Prado Grande Bullbar addition query.

[graldv Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close graldv]

Hi Guys,
Just bought an 04 Prado Grande and its an absolute pleasure to drive!
Im looking at adding an ARB deluxe bar and with that will need to upgrade the front suspension. To accommodate the weight of bar i will need to raise the front suspension, but being a grande i cant raise the rear because of the airbags. Has anyone done this upgrade and found that the front sits higher than the rear because of the front lift? or does the weigh of the bar bring everything close to level?? or are there any other options i can look at?

Cheers

[kav Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close kav]

You can put heavier duty springs in the front and it only raises the front by 15 -20 mm you will not really notice it . It will make the ride harsher . If you are not attaching a winch or batteries I would not bother with the springs . I drove mine from Sydney to Birdsville and back at high speed with the original springs and it made no difference . With the heavier springs you will notice a difference in the ride and handling and by that I don't mean it's better . In fact the car now feels out of balance because the front is now much stiffer than the rear end . It makes the car feel like the back end doesn't handle very well . I know this because I have heavier dobinson springs in mine and I have a winch and spots on the ARB bar. Are you talking about an actual lift or just changing the normal springs . In my opinion with the grande you don't need a lift kit . I've proven this many times . Cheers .

[macaroon1 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close macaroon1]

Hi Guys,...but being a grande i cant raise the rear because of the airbags. Has anyone done this upgrade and found that the front sits higher than the rear because of the front lift? or does the weigh of the bar bring everything close to level?? or are there any other options i can look at? Cheers

Incorrect, you can easily raise the grande through the airbags. Raising a grande is fairly easy and there are lots of grande owners on P.P who have lifted grandes.
Here is just one thread to start you off:http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...retaining+lift

Basically you use spacers to space out (trick) the height sensors using a ratio of 3:1 so to putting 7mm of washers in will raise the back end by @21mm. You however will have the problem of retaining the OE airbag securely esp off road high articulation so you retain it by
a. Amts Mk2 grande airbag spacer.
b. Using an R clip method as stated in the above thread.

You can buy extended airbags (not cheap). Airbag man do a version for 40mm lifted grandes. I think others do them too. I've got some and so far no problems. Mine are factory retained from the top but not from the bottom like the thread above for OEM bags.

As yours is 04, your bags will be getting to the end of there natural life. If I were you I'd go the whole hog and get raised springs and extended airbags..don't go to Toyota ..there's are not that much cheaper anyway and loads inferior.

Search the 120 suspension database..loads of info on there....enjoy reading.

[graldv Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close graldv]

Hey guys thanks for your feedback.

Ive spoken to Autoride suspensions in Perth and they recommend putting the adjustable Bilstein shocks with lovell springs in the front which will give an approx 40mm lift, with spacers in the rear. As stated by macaroon1. They have had great results apparently, so i think i will head down this road. Ill just have to make sure i used the r clip.
thanks again.

[macaroon1 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close macaroon1]

Sounds good. Get some new shocks in the rear as well to make it all complete. Don't know about all the brands, I know a lot of people run Bilsteins and see very happy with them. I've adjustables (from the shock....knob dial) but Tough Dogs..so far great for me!!

BTW..you don't have to retain the OE airbag if your staying on the bitumen. mine popped out off road on high articulation as others seem to do. Your doing the right thing....I aimed for max life out of my OE airbags before they went pop.. then upgraded, it was a few more years after the lift. Retain them if you want the extra security/peace of mind. My only mistake was not buying the V6 but did not know PP exited then.

Enjoy your lifted grande..it really makes them worthwhile as a badge..??? There are a lot of grandes with $5 washers under the height sensors!!