Grande 120 Suspension Upgrade

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

So your recommendation would be to leave the Airbags as they are? (apart from the height tweek) This is a 2004 model... i.e. has anything changed over the years with Airbag setups on the Grande's?

[Guest Close Guest]

I don't think anything has changed with the airbags over the years. The only thing that Autocraft has done is to weld something on to stop the airbags popping out.

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

Have the grande lift and hav no issue with the air bags popping out.. I think it is more advertising hype than anything nowadays... I have not heard of any popping for a number of years now.. And certainly not one that has had a lift fitted...

If yours is the Bilstein/Ridepro kit from Auto-Craft, it would have Darren's fix for the airbags fitted when it was installed.

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Actually I fitted the straps myself a couple years before mylift.

[Way2go Member Find all posts View Profile Close Way2go]

Ive never heard of them! I will give them a call.
Thanks for that, have you been happy with it?
Ever had any issues with airbags coming out (I keep reading about airbags popping out after a lift!!!)
What heights have you got now?
Cheers

Very happy with it, and never had any issues re the airbags coming out (have no idea if they did anything to them when the lift was done).

Heights? Not sure, I'll have to check. I know that with the steel bar, winch and 2 big batteries at the front, I want the front lifted a bit again, as I think it is now somewhere near stock (the HD springs obviously do something, otherwise the front would be dragging with all that weight). Just have to find a spring that will provide enough lift to make it worthwhile, as I don't see the point in getting new springs that supposedly provide the 2" lift but then end up having the front where it already is due to the accessories. The rear is quite high, so probably doesn't need any more lift, but I'll see what it is like once the front is up again.

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

Like yourself I'm still investigating all the options available, so I haven't done my suspension yet, but I am thinking of doing it myself.

If you decide to do it yourself, let me know, maybe we can do both our Prado's together, an extra pair of hands is always a bonus

Im coming to the conclusion that at this stage the best option is to maybe just buy the Bilstein struts and shocks and a pair of front coils.
About $1150 from 4wd direct ( maybe a bit extra for some tools) and just adjust up the rear on the OEM aibags.

Biggest issue I can see is getting a spring compressor for the front coils!

Any pointers there?

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

If you decide to do it yourself, let me know, maybe we can do both our Prado's together, an extra pair of hands is always a bonus

Im coming to the conclusion that at this stage the best option is to maybe just buy the Bilstein struts and shocks and a pair of front coils.
About $1150 from 4wd direct ( maybe a bit extra for some tools) and just adjust up the rear on the OEM aibags.

Biggest issue I can see is getting a spring compressor for the front coils!

Any pointers there?

I've put my suspension upgrade on the back burner for now, and I'd rather experiment with my own vehicle and get it sorted before I have a go at someone elses.

If a spring compressor is the main issue, perhaps you could buy the parts and get a local workshop to fit the front struts and coils and DIY the rear suspension, or you could also get them to fit the rear shocks, but don't forget to get a wheel alignment.

I rang 4wd direct and they will sell you a set of struts and shocks, but they will only sell springs as part of a complete kit, so you can't buy a kit from them without rear coils, nor will they just sell you front springs. When I mentioned "Grande" and "airbags", he wasn't interested at all and said they don't do them!

If you contact Lindsay at: http://www.bushskinz4x4.com.au/index.php?cPath=2_26_28 he will happily sell you the Bilstein struts and shocks as well as a pair of Lovells TFR-118 front springs for $1157.42

As a comparison, the Auto-Craft kit is $1595 for the parts, which includes a revalving of the Bilsteins as a matched suspension system, rear stone guard for the shocks and Ridepro coils. Most Grande owners seem happy with this set-up and it is tried and tested. The $2300 fitted price includes a wheel alignment and a fix for the airbag retainer.

The Ultimate Suspension parts only price is $1798, which includes new rear On-Air airbags. The $2300 fitted price includes a wheel alignment and lifetime warranty on their springs.

Superior Engineering do a Tough Dog kit for $1670, parts only including new rear On-Air airbags http://www.superiorengineering.com.a...oducts_id=6495 so a fitted price of $2780 is way overpriced for a Tough Dog set-up!

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

Excellent info

Thanks.

May have to rethink......once again

[Guest Close Guest]

Fitting shocks is easy, Take the lot to a Pedders or mechanic with a hydraulic compressor and have them fit the coils, thats what I did when i reinstalled all of mine.

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

Fitting shocks is easy, Take the lot to a Pedders or mechanic with a hydraulic compressor and have them fit the coils, thats what I did when i reinstalled all of mine.

What did you end up doing with the wiring that goes to the shocks with regard to sealing, waterproofing, removing altogether??
How do the actuators come off the front struts?
Cheers

[Guest Close Guest]

Left cabling just sitting in place, have not had any issues with waterproofing.. I was going to cover them with a cut off finger from a rubber glove then tape it all up but I never got around to it.....

Didnt take actuators off, left them on.. All sitting on the mezzanine in my warehouse now in a box.

[Guest Close Guest]

Fitting shocks is easy, Take the lot to a Pedders or mechanic with a hydraulic compressor and have them fit the coils, thats what I did when i reinstalled all of mine.

Just make sure that the top hat for the front strut is at the right orientation.

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

I had a chat with Opposite Lock South Sydney and was quoted approx. $250 to remove and replace front struts ($88 an hour for 2.5-3hrs work) plus about $50 for a wheel alignment from a local Tyrepower dealer. He also said that he was happy to source any suspension components I requested or to fit any kit I supplied. I also spoke with the mechanic who was familiar with the Grande airbag set-up and had done suspension mods on them previously.

[nnarcosis Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close nnarcosis]

Hi all, Ive just purchased a 03 grande and have been following the thread with interest ( top site for research).
I'm leaning towards the Bilsteins + lovells set up , just wondering if people have put the HD or SD coils in the front?
I'm thinking the HD seems i will be fitting a ironman steel bar on and extra batt. Are the HD to hard a ride or have people
found them ok with this extra weight on the front? I think i'll just order them from bushskinz (the un-revalved ones, i'm sure they will do the job unless somebody has knowledge about them that i dont) and get them fitted.

craigm i wrote to auto-craft and he said they have somebody in north brisbane that do there "setup", I'm going to give them a ring to see about airbags being retained
or installing the airbag man one will let you know.

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

Thanks nnarcosis, I look forward to their response...