as well?
Aftermarket rear control arms that change how the rear axle is located are certified under LS6. We can do the front and rear on the same certificate.
Where are you and when can I book?
We're in Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast, open Monday to Friday. Book online or call 07 3924 3317.
Not sure what your Patrol needs? Send us the model, lift and what's fitted and we'll tell you which code applies before you commit.