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  • Suspension Options

    Hi All,

    Another subject I have very little practical knowledge on - but I'm learning. Suspension.

    I need to replace my stock struts soon and I'd like to add a bit of lift but I have one fairly major issue. My garage height is limited and by limited I mean I have to take my roof racks off just to park it in there. I have less than 2 inches of clearance once the roof racks are off.

    So my obvious option is to just get the same again and everything is hunky dory. But I'm wondering if there are adjustable shocks that would be practical in this scenario? I'm thinking around town and obviously parking at home, they'd remain in the lower position but when I go off-road, I have the option to jack up the height. Is anyone able to outline my options (if any) and probable costs here?

    Cheers,

    Gavin

  • #2
    I just had a quick browse & all I could come up with was Fox shocks or Dobinsons MRR with adjustable height.

    There are a number of issues you will face here though:
    1) Im not sure you can actually get 40mm of height adjustment out of them 4x4

    2) Springs are matched to how much weight you carry in the car to give you desired comfort levels.
    Meaning if you have say a winch, steel bullbar & dual batteries in the front, you will require a heavier duty spring so that the ride isnt too harsh/soft etc.
    Where this becomes an issue is, if you are going to be greatly altering the height by say 40mm, the only way to do this is to compress the spring.
    So then there is more load on the spring & therefore will make the ride harsher when the car is lowered as the springs arent set to operate optimally at that height.
    Either that or you could get springs that are softer at optimal height to make them better when compressed - but either way something would have to give.

    3) You can - to my knowledge - only get adjustable height shocks/springs when they are coil overs, as it uses the shaft of the shock to compress the spring that is already captive around the shock.
    Meaning that your rear shocks & springs cannot be altered in height - unless you have an airbag spring setup like the grande.

    So yeah, you are pretty much stuck with the stock height unfortunately - unless you move

    Comment


    • #3
      Originally posted by topic97 View Post
      I just had a quick browse & all I could come up with was Fox shocks or Dobinsons MRR with adjustable height.

      There are a number of issues you will face here though:
      1) Im not sure you can actually get 40mm of height adjustment out of them 4x4

      2) Springs are matched to how much weight you carry in the car to give you desired comfort levels.
      Meaning if you have say a winch, steel bullbar & dual batteries in the front, you will require a heavier duty spring so that the ride isnt too harsh/soft etc.
      Where this becomes an issue is, if you are going to be greatly altering the height by say 40mm, the only way to do this is to compress the spring.
      So then there is more load on the spring & therefore will make the ride harsher when the car is lowered as the springs arent set to operate optimally at that height.
      Either that or you could get springs that are softer at optimal height to make them better when compressed - but either way something would have to give.

      3) You can - to my knowledge - only get adjustable height shocks/springs when they are coil overs, as it uses the shaft of the shock to compress the spring that is already captive around the shock.
      Meaning that your rear shocks & springs cannot be altered in height - unless you have an airbag spring setup like the grande.

      So yeah, you are pretty much stuck with the stock height unfortunately - unless you move
      Ok then, well that settles it. Just have to hit up the Wife for about $500,000 for new shocks and a new house

      Thanks for the great write up, explains it all perfectly and looks like I'll just stick with the stock height.

      Cheers,

      Gavin

      Comment


      • #4
        King springs do a standard height spring which gives about a 1" lift.

        Comment


        • #5
          Originally posted by amts View Post
          King springs do a standard height spring which gives about a 1" lift.
          I think that would take me uncomfortably close to the ceiling beams but I'll measure up and see. Thanks.

          Comment


          • #6
            Originally posted by HiRAEdd View Post
            I think that would take me uncomfortably close to the ceiling beams but I'll measure up and see. Thanks.
            What accessories have you got installed?

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by amts View Post
              What accessories have you got installed?
              Just the standard roof racks but I have to take them off to get the car in the garage though. No real biggy as I only use them when I go on holidays anyway. So with nothing on the roof I have between 1 and 2 inches clearance at the lowest point between the Prado roof and my ceiling beams.

              Comment


              • #8
                And what is the current suspension height, measured from bottom of rim to the wheel arch?

                Comment


                • #9
                  Originally posted by amts View Post
                  And what is the current suspension height, measured from bottom of rim to the wheel arch?
                  Argh, I went and measured the wrong thing, will have to check again later.

                  In any case, I spoke to my mechanic today and he's come back with Outback Armour shocks as the best option to maintain the height and they have a three year warranty on them.
                  http://www.outbackarmour.com.au/suspension/TOPR12

                  I only need to replace the front struts and rear shock absorbers, the springs are ok apparently.

                  Anyone got anything good or bad to say about these?
                  *EDIT* Found this post http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...Outback-Armour
                  They seem to be a good option.
                  Last edited by HiRAEdd; 15-02-2016, 08:04 PM.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    If you are only fitting new shocks there will be no height difference.
                    Coils lift the car not the shocks
                    Dobinson MRR shocks have an adjustable front spring seat which can raise the front by putting more preload on the coils
                    Although very difficult to do whilst fitted the car.
                    Cheers
                    4WD SUSPENSION & BODYLIFTS 0418780611 A/H PH/FAX 07 33512692- [COLOR=#ff0000][SIZE=5]Bilstein, Ironman & Roadsafe Distributor [/SIZE][/COLOR]

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      I'd trade it in for a Grande with height adjustment air bags or just park in the drive way, not the car port
                      Black mica 06 D4D GXL. , kitted out to take me where we need to go to feel free......

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Originally posted by ZORDO View Post
                        If you are only fitting new shocks there will be no height difference.
                        Coils lift the car not the shocks
                        Yeah, sorry, I realised that was ambiguous after re-reading it. I was looking at springs too for extra height but looks like I'll just change the shocks so the height won't change.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Originally posted by nigelh View Post
                          I'd trade it in for a Grande with height adjustment air bags or just park in the drive way, not the car port
                          Anyone want to swap a Grande for a GXL with worn shocks? ;-)

                          Comment

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