Lift Concerns

[BAZPRADO Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BAZPRADO]

Hi All, I have a 120 VX, planning to lift the car. Some folks I know have warned me against this saying that it will destabilize the car and make it more nervous on the road and increase the risk of rollovers!

Is there any truth to these statements? Has any one had any complaints/regrets following a lift?

One other question is the front struts. Can you adjust the standard struts to compensate for the lift in the rear? This is what a fellow Land Cruiser owner just did, the installation looks bad becuause the rear is slightly higher than the front!

Your thoughts would be appreciated....

[Guest Close Guest]

Speak to Darren at ATS in Geelong, the vehicle will ride better and probably handle better once lifted.

[xvprado Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close xvprado]

My 2004 VX has been running Bilstein shocks and Lovell springs for over 50000klm, including high spped NT drving and the full array of roads/tracks etc
Without any doubt the vehicles on road behaviour has improved markedly and off road is a quantum improvement
The Bilstein strut for the front is adjustable, but the issue is more about adjusting up to compensate for bullbars, winches, batterys etc
The landcruiser (110 series) issue is something completely different
Cheers
Glen

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

Hi folks.

Is the vx different to the gxl?

Does the vx have air bags. or is that the grande?

As far as a gxl suspension lift is concerned I would tell you to do it.
excellent ride and handling, better load carrying and better in the rocky stuff.

I got 3" extra in back and 2" up front, Bilsteins/ lovells.

Jeff.

[AJs Prado Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close AJs Prado]

Baz,

Logically you are right that it does raise the centre of gravity further also, but like any vehicle, in the right circumstances it's going to roll over.

I've got the OME set up on mine (120 GXL) and while it's higher, the body roll is I find reduced, cornering is better and it handles the bumps better with the stiffer shocks/springs and when its carrying some load it seems to settle and handles even better. I did a trip through central oz, NT, Nth QLD and Fraser Isl with the stock set up and load and I can't wait to get back out with the good gear to get into more places.

Doesn't matter OME, Bilstein, Lovells, TJM or Tough Dog, you'll definitely notice the better handling, just comes down to your preference on price, brand, reputation, warranty and after sales.

AJ

[BAZPRADO Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BAZPRADO]

Thanks for your comforting remarks, it is confusing when you hear allsorts of comments, I do take other owners' views seriously though! It appears that I will definitely go for a lift, I would like to inquire as to whether the process is reversible for when I decide to sell the car when I am done with it.

Regards.

[xvprado Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close xvprado]

reversal is easy Old mate, just keep your springs and shocks in the box the new ones came in, and its probably about 3 hours to swap em back out, my plan exactly with mine. If I dont keep it at end of lease I will return it back to the ideal mums taxi to hopefully maximise resale, and flog off the bars, drawers and bits to other prado owners...LOL

Hopefully they wont look closely at the bash plates underneath

[BAZPRADO Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BAZPRADO]

Hey Mate,

I did not know that people actually test the shocks before they buy a car, maybe it is something to consider when negotiating the price of a used car My VX has close to 30,000 KMs on it now, it will not be long before the stockies go out....

Do people generally replace the front struts along with the rear springs? I do not have air springs thank God, which should make the lift a bit less complicated 8)