Grande 120 Suspension Upgrade

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Hmm... mine was 740mm with 95mm droop. Haven't checked the droop since the new springs went in.

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

Just for information sake, since we know what the distance is for max droop and ride height on the standard vehicles is (eg 745 + 110 = 855), can someone with a 40-50mm lift (eg Bilstein) tell us what those respective dimensions are they've got please?
That should tell us a few things.

[Way2go Member Find all posts View Profile Close Way2go]

I definitely can't see any circlip grooves below the alloy spring seat - the only one I can see is a small part of the one that I assume the alloy spring seat is currently sitting on (i.e. I can only see the part of the groove exposed by the fact the spring seat is not flat and has a slight offset where the 2 ends meet).

Can someone who has fitted these themselves confirm that the circlip groove visible at the spring seat level (i.e. not below the seat) is the one the circlip is set on? As such I'm assuming (hoping) that I then have 2 more positions to use. The extra 24mm should give me just over 770.

I noticed the other day that the passenger side outer CV boot needs replacing, so I'll be getting the mechanics to do the strut adjustments while it's in for the boot replacement in the next couple of weeks.

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

Hmm... mine was 740mm with 95mm droop. Haven't checked the droop since the new springs went in.

..... think we all must accept that "droop" will get us one day........

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

Just for information sake, since we know what the distance is for max droop and ride height on the standard vehicles is (eg 745 + 110 = 855), can someone with a 40-50mm lift (eg Bilstein) tell us what those respective dimensions are they've got please?
That should tell us a few things.

I have the ICON adjustables on mine which I know are a bit different to the billies you wanted measurements on, but just checked the droop for you.
Currently sitting at 790mm and it has 85mm droop = 875mm.
I would be interested to hear what the billies achieve.

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

Has anyone got experience with Mitchell 4x4 and their Grande lift?
They offer a 40mm lift with a set of Bilsteins, EFS front coils, OEM airbag mod and wheel alignment for decent price.

Anybody got this setup?

BTW Justo, where do you get Icon? Local or imported?

Cheers

[Way2go Member Find all posts View Profile Close Way2go]

Has anyone got experience with Mitchell 4x4 and their Grande lift?
They offer a 40mm lift with a set of Bilsteins, EFS front coils, OEM airbag mod and wheel alignment for decent price.

Anybody got this setup?

Yep, that's what is on my vehicle. Though it was done in 2008 by the previous owner, and he swore the front coils are Kings. When I spoke to them about more lift at the front, they said there were probably coils around now that were more HD than what was available/put onto the vehicle back then, so I'd be interested to hear what the EFS springs are like (specs, etc.).

Not sure what the airbag mod is though - have you asked them? Is it simply the resetting of the normal height setting, or do they do more to the airbags or locators/etc.?

I think they call it the Bilstein Grande Platinum kit or something......

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

Yep, that's what is on my vehicle. Though it was done in 2008 by the previous owner, and he swore the front coils are Kings. When I spoke to them about more lift at the front, they said there were probably coils around now that were more HD than what was available/put onto the vehicle back then, so I'd be interested to hear what the EFS springs are like (specs, etc.).

Not sure what the airbag mod is though - have you asked them? Is it simply the resetting of the normal height setting, or do they do more to the airbags or locators/etc.?

I think they call it the Bilstein Grande Platinum kit or something......

He was telling me that if they need more lift, eg, winch, dual batteries etc, they can use Hilux coils.

He does an airbag mod but "its a secret and hes protecting his IP" so he wouldnt tell me what it involves.
Resetting is easy, thats just some 10mm spacers under the sensor mounts that resets it to 30mm higher.

Im guessing that its a bag spacer and maybe a bump stop packer which is what Opposite Lock are doing for the Grande.

From all the sources Ive spoken too, (including the Bilstein importer) there is no such thing as a "Bilstein Platinum".
Its a package of components just renamed by certain vendors so Im told.
Bilsteins that come into Australia have valving specific to Australia, but thats the way they are supplied from Bilstein and not revalved here, again, so Im told by the importer.

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

BTW Justo, where do you get Icon? Local or imported?
Cheers

The ICON's I imported from the US and are the fronts are height adjustable. Makes it super easy to set the height you want no matter how much weight you have hanging out the front.
Check out the thread on them here.. http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...e-%28Grande%29.

As for the airbag mod, there is no secret to adjusting them up. If you search around on here there are plenty of posts about just that. There's 2 slide adjusters that just need a little adjustment and away you go. Just be gentle with them..if they break they are expensive!
From what I've heard the earlier 120s (03-04 and possibly 05) have a slightly different airbag seat to the later models. Trust me the airbags can jump off their seats once you start tweaking them up and put them under some heavy articulation. I had it happen a couple of times. Earlier installs had retainer straps to the axle to prevent over extension, and I believe these days they either modify the mount or weld the airbag base in place. You don't want the bags jumping out when you're in the middle of nowhere as you will be riding the bump stops all the way home unless you manage to get them back in..which contrary to all reports..can be done but its a pain in the a#$# to do!

[Way2go Member Find all posts View Profile Close Way2go]

Justo,

What sort of price are the Airbag Man extended air bags? Might end up going down that route, along with the Hilux front coils described above (should call Mitchell Bros for a price on them too), at some point - though it looks like the Bilsteins might need to be replaced with something else if that were to happen (given the whole - only - 7mm extra they provide over standard)......

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

I just got quoted $1040 for the Airbag kit.
Supply only, not fitting, but apparently the fitting is very simple and a quick job.
Mitchel Bros dont fit the airbags, they do the mod to the existing bags/mounts, which is probably what youve already got if it was done by them.
I suppose he will if thats what you really want but he says its unnecessary.
You should be able to get 770-780 easily with Bilsteins (even the OEM's) and the right spring up front.
What height have you got now?

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

Your best bet is to contact member airbagman for current pricing. He does a discount for pradopoint members.

[Way2go Member Find all posts View Profile Close Way2go]

I just got quoted $1040 for the Airbag kit.
Supply only, not fitting, but apparently the fitting is very simple and a quick job.
Mitchel Bros dont fit the airbags, they do the mod to the existing bags/mounts, which is probably what youve already got if it was done by them.
I suppose he will if thats what you really want but he says its unnecessary.
You should be able to get 770-780 easily with Bilsteins (even the OEM's) and the right spring up front.
What height have you got now?

Height at the front is currently 750, with the Bilsteins looking like they are set on the middle circlip groove. Taking them up to the top groove and changing the springs looks like the best thing - changing the groove only will give 12mm.

Will speak to Mitchell Bros again - they remembered the vehicle when I spoke to them soon after purchasing it (not that many Grandes around with all the work they did to it), and see if they can confirm they did the work to the airbag mounts. Current height at the rear on normal is 785-790, so there should be around another 15mm in that as well.....

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

Hmm... mine was 740mm with 95mm droop. Haven't checked the droop since the new springs went in.

Had a chance to re-check the droop and if the springs have settled further than 780mm yet?

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Had a chance to re-check the droop and if the springs have settled further than 780mm yet?

Still at 780mm. Don't think it will go down any further as it is a 2nd hand spring. Haven't checked the droop yet.