Prado Grande - Airbag suspension to Coils

[karthik2588 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close karthik2588]

Hi there,

I am looking at upgrading my Grande suspension to a 2" lift kit with traditional coils and springs. (My air bag is leaking anyway).

Has anyone replaced their prado grande rear airbags with coil suspension?

If yes, could you please advise if any suspension shops can do this upgrade?

Cheers

Karthik

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

I am pretty sure this has been discussed before at length and the spring seats on the axle and body are different and it is a huge job. There are a couple of aftermarket options to replace the airbags (Airbag man for one).

Do a google pradopoint+grande+airbag search and it will reveal many informative posts.

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

I did a repair job (strengthening) of the axle end air bag mount for a PP member a while ago on his Grande. He was running coils in the rear at the time after an airbag blew on a trip and had coils fitted as an emergency repair. I think he drove around on the springs for quite a few months before I strengthened the mount.

I don't think the axle end of the spring mount is much different if at all, cant recall about the top end, I didn't take that much notice.

So I guess it can be done, long term reliability and legalities aside.

Does anyone have pictures of the mount point for the top of the airbag?

Cheers Andrew

[Guest Close Guest]

I don't think the axle end of the spring mount is much different if at all, cant recall about the top end, I didn't take that much notice.

The bottom seat on the Grande is different as it does not have the spiral shape to take the bottom of the coil neatly.

Does anyone have pictures of the mount point for the top of the airbag?

http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...-in-120-Grande

The top looks/may be the same. You just need the rubber cone that sits on top of the coil so that you don't get metal to metal contact.

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

If the top mount is the same then I wouldn't think changing to springs wouldn't be that hard based on what I've seen.

Cheers Andrew

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

Before my blown OEM airbags go in the bin....I replaced them very recently with stronger/longer airbagman 2"lift grande airbags, I can take a few pics of them if you like although I will post some on the same thread Amts has put up. IMHO this is the way to go otherwise you'll loose the height articulation setting...what more could you want in a grande????!!! I would not go to Toyota and buy another set of OEM one's! 'I enjoy riding on air'.

[karthik2588 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close karthik2588]

I am pretty sure this has been discussed before at length and the spring seats on the axle and body are different and it is a huge job. There are a couple of aftermarket options to replace the airbags (Airbag man for one).

Do a google pradopoint+grande+airbag search and it will reveal many informative posts.

Thnanks mjrandom. I ve been looking for such a write a up for a while. All of the threads were discussed on air bag problems and upgrades to airbagman.

My view was that a car of such age can start giving problems Witt the electronic circuits and changing them to coils will give me some peace of mind.

I spoke to fulcrum suspensions and they say it can be done to the grande and offered coils + rear suspension for a lot cheaper price than the airbags itself.

[karthik2588 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close karthik2588]

I did a repair job (strengthening) of the axle end air bag mount for a PP member a while ago on his Grande. He was running coils in the rear at the time after an airbag blew on a trip and had coils fitted as an emergency repair. I think he drove around on the springs for quite a few months before I strengthened the mount.

I don't think the axle end of the spring mount is much different if at all, cant recall about the top end, I didn't take that much notice.

So I guess it can be done, long term reliability and legalities aside.

Does anyone have pictures of the mount point for the top of the airbag?

Cheers Andrew

Hi Andrew,

I was thinking coils are more reliable than airbags keeping aside the comfort.

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Hi Andrew,

I was thinking coils are more reliable than airbags keeping aside the comfort.

I think that is a fair call, lots of examples here on airbags failing, I can't recall a single rear coil failing.

Cheers Andrew

[Troy1 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Troy1]

Guys,

I am pretty sure Darren from Auto-Craft in Geelong can do this mod. I am looking at it myself.

Troy

[wagon boy Member Find all posts View Profile Close wagon boy]

I went to Pedders the other day and they said it's a 'standard' conversion for them; Cost was $700-odd drive in/drive out (retaining the factory shocks). I'm doing mine in the next week or so, Not planning to change the lower mount unless necessary. If I need to, I'll just be getting the kit from Metaltech which was around $100 shipped.

http://www.metaltech4x4.com/p-792-gx...n-diy-kit.aspx

[timgriff Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close timgriff]

I think that is a fair call, lots of examples here on airbags failing, I can't recall a single rear coil failing.

Cheers Andrew

I had the Grande suspension on my 120 fail on me after a few water crossings and a steep hill climb/decent at El Questro in the Kimberly. The bags were still holding but the sensor or control system wasnt telling it to inflate.I spent a few hours on my back in the red dirt trying to inflate them manually with my air compressor but couldnt get the air to stay in. They need 60psi pr so to keep the back end up.
Ended up limping to Kunnanarra on the bump stops then the local TJM shop put a set of coils in with no hassles.
It is actually much nicer to drive on real springs rather than air bags with more stability on bends at at highway speeds so I will not be going back to the air bags.

Tim

[tokhi Member Find all posts View Profile Close tokhi]

Hey Tim,

I changed my airbags to coils with the help of a good mate ( cheers Turtle WA), wasn't too hard at all.

You will need -

1. The Metal Tech conversion kit - http://www.metaltech4x4.com/p-1546-g...plete-kit.aspx
2. The coils you want - King coils, Dobinsons etc.
3. Trolley Jack
4. Axle/body stands
5. A six pack of beers

and about 3 hours

Best thing I ever did..... no worries about bags deflating, bags popping out, retaining bags....etc

I was still having second thoughts about the conversion until I took it off road....and I love it!!!

I just saw you're in Perth.... send me a pm with your ph number and we can have chat.


Cheers

Tokhi

[Mule5010 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Mule5010]

Just did a weekend trip and popped an Airbag on Randalls track (near Billy Goat bluff between Hawkhurst and Talbotville VIC) At first I thought the Traction control had gone bonkers as the car started jumping around like crazy (Esky nearly hit the roof, very bad for the beer) I had to stop on a 50degree incline as i realised that my height control was set to high (I forgot to change it back to normal after having lunch at the bottom and trying to impress my mates by raising the back to level out my back door mounted fold down table to put a cooker on for lunch)

after trying to change from high to normal height and getting no response from the controller I felt a sick feeling in my stomach as I realised what had happened. Sure enough after sticking my head under the back there she was popped and wedged between the chassis and the exhaust. top clip long gone and air hose snapped off.

Realising now that i was screwed sitting on the bump stops and only half way up the hill with some pretty steep rocky sections to get through. I had no choice but to keep going.
Ended up damaging the back fuel tank sheild on a steep rock section.
I was just lucky the track was dry.

Had to nurse it down some some pretty steep hills back to camp dodging endless potholes looking like a crazy drunk driver with my ass on the ground and my nose in the air.

I did find that after putting a cable tie around the broken airline to seal it off, the left hand airbag was still able to raise the rear off the bump stops enough to allow the shocks to provide some assistance.

All in all I am picking up a set up OME rear springs from ARB tomorrow to match the front and be done with it. Just gotta sort out the The Metal Tech conversion kit. Can anyone confirm the bottom Spring Locator Diameter and height as i may just have to get something made up to bolt in place.

[Guest Close Guest]

I have Grande specific coils. No need for additional Metaltech adapters