Grande 120 Suspension Upgrade

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

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.

I have the same problem WTG. The front end has dropped to standard with similar extras. Darren Macrae has an extra heavy duty coil to resolve the problem and allow the Bilstein to clip at position 2 (3 positions). Havent done them yet as still adding steel bash plates etc. I expect with all the extra weight that my rear air bags really should be upgraded also, although not certain, however I do also tow a fully loaded Challenge trailer so cannot hurt.

[Way2go Member Find all posts View Profile Close Way2go]

I have the same problem WTG. The front end has dropped to standard with similar extras. Darren Macrae has an extra heavy duty coil to resolve the problem and allow the Bilstein to clip at position 2 (3 positions). Havent done them yet as still adding steel bash plates etc. I expect with all the extra weight that my rear air bags really should be upgraded also, although not certain, however I do also tow a fully loaded Challenge trailer so cannot hurt.

Thanks for the heads up.

I'll give Darren a call or email him to see how much these springs are and if they are available in Sydney or if I need to order them from him.

[Way2go Member Find all posts View Profile Close Way2go]

..... and allow the Bilstein to clip at position 2 (3 positions).

What are these '3' positions? According to Darren, the Bilsteins have 2 circlip grooves with 12mm ride height difference between them. So, only 2 positions as far as I can see - either the bottom groove or the top one.

Mine are currently on the bottom one (not sure why the rpevious owner had them fitted but left on the low setting), with a measurement of 750mm, so all I'll get is 760-ish, still 10mm below the max (770) the Grande can apparently have.

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

the max (770) the Grande can apparently have.

Whats that about??
Why can the Grande have only a max of 770?
Why should the Grande be any different to the rest?
Ive seen Grande's around with 790-810 which is what Im hoping for when I get mine done.

[Way2go Member Find all posts View Profile Close Way2go]

Whats that about??
Why can the Grande have only a max of 770?
Why should the Grande be any different to the rest?
Ive seen Grande's around with 790-810 which is what Im hoping for when I get mine done.

I've put the same question to Darren (no answer yet), as I'd have thought that the front end was the same whether GXL or Grande. The only thing I've noticed is that the original specs has the front of the Grande sitting lower than a GXL, so fitting the same 50mm lift kit to both will still end up with the Grande lower than the GXL.

I'd like mine also around the 800 mark, however Darren says "770mm on the grande is the max you can really go, when the rear maxs at 800 with air bags" (I assume this 800 max for the rear is at the standard setting, as the high setting goes beyond that). I've asked him if that means longer airbags in the rear would allow the front to go over 770 (so long as you have long travel shocks) - hopefully I'll get an answer to my questions today.

[Guest Close Guest]

I achieved 780 at the front by just replacing the springs with OME883 and retaining the strut. I'm right on the droop limit for the strut. The CVs are pretty much flat so I can't see why more lift is not achievable as long as longer travel shocks are installed to match.

According to my research, the Bilsteins are only 7mm longer than a 120 strut. Now I assume that Darren is using the same strut but has changed the valving rate. So the open length and everything else remains the same. Maybe this is why a 770mm limit is there.

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

All the suspension fitters I have spoken to (and there has been heaps!!) have not suggested anything other than the same lift applies to the Grande as it does to all the other variants.
The same aftermarket components go into the Grande, VX or GXL (on the front) and theres no reason for it to be different.
My standard heights are 745F and 790R and Im fully expecting and least 790F+ and 820R+.

Ive finally decided on where Im having it done (wont be in the southern suburbs) using Bilsteins and some mods to the rear OEM bags and Im sure Im going to get a worthwhile lift.
Cant wait :-)

[Way2go Member Find all posts View Profile Close Way2go]

I achieved 780 at the front by just replacing the springs with OME883 and retaining the strut. I'm right on the droop limit for the strut. The CVs are pretty much flat so I can't see why more lift is not achievable as long as longer travel shocks are installed to match.

According to my research, the Bilsteins are only 7mm longer than a 120 strut. Now I assume that Darren is using the same strut but has changed the valving rate. So the open length and everything else remains the same. Maybe this is why a 770mm limit is there.

Seems a bit of a hide to call the Bilsteins 'long travel' shocks then!!!!

Are the OME883s the HD or normal (i.e. for winch, bar, etc, or for less weight)? Maybe I need to put the Bilsteins on the higher circlip and fit the different springs (though it already has the King springs that went with the Bilsteins).

I'd also expect that your height will drop at least 10mm over the next few weeks as everything settles, which takes you back to the 770 mentioned previously.

[Guest Close Guest]

The OME883 are for 0-50kg. There are 2 more springs after that one for even more load. Spring stiffness is the same but longer free length. The OME883 are 2nd hand jobbies and I'm hoping that they won't 'settle' that much !!

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

Bugger, just put the ARB bar on today and Ive dropped another 12-15mm I reckon, down to 730 on the front.
Cant wait to have it cranked up with a lift!

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

[QUOTE=amts;282905the Bilsteins are only 7mm longer than a 120 strut.[/QUOTE]

But what is the lever arm ratio?? 2:1, 3:1 maybe???

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

But what is the lever arm ratio?? 2:1, 3:1 maybe???

Looking at the distances between the LCA chassis mounts, the lower strut bolt and the lower ball joint, I'd guesstimate a 2:1 ratio. I'm not sure if that 7mm figure factors that in or not, so it could mean as much as 14mm more droop at the wheel than the OE strut.

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

But what is the lever arm ratio?? 2:1, 3:1 maybe???

For the 120 Prado it's 1.5:1


Mick

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

What are these '3' positions? According to Darren, the Bilsteins have 2 circlip grooves with 12mm ride height difference between them. So, only 2 positions as far as I can see - either the bottom groove or the top one.

Mine are currently on the bottom one (not sure why the rpevious owner had them fitted but left on the low setting), with a measurement of 750mm, so all I'll get is 760-ish, still 10mm below the max (770) the Grande can apparently have.

Bilsteins do have 3 circlip positions, each position equals 12mm, so there's 24mm ride height change from the bottom position to the top position:

I'm not sure about the 770mm limit, Darren has previously stated that you need to maintain at least 60mm of droop:

Moving the circlip will change the ride height, but not the spring rate. Ride wont chnage, only ride height [12mm per groove]

You need to maintain a minimum of 60mm of droop in the front.

I took some measurements on my standard Grande which sits at 735mm with 110mm droop, which means I should be able to lift it to a maximum of 785mm and still maintain 60mm droop. I suggest you have a look and see how much droop you currently have and calculate how much you have left to play with.

As far as the Bilsteins are concerned, BushSkinz 4x4 claims that they are suitable for a 40mm lift at the struts and 45mm lift at the rear shocks.

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

I'm not sure about the 770mm limit, Darren has previously stated that you need to maintain at least 60mm of droop:

I took some measurements on my standard Grande which sits at 735mm with 110mm droop

They are exactly the same numbers Im getting on my standard Grande with ARB bar.

When Ive mentioned minimum 60mm drop to a number of installers theyve all said "that much, nah, thats heaps"