Grande 120 Suspension Upgrade

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

SA, NSW, QLD, VIC ... Talk about interstate Network support!

One of many examples in this great community !!! I managed to save almost a grand and also had the chance to learn a lot more by doing it myself.

[Lenny67 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Lenny67]

Hi,

Thanks for the Grande suspension advice guys, I had mine done at Bowers Suspension in Newcastle yesty and am happy with the results so far, I took Coolbananas advice and went with the Big Bore adjustable 2" Tough Dogs and I also put in 5mm of washers to trick the sensors in the rear, I might put in another 3mm of washers to raise the rear a little more, although i'm gona have a Mako 9.5 winch with rope and a second battery installed by ARB Newcastle over the next coupla weeks, this should pull the front down a bit along with some settling.

My measurements are, Front before...740mm - after 780mm, Rear before...775mm - after 810mm
Rear does feel a little low, winch, extra batt should help, the dragon drives it mainly so dont want it too high!! The cost supplied and fitted was $1585, how does that sound?

Thanks again for all your help,

Regards, Glen.

[1coolbanana Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 1coolbanana]

So far it sounds good, good onya, youll be happy with it.
Mine has sagged a little bit on the front with the bar and Mako etc, so will be jacking things up a bit up front soon.
Cheers
Marc

[Way2go Member Find all posts View Profile Close Way2go]

Thankfully no sagging with mine to date.

Still got 810mm at the front of mine, with 835-840mm at the rear (on 'Normal' height).

Definitely happy with the replacement rear airbags, and can recommend them to anyone looking at a Grande lift if the washer spacing and travel for the rears using standard bags starts getting too close for comfort when out on the trails.

[emmetryan Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close emmetryan]

I hate to be extremely annoying but this is my first time on this forum and it's amazing. I have a 2007 Toyota Prado- Grande and I want to put a lift on it. I read all 17 pages and there are some very detailed and complex descriptions which not only amazes but also confuses me I don't want to have to pay $2300 for like 1 cm or whatever (specially seeming im 18 and money sucks)- I would like to get a decent lift on the front and some sort of improvement on the back because ground clearance is my main problem (my poor car has to handle me bottoming out and it cries every time). Any suggestions of what I should do so that I could get maximum legal lift + potentially keep the system where I can control the height? I also live in brisbane (which is the only reason I am posting because if I lived in sydney I would be calling one of the many places suggested)
thankyou!!!

[Guest Close Guest]

The Grande shouldn't be bottoming out due to the self levelling suspension at the rear. Is there something wrong with your airbags? What have you got on the Prado? Bullbar, dual batts, winch, drawers?

[emmetryan Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close emmetryan]

sorry my bad I wasn't very specific- it only bottoms out in extreme conditions which unfortunately is a lot of the time! only have bull-bar and all-terrains but in my garage I have underbody protection (which will essentially protect the bottom but I still need more ground clearance and I also have spotties, uhf and a snorkel I am just yet to install anything cause I want to do lift first any suggestions on where to go or what I could buy that installs to be a big lift that is legal? I have someone that could possibly install it for me but I would prefer pay someone to do it as long as it is reasonable

[Guest Close Guest]

First thing is to find out what your current suspension height is compared to a standard, new from the dealer Prado. Refer to http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...Measurements-2

A general guide is that the front suspension is about 790mm after a 2" lift. The rears will then be adjusted to about 820mm. What is yours sitting at now?

It is then a case of matching suspension components to your front accessories, and then choosing the correct length rear shock and adjusting the height sensors of the airbags to match the lift at the front.

[BradLee Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BradLee]

I put in Kings 40mm raised front springs. At first the shocks reachede the end of their travel over some bumps but that settled withing a couple of days. I havn't done anything to the rear yet. I will probably do raised springs +/- the airbagg mod but not until I can afford sum Billies or something similar.

The springs cost me $120 for the pair plus fitting. I am absolutely stocked at the difference 40mm has made to the car off road. I frequent Fraser Island and it used to nose out quite frequently....not anymore!! I tend to put the rear in high position on the island but do have some problems with the rear shocks being too short...so if their knocking too much I drop it back down or slow down, depending on the terrain.


BEST $120 I'VE SPENT!

[emmetryan Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close emmetryan]

i took the car into some 4WD store haha (on track 4WD- or something along those lines) and got quoted $1700 for them to take out whatever the system in my grande is called and replace it with a lift from efs that is apparently 45mm front and back (i think that would be from standard height not from raised... and im pretty sure that efs do a 40mm lift so he could have been exagerating but on the quote he wrote 2" lift. do you think i should go for it? or do you know of any other place in brisbane that will deal with a grande? thanks!

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

I've a grande and I live near Brisbane, if you go out buy the parts yourself then get your mechanic round the corner to fit the the front springs (need spring compresors) you can save yourself over $500. I bought Tough Dog front adjustable springs and shocks and rear shocks, keeping the OEM rear airbag (coil equivalent). You have to trick the rear height sensors first with metal washers with a fairly simple calculation ratio 3:1 so a 10mm spacer gives you a 30mm height increase.

Read the thread grande airbag retaining after a lift, it pretty much gives you all the in and outs bar part numbers he used. I'm really no mechanic..no really.. but bar the front springs you can do most of it yourself, get a grease monkey on the springs..LOL! I believe some people think lifting a grande is very tricky but it's not really. Your quote guy is only selling you something, 50% you don't need?????. A few people seem to go for new extended airbags but I'm fine with my OEM's at the moment although retaining them with some pin is apparently a good idea. 1 Coolbanana and I spent just over $1200 (all Tough Dog) inc all parts, fitting with a wheel alignment being a bit more (forgot price), you could go even cheaper if you only do the front..I had all accessories so went for all 4 corners.

If you want to come and have a look at my Prado..just get in touch. In the end it worked out @45mm lift but not checked for ages!

Just trying to save youself some money!! I'm very happy with mine - rides firmer now. Thanks

[emmetryan Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close emmetryan]

so many words but so limited knowledge- I literally don't know which way is left after reading that whole thing. I think I am less intelligent now :P I am still considering doing the $1700 for the lift with efs suspension as I require force-feeding and would have no idea how to go about anything raised above- but in the situation where my level of intelligence were to be closer to yours, I would definetly do what you have suggested as I like to save money thanks for going to so much effort to try and help the less-intelligent (myself)

[Guest Close Guest]

The Grande is one of the cheapest Prado's to put on a lift if you maintain the factory airbags. Many have done this and so far so good.
I would not go with the EFS kit if it means removing the factory airbags. I believe that the seat for the airbags is completely different compared to the Prados with rear coils. Peterpilot, 1coolbanana and craigm may want to confirm this.

As mentioned above, you can do the rear shocks yourself and also adjust the height of the airbags yourself. The fronts will require good spring compressors or take it to a suspension place and have them assemble the front spring and shock and then DIY with a couple of the other PP'ers in the area. Perhaps craigm is close to you and you can go and check out his rig.

Can't remember which one now but I think Ironman or Toughdog can be purchased with the front strut already assembled.

[craigm Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close craigm]

G'day emmetryan. What part of Brisbane do you live? More than happy to catch up for a chat over a cold one and discuss your options. As amts has stated above. the Grande air bag seats top and bottom are completely different to a coil sprung rear on the Prado. I can't vouch for the Ironman, but the Toughdog's can be purchased with the front strut pre-assembled, meaning a quicker, and easier install. I was lucky enough to have a neighbour who was a mechanic with all the necessary tools to do the work. You'll be surprised just how easy it is to perform the lift on the rear! another thread to look at is here. Grande Airbag Retaining after a Lift
have a good read through this one as it has a lot of useful info and will help you understand the rear airbags a lot more. With regards to retaining after a lift, A few of us have done it, and a few haven't with no reports of airbags popping out to date. In my mind, it was a sense of extra security.

Craig

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

bump.. naturally one needs jack stands but they're always useful. I tricked the height sensors using the mathematical formula (LOL) with my desired end height then drove it arse up, 50 yards to the nextdoor garage..was not going to tempt doing the front springs!!! My T Dogs were all separate items but they may have a front strut now already assembled..would have to research it.

Don't mind offering help, 1 coolbanana helped me.. but craigm could be a good idea..took me half a day as I was measuring and re -measuring like my life depended on it..it did..especially first time being under jack stands without wheels on!! I figured why replace perfectly good Toyo OEM airbags with something else but not sure what the EFS kit contains it may keep the OEM airbag - would like a longer bag in the future thou but not a priority 4 now. Ta